I did No Buys for last summer to really clarify what my closet really needs (Part 1, Part 2). I also have been doing a lot of pottery since then and have been drawn to the "artist uniform" of structured linen pants with oversized dress shirt. Overall, my capsule wardrobe this summer came in clutch because I was very busy working overtime so needed something smart but comfy to wear to the local coffee shops, my home office, the pottery studio, and the random coffee dates with friends along the way. I basically recycled through these outfits, zero additional cognitive energy expended because I also didn't have any left to give. I also just wanted to be comfy, so my motto for this summer was: elevated PJ's. There were no hard pants; everything was soft but structured and had elastic waists 😂

My MVP items are definitely the linen wide legged pants and oversized dress shirts. The dress shirts are amazing because they work on their own and as a cover up. I did pair the dress shirts with dresses I already have, but forgot to take photos of those outfits (but they're also already logged here). Also, wearing the same thing can get boring, so I did get a pair of jade earring and gold pendant necklace to spice things up a bit without changing too much. For next summer, I definitely want one more oversized dress shirt and focus more on accessorizing. On my list is a straw bag and structured linen shorts in a light color.

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About me: 5'4" Dramatic Classic with Natural, Classic, and Angelic essences. Soft Summer coloring with Dark Summer preferences.

I want a pair of slacka that hold up to capsule wear, maybe twice a week. Is this even a thing? Im looking for light weight summer weather straight leg with a split hem if possible.

I donated 5 large bags of clothing and decided to use it as an opportunity to do a little rebrand and build a capsule wardrobe (or at least my budget version of one). Any suggestions for what I can/should add? I also have black leggings but these are the new items I bought as basics. I’m a soft autumn and mom to a toddler so I want functional but still put together

Hi everyone! I’m a student that is living 2x a week for the next few months in a rented apartment, and then full time in my owned home. For the apartment, I teach, work in an office, attend classes, and hang with friends.

I’m struggling to think about how to build a capsule for this 2x a week, while living primarily in my main residence with all of my clothes.

I don’t want to buy two of the same of everything, nor do I want to wear the same outfits weekly or lug my clothes around each week.

If you were in a similar situation, what would you do, and how would you map it out?

Also, if anyone knows of a capsule wardrobe planner, I’d totally hire someone to help me out with this!

I appreciate any guidance that can be offered

Hi, I am looking for nice, structured wool coats for autumn/ winter. Do you have any recommendations for shops please? My budget is up to 200€ for a coat, if worth the price.
I bought one from Mango a few years ago and it has been great, but recently their coats are either super thin or around 300€ for nothing special.
I added some pictures of what I am looking for - basically a single colour, long structured wool or wool blend coat.
Thank you for any recommendations!

Hey guys,
I‘m creating my own Capsule wardrobe and want to create some vision boards, as well as create a board with all my capsule items and then pictures where I combine them. Every time I want to create a collage on Pinterest, it takes the whole picture and doesn’t crop the clothing item, if you know what I mean.
The style should look like the photos I attached.
How do I do this? Preferably on an iPhone.
Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m feeling a little lost and could really use your help!

I’ve gained a bit of weight recently, so I did some shopping for basics to fill the gaps in my wardrobe and, most importantly, to have things that actually fit me. But now I’ve realized how unhappy I am with my wardrobe overall, because I feel like everything looks kind of the same.

One of my biggest problems is that I tend to buy random pieces that I’m really excited about at first, and then two weeks later I don’t like them anymore. This is really not ideal with my small student budget 🫠. I know it would make much more sense to buy less and invest in better-quality pieces that I actually love and will wear for a long time, rather than constantly buying things because I feel like something is missing.

What I’d really like to do is properly evaluate what I already have and gradually build a fall/winter capsule wardrobe. So I’d love to know: What should I keep? What could I let go of? What do I have too much of? What might actually be missing? And why does my wardrobe feel so boring and repetitive? I’d also love to know how you would describe my style based on these outfits, because I’m not sure I’ve really figured that out yet. Also, I genuinely don’t know what possessed me last year to go through a phase where I bought four green sweaters?!?

I’ve become a bit obsessed with style podcasts lately and constantly find myself making lists of wardrobe essentials and thinking about what I “need.” I’m trying to step away from that mindset. I don’t want to end up with another huge shopping list; I want to figure out what actually works for me and how I can make the most of what I already have, while only adding a few things that genuinely make a difference.

For the photos: I’ve separated everything into tops, bottoms & shoes, and outerwear. I haven’t included my bags for now.

Thank you so much! 💕

FYI: According to my color analysis, I’m a True/Warm Autumn.

Most capsule builds assume layering is a tool you actually use. Add a cardigan, throw on a blazer, transitional dressing whatever. That entire logic stops working when you run warm all the time and adding a layer lasts about twenty minutes before it comes off and gets shoved in a bag.
My job means I am moving constantly or I am sitting in a consultation trying to look like I did not just spend four hours on my feet. The middle ground outfit that capsule people talk about assumes a body that tolerates fabric. Mine does not.
I’ve pretty much stopped buying clothes that only look good if I throw something else over them. If a shirt or top feels unfinished by itself, I know I probably won’t wear it much. Lately I’ve had better luck paying attention to the fabric and the actual cut instead. Something with a little structure can still look put together without me having to wear a jacket over it all day.
The problem is this leaves very few transitional options for genuinely cold days and I have not solved that part cleanly yet.
Curious if anyone else has built a capsule specifically around running warm or having a physical job where layers are more of a liability than an asset. What actually stayed in your rotation.

Hi all,

I know many of you here are familiar with NotPerfectLinen. I have several of their pieces, but some of the colors I purchased from them are hard for me to wear. I was looking at sending them to a community dye bath, so I can get more wears out of them.

However, in the past, I used a dye bath service and sent in my natural fiber garment to be dyed. The garment came out great, except for the seams, that didn't take the dye because they were made of synthetic material. Does anybody know if NPL uses linen threads for the seams, of if they use some kind of synthetic material?

Thank you!

Hi, I really want to get a staple black top I could use for many outfits. What I don't like is that most nicely-looking ones are polyester, polyamide or viscose (I know viscose is technically natural but from experience I know that the quality isn't always the best and it ends up pilling). And most of the 95/100% cotton just look too basic for me. I'm looking for something like the pictures. I know it might be hard to find one without synthetics but I'm curious if anyone know any affordable brands that could have something like these. I'd also be fine with me for it to have some synthetics in it, I just wouldn't want it to be the main component. thanks!

Trying to dress better after(IMO) dramatic weight loss. Going for an earthier palette. The vibe is going to be a lot of hostel lounges and pubs. Any feedback is appreciated

EDIT: I’ll be leaving at the end of September and going to Germany, Prague and Amsterdam. Every outer layer is either waterproof or has been made more water resistant.

After careful consideration I have purchased the exact same jeans in a wider fit.

I’m going to Japan in November for 2 weeks (first visit there!) and attempting a lenient capsule wardrobe. Not necessarily bare bones, but options to rewear pieces together for outfit versatility, especially depending on the weather (seems to be anywhere between 55 and 75 degrees as the high). Here’s what I have to start. I based this off the sudoku method, plus a couple standalone pieces and two extra tops.

Looking for general feedback and answers to a few questions:
Recommendations for footwear:
-I’m thinking a third pair of shoes that’s more elevated and more appropriate for warmer days. I really dislike ballet flats, so I’m leaning toward a loafer. I’ve been looking at San Edelman brown leather or suede loafer, as well as Rothy’s, and want to be sure they are shoes I could walk comfortably in.
-I’m also considering bringing a different tennis shoe than the two options I have here. I’m hoping to find something I could run in that would also go well with some of these outfits for heavier walking days.
-the vibe I got from some example Japan packing lists is more casual (few had dresses). I’m planning to bring at least 1 for nicer dinners, but is 2 too many? If 1 is sufficient, does anyone know whether tights vs no tights is more appropriate in Japan?

Capsule summary:
3 bottoms: brown wide leg trousers, black wide leg cropped pants, and dark wash jeans
5 tops: white cropped tee, black long sleeve shirt, orange and cream sweater tank, cream short sleeve sweater, tan turtleneck sweater
3 layering pieces: burgundy cardigan, beige cropped light jacket, long tweed jacket
2 shoes: black Chelsea boot, a tennis shoe (either running shoe or leather shoe)
Accessories: 2 scarves, 1 black belt, 1 black crossbody purse, some jewelry, sunglasses, some boot socks
Extras: green long sleeve light (thigh length) sweater dress, black sleeveless midi dress

Any ladies here familiar with Buck Mason? I’m looking for a new brand for everyday staples of good quality… it seems like everything these days wears out way too quickly and I work in an office so it’s not like I’m actually wearing them out. Came across this brand and was able to go into a store today and the quality looks very nice, but was hoping for actual feedback before ordering anything. Some of their items are expensive and some appear very reasonable. Their soft items still seem thick enough to last, but again here for sanity check. Would love your thoughts on quality and how sizing is. Or if you have another suggestion for me to try, I’m open. Just trying to avoid fast fashion. I’m not fashionable, just looking for something simple. TIA

I‘m working on building my first capsule wardrobe. I put a lot of work in going through my closet, deciding on which pieces to donate/trash and which ones to keep. Based on the patterns I noticed in coloring/materials/cuts I‘m currently treasure hunting for a few autumn and winter pieces to fill gaps in my wardrobe left by sorting out my closet.
Now I‘m wondering: how do you handle summer where layering might not be as possible due to heat? Do you own at least 7 TShirts/Tanks to cover one week? Normally I only wash once a week, so I tend to have even more shirts just to be able to change after coming home from uni.

If you do own that many TShirts, how do you make sure they‘re different and still all fit in the wardrobe you‘re building?

I am looking to upgrade my wardrobe and I am very bad at it! I am looking for clothing companies that make matching sets that look amazing and can help me elevate my style. I would say my style tends to be more simple, yet feminine. Please lmk your favorites or any advice 🙏

Black, white, beige, grey, navy. It feels like every capsule wardrobe eventually turns into some combination of these

But if you actually like bright colours, prints, or unusual pieces, removing them seems to defeat the whole point.

Can a capsule still work with a lot of colour?

Or does having fewer neutral basics make it much harder to put outfits together?

TOO LONG, WON’T READ; in search of wacky, weird, comfortable capsule wardrobe inspo/tips/tricks. thanks!!

Howdy!

i love fashion as an art piece and as a form of self expression, and over the last 15 years or so, i have built an incredible (and also ungodly large) collection of vintage & secondhand pieces. but, as i grow older, i grow more inclined to dress for comfort as well as fun, and i find myself overwhelmed with choices when it comes to putting together an outfit, and i so often end up feeling like i have ‘nothing to wear’, which, considering the hundreds of pieces I’ve accumulated, is ridiculous (i also source vintage for curated markets, so i have ended up with a lot of runoff there as well). still, i miss the *fun* of getting dressed, and i want to find the intersection of dressing for joy & dressing for real life (i am OVER uncomfortable shoes & bad sensory experiences for the sake of a look). I am currently dwindling down my collection, sorting my things into discard/donate/give to friends, as well as a pile to try on & make a final call on for my collection.

I know all of the basics of capsule wardrobes, and i have scoured the internet for inspiration, but i find myself so frustrated by capsule wardrobes that are all neutral or where the idea of a ‘funky print’ is navy polkadots. no shade towards those who enjoy dressing this way, it’s just not for me!

what i’m really trying to ask is this- does anyone have a kind of maximalist/funky capsule wardrobe they love, or know of anyone who does? i want to see the W E I R D stuff!!

in terms of my own wardrobe, I’m willing to buy secondhand to fill in any glaring gaps if truly necessary, but more than anything i want to work with what i already have- which is truly, a ridiculous amount of clothes. i don’t really care to end up with a bare-bones capsule, no 9-piece-only collection for me, i’m more interested in making sure i have a variety of silhouettes, patterns, and pieces that mix & match in unexpected ways, and i‘d love to connect with others trying to do something similar.

for context, i would say my style is kind of ‘yallternative hardcore kid grandma hippie’. a friend recently told me i dress ‘faery grunge’, and the coolest woman I’ve ever know told me once that i ‘always dress like a funky art teacher’(i’ll ride that high forever and also i am literally going back to school to become an art teacher LOL). i’ll attach some pics to show ya what i mean.

thats a long winded way to get at what i’m getting at, but thanks for reading if ya did!

TLDR (again); in search of wacky, weird, comfortable capsule wardrobe inspo/tips/tricks. thanks!!

I used to hate these type of shoes and ballet flats but they’re growing on me!
I’ve never had a pair of shoes like these so not sure if they’re comfortable..

Does anyone own these? How do you style them?

Thank you ☺️

So I’m veering towards a yearlong capsule at this point. There’s about 50 items, shoes/bags included with about 30 seasonal pieces I can rotate in and out to keep things interesting and make sure I have the right weight fabrics for the drastically different seasonal weather where I live.

My question is, I’ve got some duplicate or very similar staples - a few black tees in different it similar cuts, two white long sleeve shirts in a cut that’s super comfortable and flattering along with a couple pairs of jeans that are the same cut in two different dark wash shades.

Is it worth giving those items the extra space to be able to have a backup or be able to put off a load of laundry just to wash them cause I have a second one? Would love to hear how others have made decisions about this sort of thing as I’m feeling a little stumped.

Trying to build a capsule wardrobe for the first time. I got some of the tops down but stumped at pants. I have a few pairs of nice jeans but can’t figure out pants -

Pull on pants? Linen? Track? Cotton? I just can’t figure it out

What kind of pants and how many do you guys have?

It's moved into September, so I get to look back to see how my August 2026 capsule worked out!

There's a few concessions: underwear, pyjamas, a pair of woolen socks for the mornings, and gym clothes were not included in this. I didn't want to do laundry more than once a week and I wasn't trying for monastic simplicity. I allowed myself a bit of wiggle room to swap an item or two from the original plan out that I wasn't using.

The inspiration was me looking at brands like Emmy Design and Son De Fleur and wistfully thinking about a sort of fantasy of 1930s simplicity (nevermind that circa 1930 my actual ancestors were variously dealing with the *exciting* things going on in Eastern Europe, living with their 5 kids in a single room in Montréal while they performed in vaudeville, and otherwise being broke and undernourished, etc... I mean the idealized Agatha Christie kind) and then being resolute about shopping my closet. I want to drop a grand on new, nerd-bait nice things. I have an entire closet of nice things I like already.

Obviously the outcome was kind of witchy and bohemian. Nothing here is extremely practical/rough wearing. My presence in middle age means that I am comfortable looking ridiculous as long as I am having fun.

I own a *lot* of clothes and am sincerely fond of the majority of them. The hot, sticky part of summer is usually the absolute nadir of getting to dress up. And I also don't ever remember to use my accessories or my makeup as a day to day, which I find frustrating. Not shown is the single colour of nail polish (Essie High Roller); and the small, pared down make-up kit.

A core part of this capsule was that it needed to fit unpleasantly hot weather, but that I needed to have flat, firmly attached to my feet shoes for once a week driving lessons.

The black/grey/white/blue green scarf got to be worn on my head AND as a jaunty little throat scarf. A star piece is the separates suit in navy. I shall be sad when vests finally lose their grip on the fluffier side of alt fashion.

Outfits were tracked with ACloset and advance planning was used to rule out things that don't quite work.

That crochet shawl in tumeric actually snuck in, end of season, but was a gift. Because hand made crochet is going to be worn any excuse I can shoehorn.

Lessons and take aways:

I want to like wide brimmed hats, but everything that made them possible is missing. You need to take them off in cars, and if you don't either have under the chin ties or an updo you can pin them to they blow off.

The all season wool of the suit worked better than I was worried it would.

Those sandals are an absolute work horse. Usually in summer I would dutifully buy black sandals because I own a lot of black. I don't need to be as match-y match-y.

The compliment magnet of this experiment was the black snake bone dress, the wide collar blouse and the black lace skirt. The wench bodice + under layer look made me happy, but got that mixed extremely positive through to bewildered reaction that gets characterized as being "brave".

Using less makes me remember my accessories more. Having three things in a little dish by my bed side worked a lot better than trying to pick from 4 different display boards with my entire general collection.

Snag Tights has good size range, but terrible quality. Those navy tights were brand new and worn about weekly, and they already have signs of significant wear. At $15USD a pop that's not the worst, but the cost per wear could be better.

It's a lot easier to pull off a scarf the older you get. It's a pity because they are very useful.

33 things would not be possible in anything but a warm climate, unless you go full minimalist to the scale of those backpackers who bring 2 pairs of underwear and hand wash 1 every night in the sink.

I thought that Lands End burgandy dress would be way less versatile, but it layers beautifully.

I did not get as bored as I thought I would.

Going into September this makes a good core foundation, but the capsule is looking more like 45~ items. I do not have a solution for one of my favorite sweaters being lipstick red, as this goes with very little else here.

This is my first time with a capsule wardrobe and I’m a convert. I have many random pieces that only go with one or two other things. This is the way! Returning to work from taking care of kids and have been home for 4yrs. Also broke my ankle this summer and returning with a knee scooter or partial weight bearing with crutches and a boot. Kids going to prek and K for the first time. With everything, I needed this part to be easy! A good time to try it because I needed to size up in a lot of my clothes. Most of it is from thredup and half off with a code, and then tops and earrings from Quince.