Capsule Wardrobe 101

how to:

capsule wardrobe 101

Capsule wardrobes have been all the rage for the past few years now. Although I think they have navigated away from the original, more traditional definition of a strict number of classic, high-quality, versatile pieces, I still love the idea of capsule wardrobes and thought I’d give you my take on how to build your own capsule wardrobe. It’s definitely not the original method or the only method to build a capsule, but I hope this gives you some starting points or some ideas to tackle capsule wardrobes your own way.

But first, let’s talk about the why.

I think it’s important to consider why you want to have a capsule wardrobe before you start, or else this whole process might only be something that lasts for a few weeks, or maybe a few months. Here are a few pros and cons to consider when starting a capsule wardrobe. Maybe the following are some reasons that piqued your interest in the first place. Ultimately, we want to build a capsule wardrobe that features your favourite styles and is functional and practical for your lifestyle so that it becomes a sustainable process.

Pros:

• budget friendly

• great for small closets

• can be more environmentally friendly

• longer lasting

• easier to get ready

• bonus: may help you discover your personal style!

Cons/Challenges:

• style/trend constricting

• possibility of being less environmentally friendly (will discuss this point below)

• seasonal constrictions

Considerations…

Consider your lifestyle

Before gathering pieces for your capsule wardrobe, it’s important to know which pieces are best suited for your lifestyle. For example, I used to work in a more corporate setting, so pieces like trousers, shirts, and blazers made a lot more sense than they do now in my more casual work setting. Maybe you’re a new mum or a student. These things all affect what we choose to wear each day and what pieces we incorporate into our capsule wardrobes.

Consider your environment

Another factor that I personally found affected my capsule a lot is weather. After moving back to Canada from Sydney, I’ve found that I need a few more pieces than I did living in a warmer climate to get me through all four crazy Toronto-weather seasons. If I lived in a purely warm, sunny place, I might need fewer pieces in my capsule. So all that to say, consider your environment, and where you live when creating your capsule.

A system that works for me is having a basic, year-round core capsule that consists of pieces that are worn all seasons. Then on top of that I have a seasonal capsule for fall/winter and then one for spring/summer where I can have a bit more fun and change things up each season and include pieces that I wouldn’t necessarily wear all year round. You can read more on my core capsule here. Keep in mind, that I’m quite flexible with my wardrobe and I sometimes swap pieces from my seasonal and core capsules because I’m still figuring out which pieces I actually wear through all seasons.

Consider your personal style

What do you personally love to wear? If there are pieces you often gravitate toward, these will most likely be your capsule wardrobe staples. If you’ve been following my sustainable style journey for a while now, you’ll probably know that turtlenecks and high waisted pants are my jam. I go to these items time and time again for reasons such as comfort, practicality, and function. Take a look through your current wardrobe, I’m sure you can pick out some tried and true pieces as your capsule foundation.

Go easy on yourself!

I know traditionally, capsules are about numbers and having a certain number of pieces in your wardrobe. However, I personally think it’s fine for each individual to have a set a number or range for themselves, according to the factors that I mentioned above. In the end I’ve learned, through this process, to be intentional with my budget and what pieces I choose to invest into. It has also taught me that I need less than I think I do. I’ve also learned more about my personal style and it has invited more creativity into my wardrobe by learning to experiment with different ways to style pieces.

Let’s get started! (finally)

Wardrobe Evaluation

First, evaluate what you already own! This is SO SO important to being sustainable through this whole process. The point of a capsule is to curate a wardrobe that you love and can easily style each day that fits your lifestyle. I’m sure there are at least a few things in your wardrobe that you love to wear. So pick out a few dearly loved pieces and make sure you include those in your capsule! If there are pieces you no longer wear or are ill-fitting, declutter it sustainably! Try to repurpose the item or fabric (Tip: old t-shirts make GREAT cleaning rags). Sell it through online platforms such as BUNZ, Poshmark, or ThredUp. Donate it or gift it to someone else who loves it and would want to give it a second life.

Gather Inspiration

Next, gather style inspiration! This is such a fun part for me. I’m always so inspired by others’ style and I love to create mood boards each season on Pinterest. This not only keeps me from impulse purchases, but it also shows how my style changes from season to season - it’s like a digital style diary. I also love the “save” function on Instagram which I use often as I’m scrolling, to save inspiring outfits and styling techniques.

List It Out

Now that you’ve gathered pieces from your existing wardrobe and hunted for style inspo. It’s now time to identify wardrobe “gaps” or maybe some “wants”. Maybe there’s a particular trend that you love this season and you want to include - write it down! Maybe you’ve been on the hunt for high quality high waisted denim for a long time. Write it down! For example, this spring/summer season, I was on the lookout for some white pants and more “summer” material pieces for my capsule. Whatever wardrobe gaps you identify, make a list! Having a list in mind helps to guide your shopping so that you will be less likely to make an impulse purchase. It’s like going to the grocery store with a list rather than going to the grocery store with no list and an empty stomach!

Cape Jumpsuit (Top) by Vetta Capsule
Donna Jeans by Cheap Monday

Black Tee by Muji
The Carpenter Pant by Everlane

Shop Intentionally

Finally, it’s time to shop for those missing items. Start to keep an eye out for the items you’ve identified on your list and shop with intention. You may be wondering, “what does shopping intentionally even mean?”. That is a great question because honestly, I think shopping intentionally can mean different things to different people, depending on your WHY (see above). I can only speak for my own why, so here’s my story and how I define “shopping intentionally”. I originally began exploring capsule wardrobes because of my interest in living a more low waste life. This exploration very quickly led me to the nasty discovery of how wasteful and unethical the fast fashion industry is and this has really affected how I shop. For me, shopping intentionally means being aware of my ecological footprint by shopping sustainably and also supporting ethically-made brands where I can. As tempting as it would be to start from zero, and build my wardrobe from the ground up, I would end up leaving an even larger environmental footprint by throwing out all my existing clothing. Instead, I try to “shop my closet” as much as I can but still give myself the freedom to enjoy fashion by making purchases from ethical and sustainable companies and investing in high quality pieces that I know will get a lot of wear.

If you don’t know where to look for sustainable and ethical brands, I have a whole brand directory where I’ve been keeping track of all the brands I’ve tried or have collaborated with in the past.

Now what?

Well, if you stuck around all the way to the end, thank you so much - I really appreciate it! I hope this post was insightful and helpful if you’re looking to build your own capsule wardrobe or are just curious about all this capsule talk. It may seem a little complicated at first, but trust me, you’ll get the hang of it! I’m going to leave a few more tips below that you guys shared with me through my latest #capsuleconversations post, and hopefully they will help someone out!

Tips from you!

• try smaller capsule challenges as a start to see if the capsule wardrobe system is for you (spring 10x10, may 30x30)

• have a visual overview for your capsule wardrobe

• choose pieces based on fabrics

• have a “capsule” when travelling to test out the system

• make sure your pieces can be styled at least 3 ways before purchasing

• have fewer pieces that are patterned for simpler styling

Let’s continue the conversation below! Please let me know if you have any other questions or things I should blog about. It was already so hard to cap this post…I’m thinking there may need to be a part 2!

Do you have a capsule wardrobe? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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This post is not sponsored but contains some gifted items and affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I make a small commission that helps support this blog. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!

Current Low-waste Bathroom Lineup

Current Low-waste Bathroom Lineup

shower edition

I’m excited to say that my current bathroom lineup is the most eco-conscious and low waste it’s ever been. Let me tell you, my hair and bath products were definitely not always low waste. In fact, for most of my life, I was worried mostly about whether the product worked and whether it smelled good or not. I did not care if it wasn’t natural, if it had a ton of packaging, or whether I’d be able to finish the product. When I started on this lifestyle change I looked at different areas of my life that I found to be the most wasteful and started to take small steps from there. In terms of beauty and hair products, I have never been the type that had a billion products nor do I wear a ton of makeup. I like my getting ready routine to be simple and fuss-free. The simplest first step I took towards having a more low waste bathroom lineup was to stop buying or stocking up on products and to just finish what I was currently using. After I finished all the products, I slowly began to move in a more low waste direction. Starting with body wash.

1. soap and body wash

This is one of the simplest changes that honestly anyone can make. It’s super accessible and doesn’t really change your routine much. It’s simply being intentional about choosing one product over another. Once I finished my liquid body wash, I opted for bar soap wrapped in paper instead of the typical product I would reach for, liquid body wash in a plastic bottle. Sometimes bar soap even comes unwrapped, and just like that, you’ve avoided one plastic bottle.

2. shampoo and conditioner

The next change I made was to buy my shampoo and conditioner in bulk with old shampoo and conditioner bottles. I brought my bottles to a bulk pop-up market in Toronto and was able to get them filled up. Another option to have less waste/no waste is to use a shampoo bar. These can be found at larger conventional stores like Lush or maybe smaller local soap companies or makers. I may try this route next time, once I’m done all my current product.

The next two changes are some fun DIY projects I did, which to be honest, not everyone has time for, and I completely understand. I thought it would be interesting to push myself a little and see how I could reduce waste even if it inconveniences me a little. These products are completely homemade with natural ingredients and a bit of elbow grease. I’ve also shared my specific recipes below, but there are tons of recipes on the internet if mine don’t work for you.

3. exfoliant

My brain is often filled with thoughts on how to reduce waste in my life. One morning I had been making my cup of coffee to start the day and as I was about to dump the used coffee grinds, I remember reading somewhere about reusing coffee grinds to make a body scrub. The kitchen is one of the most wasteful places of many households, mine included, so I was excited at the idea of being able to repurpose something that was otherwise just going to be dumped (of course in the compost). I had watched countless videos and read many different recipes before but I honestly did not follow a recipe for this scrub. I knew the general gist of how to create this scrub so I just went for it and here’s what I came up with.

Let’s DIY!

Mix together approximately 2-3 tablespoons of coffee grinds (about 16g of coffee beans) with 2 tbsp of coconut oil, or as much as you need to get a smooth paste consistency. Next I added about 1 tbsp of brown sugar to the scrub. Mix everything together until smooth and then store in an air-tight container. I made a very small batch because I wanted to test this recipe out before making a huge batch and not like it or have a reaction to it, therefore not being able to finish it. Another reason I think making small batches of these all natural DIY products is better because the “shelf-life” is not as long as conventional products that sit on shelves in stores. The shelf life of this scrub is about 6-9 months. I would recommend leaving a small facial towel beside it to dry your hands before using the scrub to avoid getting water in your container, as this would most likely reduce the shelf life of the product.

I’ve already received some questions about whether it is okay to use on your face. I’ve used it on mainly on my body and I’ve tried it a few times on my face. For reference, I have quite very dry skin and my face is dry - combination. I definitely wouldn’t recommend you using it on your face if you have oily skin as I have read that coconut oil can block pores and cause blackheads. If you do choose to use this scrub on your face, make sure you test it on a small patch of skin first and also be sure to rinse well. I have also used this scrub as a lip scrub and it works really well for that!

What are the benefits?

Coffee: powerful antioxidants, exfoliating properties help increase blood flow and therefore may improve skin brightness
Coconut Oil: moisturizing properties, reduce inflammation
Brown Sugar: hydrating, gentle exfoliant

The finished concoction of scrub smells delectable with hints of sweetness in the sugar mixed with coconuty-goodness and the awakening scent of coffee. I’m a night shower kind of person myself, but I’d imagine this scrub would be amazing in the morning to help wake up your senses. Why caffeinate by consuming coffee when you can literally bathe in it?

4. Body Butter

The final zerowaste product I experimented with was this shea butter and coconut oil body butter. Essentially DIY body butters are some combination of organic, natural oils mixed together. This is probably the simplest DIY body butter out there, feel free to add any other oils you want, for example sweet almond oil, argan oil, avocado oil, etc.

Let’s DIY!

Start by measuring 1/2 shea butter and 1/4 coconut oil. Melt the two ingredients in a double boiler until smooth and liquid. Place the melted ingredients into the fridge to harden up ever so slightly. Finally whip it up with a whisk or electric hand mixer to get the whipped body butter texture. Store in an air tight jar or container. Shelf life for this product is about a 9-12 months. Feel free to add different essential oils to your body butter, but be aware that the essential oils may shorten the shelf life of your body butter.

what are the benefits?

Shea butter: contains vitamins A and E, soothes and moisturizes skin, reduces inflammation
Coconut oil: see above

I’ve been using this whipped body butter for almost a month in the dead of winter and it has been really wonderful for my extremely dry skin. I think I’ve grown to like this product over time. The first few times I used it I loved it initially but found that overnight my skin would still be a bit dry in the morning. I have still yet to find a body moisturizer that keeps my skin moisturized over night. However, I’ve found that the more I used this body butter daily before bed, my skin has gotten softer and smoother in the past few weeks. When you first use it it is quite oily compared to regular conventional body butters. However, just be patient and let the oils sink into your skin.

I store both of these DIY products just beside the shower in my bathroom and I personally love to pair this body butter with the coffee scrub. They are the perfect duo for a little skin pampering on a quiet night in.

I hope my current product lineup has been encouraging to you, to help you have a more low-waste bathroom. The more I discover and experiment with low-waste living, the more I realize that it is very intentional and “slow”. It’s not about convenience and is often about planning and being intentional with my decisions. I hope I can continue to make these products and be intentional with my low-waste bathroom.

Let me know below what kind of changes you are hoping to make to your bathroom product lineup and please share this with a friend you’d want to make these DIY pampering products with!