You know that feeling when you’re staring at your closet trying to decide what to wear, and you can physically see that you own clothing, but you still feel like you have nothing to wear? I’ve been there! Over the past year or so, I’ve been working to edit down my closet and build an eco-friendly capsule wardrobe that fits my current lifestyle. And you can, too!

How to Get Started with an Eco-Friendly Capsule Wardrobe

Editing down my closet has actually been cathartic for me. I didn’t realize how much it was stressing me out to have a closet full of clothes that don’t work for me and no longer fit my personal style! Clothing that was too small, pieces that are outdated, items I’ll never wear again, things I keep meaning to take to the dry cleaner or tailor… the list goes on.

Before we dig in, one important PSA: Please don’t get rid of all your clothes and start over to build a new entire wardrobe! That would defeat the purpose of getting more use out of your clothing, which is a key strategy in building out a more eco-friendly closet.

Why Do You Need a Capsule Wardrobe?

Well, first of all, need is a strong word. But there are a number of great reasons to be more intentional with your clothing and edit down the number of items you own. Those reasons include:

• • Better for your Budget: When you buy fewer clothes, you will save money. Always a plus!
  • Simplify Things for Yourself: Deciding what to wear every day can be exhausting, amiright?! With a pared-down wardrobe, your options are more limited – but in a good way when you have versatile pieces to work with! Plus, there’s less laundry, less dry cleaning, and fewer trips to the tailor, so you’ll spend less time overall worrying about your wardrobe.
  • Refine your Style: As you learn about what styles and silhouettes flatter you, it can be really freeing. Peplum looks great on some women, but it just doesn’t work on me and I’ve made peace with that. I like knowing that I have go-to options and versatile pieces that I look and feel good in.
  • Better for the Planet: Apparel & footwear production now makes up 8% of greenhouse gas emissions.  The less I buy, the less I contribute to the negative environmental impact of fash fashion.

Creating a Capsule Wardrobe for Sustainability

For me, the biggest reason I’ve been working on building a capsule wardrobe is to be more eco-friendly and more sustainable. Each year, millions of pieces of clothing are purchased and tossed away. The simple act of wearing your clothes more is one of the most impactful actions you can take to be more sustainable with your wardrobe.

I’ll be honest – I’m a bit embarrassed by the amount of clothing that was sitting in my closet that still had tags on it. Apparently, I’m not alone. According to the Wall Street Journal, shopping for clothing is increasing to the point where Americans on average buy 68 new items each year, and then on top of that, they are only wearing each piece about 7 times.

I know I can do better and making sure my closet is full of clothes that fit my individual style AND work for my current daily routine is the number one way I’m going to make sure I get more wear out of my purchases.

For example, I’ve been working from home for 10 years now, and I rarely visit clients anymore. So I’ve been weeding out my more formal business clothing and only keeping a few flexible “business casual” pieces. Now when I’m shopping and I see an item I really like but it’s more corporate attire, I can assess whether I actually need another “client-visit” item, or if I already have enough in my closet.

3 Step Guide to Create Your Capsule Wardrobe Checklist

Think through the types of clothing you need for your current lifestyle. Do you work in a corporate setting where you need formal business or business casual attire? Are you a stay-at-home-mom who needs comfortable clothing that holds up to the wear and tear of your days? Somewhere in between? Be honest with your needs and start to create a checklist so you can compare what you already have with what you need to add. Don’t be afraid to include essential items like workout clothes or yoga pants if that’s an important thing for you!

When I created my checklist list, it was a bit longer than I expected! I wanted to have easy items so I could pull together different looks, but one of my goals was also less decision fatigue – I have enough things to think about when I run to the grocery store!

It’s hard to throw out a magic number of clothing items. I think you just have to go with your gut and decide what “enough clothes” means for you. My list included things like:

• • Great basics like multiple pairs of jeans (sometimes you need dark wash jeans, and summer calls for white jeans!) and a classic white tee
  • Statement pieces like a trench coat, little black dress, and of course a few pairs of shoes for special occasions
  • Seasonal pieces that can work any time of year, like a sweater dress that can be worn in different seasons with sandals for spring and tights and a cardigan in the fall

First Step: Shop your closet

The first thing to do is really assess your current clothes to figure out what you’re keeping. Be ruthless and set aside items that no longer fit – both literally and figuratively. It can sometimes help you have a friend help be your sanity check so you don’t keep items for sentimental reasons.

Do you already own core items like skinny jeans (an essential item in any capsule collection, no matter what Gen Z says!) or a black blazer? Great! Taking an inventory of your existing pieces is an important step when building the perfect capsule wardrobe!

What do you do with the clothes you aren’t keeping?

Next, review the clothes you set aside. Anything that is damaged should be tossed, but take the opportunity to list your old clothes on a site like Poshmark or ThreadUP. This extends the life of the garment, which is great for the environment, and it can also earn you some money that you can use to build out your capsule wardrobe. Win win! I know we all lead busy lives, but if you can, resist the urge to donate your clothing since only about 20% of donated clothing is re-sold at retail locations.

Shop with intention

As you build out your capsule wardrobe and purchase new pieces, take the time to curate a wardrobe that will serve you and stand the test of time. What is your preferred color scheme? Since you just went through your wardrobe, you probably have an idea of what you wear on a daily basis and what items work well for your body type.

Try to purchase a limited number of items that work in different ways. There are no strict rules, but versatile items will be your best friend! I try not to waste time with fashion trends that I know I won’t keep around in the long run and instead my aim is for a classic look and a timeless style… if there is such a thing with the constantly evolving fashion industry!

• • Can you find quality brands in good condition on sites like Poshmark, ThreadUP, or The RealReal? Don’t forget good old eBay and Facebook marketplace!
  • Research up and coming sustainable fashion brands. Some of my favorites are Pact, Able, and Everlane
  • Finally, more and more traditional retailers are listening to consumers and offering better options. Banana Republic recently introduced a line made with more sustainable fabrics and less water. Even Target has launched a new line made with recycled materials and sustainably-sourced cotton

Check out my next post to see what I’ve included in my current capsule wardrobe, and what items I’m on the hunt for.