How To Create A Mindful Capsule Collection

Rebecca Rodden is the founder of Eluroom, which means ‘joy of life’ in Estonian. Her mission is to inspire women to radiate joy through effortless style and build a mindset to live a full spirited life with confidence. In this article, Rebecca guides you through creating a mindful capsule wardrobe that’s ready for any adventure. 

‘Before taking control of your wardrobe, take control of your mind.’

When faced with a bulging wardrobe full of clothes you’ve collected over years (or even decades), starting the organisation process can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be — success is all in the preparation.

To help you face the wardrobe fear, I’ve put together an easy and effective guide for you to follow step by step.

As you make progress, you’ll start to feel more motivated. Creating an intentional capsule wardrobe is a great way of clearing out the bad energy, ready to embrace more abundance.

I would suggest setting aside some time for yourself, about a day or two, to complete this process.

It means going through everything and weeding out things you no longer wear. It’s time to detach and let go. No more holding onto things which you haven't worn in a long time.

Out with the old, in with the new, as they say.

What You’ll Need To Clear Your Wardrobe: 

• Storage box x3
• Bin bags at least 3
• Cleaning supplies
• Coat hangers (approx 100 for every metre of hanging space)
• A rolling rail (useful but not essential)

Meditation for Creating Space

Before starting, take some time to be in the moment. 

Come to a comfortable seated position and close your eyes. Sit tall through the crown of the head and lightly turn up the corners of the mouth. 

Draw the breath down to the base of the spine and pause. Exhale – maybe even sigh – release and let go. Do this for a couple of cycles of breath. Then let them go. 

Blink open the eyes, ready for action. 

Let’s get started. You’re going to categorise your clothing by asking four key questions.

What condition is it in?

If it ripped, pilled, discolored or stained = b for bin

Eco tip: old t-shirts make great cleaning cloths!

Does this flatter me?

Does the piece fit and flatter you — RIGHT NOW? Don’t hold onto those pieces which maybe one day will. Why do that to yourself?

Have I worn it in the last 2 years?

If you have not, it is highly unlikely you will.

Exceptions being investment purchases like leather, cashmere, and coats, or special occasion pieces like wedding dresses.

Does this bring me joy?

Going a bit Marie Kondo here, but you should love everything in your wardrobe.

This helps with editing the special occasion items. If it is close to your heart, keep it.

How Often Should I Clear My Wardrobe?  

You can do this twice a year as the seasons change. Consider putting winter pieces into storage in summer and vice versa. 

The Next Step…

Well done! You now have a wardrobe of pieces you love — make sure you take a break. Next we're going to put our wardrobe to work in a capsule collection.

How To Create A Capsule Wardrobe

Now let’s have a play creating your capsule collection. It’s fun, won’t take long, but will save you loads of time in deciding what to wear each day. The first 20 minutes of your day set the framework for the rest of it, so why spend time procrastinating over what to wear? Set yourself up for the day with these 3 simple steps.

1. Pack For An Imaginary Vacation

Imagine you are going on a 4 day city break. You take a carry on — who wants to waste time waiting for a bag (or worse still the airline loses it…).

The weather is unpredictable, so you need styles which can be layered. You’re planning to be on the go, so you need pieces that will see you through from sunrise to sunset. You want to explore, so comfort is key. And finally - put down anything that needs to be ironed. You don’t want to waste valuable holiday time dealing with creases. 

Your ‘packing list’ will come from your existing wardrobe. Take a look with these requirements in mind, and start to ‘pack’.

What will you end up with? Chances are, you’ll be surrounded by all of your favorite pieces. Using the power of your subconscious, you’ll naturally gravitate towards the items you feel great in and can wear anywhere. 

What Should My Capsule Wardrobe Include?

Need a little more guidance? Here is a sample packing list:

• Jacket
• Knitwear to layer
• 2 bottoms (skirt and/or trouser)
• 2/3 dresses
• 3/4 tops

You will be pleasantly surprised to see you have the makings of a capsule collection. Now let’s edit it down a little more. 

2. Refine Your Selection

Take a further look. Have you duplicated anything? For example, you might have “packed” two pairs of jeans or two tops which are pretty similar. 

How do the colors sit together? If it all looks a bit samey, have a couple of your favorites ready to swap out.  

3. Add The Finishing Touches

Now for accessories and shoes. Swapping out a shoe/trainer/boot can completely change a look. A belt and scarf can also add a whole new dimension. Often you can use a scarf as a belt, they take up next to no space.   

I have a mantra — metallics are a neutral. What better way to add some shine and turn the fine into fabulous but the addition of metallics, whether through jewelry or other accessories?

The Two Week Wardrobe Rule

Now you (and your wardrobe) are ready for anything. Curating a capsule collection will see you through for at least a week if not two.

Have you heard of the two week rule? Now I do advocate that, when it comes to dressing, there are no rules, but think of this as a ‘rule of thumb’.

Aim for your wardrobe to be on a 2 week rotation. This is a trick of the memory and it will make it appear limitless.  

All you need to do now is pack everything away. My top tip, if you don’t already, is to product block. All skirts together, all dresses together, all jackets together and so on. Within this I tend to group colors together. It all makes it quicker to find things.

Make the occasion with what you wear, and make finding what to wear easier!