Extend your budget with clothing capsules

Clothing capsules offer a smart way to expand your wardrobe and do a lot with little. By wearing the clothes you already own in new and different combinations, you have plenty of options without buying anything new. In fact, once you understand how clothing pods work, you can build your wardrobe out of them and create tons of outfits, and stop wasting money on impulsive clothes that don’t match anything else you own.

The first thing to do is remember when planning clothing capsules that you CAN mix and match your clothes. Often, we get into such a rut that we forget that there is more than one way to do things. Once you get out of that way of thinking and try different things, you’ll be amazed at what you can do.

So what is a clothing capsule?

A clothing capsule is a group of 5 to 12 pieces (jacket, skirt, pants, etc.) that match each other in color, style, or mood. Black pants with a jumped print scarf, for example, or a white skirt with a navy and white top.

Whether you always wear certain tops with certain bottoms or always wear the same jewelry with a certain dress, realizing that you can wear those tried-and-true combos in different ways becomes very liberating. It also allows you to do so much more with your wardrobe, allowing you to shop less, save more, and still look good all the time.

While there are no set rules, here are some general guidelines for building wardrobe pods:

*Solids blend more easily than prints.

*Prints can join two completely different solids.

*Simple, no-frills styles are more versatile and less dated.

*Each piece should be in your most flattering color palette and fit both your shape and the personality of your clothing. Don’t buy items that don’t fit or make you look good.

*Avoid trendy styles. What is “in” this year will be “out” next year and you will be out of money. Invest in classic styles instead of wearing more of your clothes.

Now I know from experience that some women are very good at mixing and matching, while others need a little more help. Sort your closet for easy access by keeping all pants together, all jackets together, all skirts together, etc., by color, so you can see at a glance what you have to work with.

Study catalogs and storefronts for ideas. Take note of how a jacket can be worn a little differently or how an accessory can be used in a new way. It doesn’t take much.
To re-emphasize: start building your pods with what you have. Often the first inclination is to go buy something new. There’s no need. See what you have, see what you need, and add parts as your budget allows.

In the meantime, experiment with what you have. Write down the combinations if necessary. You’ll get used to this in no time.

Once you unlock your creativity by looking at your wardrobe in every way, you will soon find yourself doing the same with other aspects of your life, such as your home, work, problem solving, etc. When you do, you’ll be delighted with what your imagination can create. In the words of fashion designer Jil Sander, “Think more, buy less.”