In the traditionally cyclical, trend-oriented fashion industry, a new ethos is taking over: a minimalist approach that brings added weight to each piece and encourages consumers to think carefully about what they purchase and why. Exemplified by the concept of the capsule wardrobe, this take on minimalism acknowledges the staying power of well-designed pieces, revealing how they can consistently elevate aesthetics while sparking a genuine sense of joy.
The capsule concept could significantly impact the future of fashion by promoting sustainability and mindful consumption while preserving the industry’s tradition of innovation. To reveal the hidden potential of the capsule movement, we will cover all the minimalist wardrobe essentials, including how to build a capsule wardrobe while incorporating other elements of sustainable fashion.
What Is a Capsule Wardrobe?
The capsule wardrobe is not defined so much by what it includes as what it leaves out, including any clothing items deemed non-essential. As the Royal Geographical Society journal Area explains, this effort involves the intentional “reducing [of] one’s wardrobe space to a bare minimum of essential items.”
While no one piece or wardrobe size can officially define the concept of the capsule, these varying collections hold a few qualities in common. They are thoughtfully curated, featuring just a few interchangeable items that can easily be mixed and matched to create a variety of aesthetically pleasing outfits.
Origins of the Capsule Wardrobe
For thousands of years, most people had small wardrobes with only the essentials for daily use, plus one or two formal “Sunday best” outfits. The Industrial Revolution changed all this, delivering affordable fabrics and mass-produced, ready-to-wear items. This allowed consumers to expand their collections while marketing and media encouraged fashion lovers to draw inspiration from quickly changing trends.
During the early 20th century, wardrobes expanded dramatically, with fashion lovers soon selecting different outfits for everyday of the week. Still, compared to today’s vast wardrobes, these collections were decidedly limited.
In her book Overdressed, consumer culture expert Elizabeth Cline suggests that, in the 1930s, the average American woman owned nine outfits. Meanwhile, insights presented at the Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference highlight contemporary wardrobe sizes ranging from 70 to well over 400 pieces.
In response to early concerns about excessively sized wardrobes, London boutique owner Susie Faux introduced her take on the capsule concept, striving to sell not only individual garments, but also “style and confidence.” This concept continued to gain traction with designers we’ll discuss in more detail below (namely, Donna Karan and Eileen Fisher), but until recently, it was not a core part of the larger fashion discourse.
After 2020, widespread interest in the capsule philosophy appeared in response to concerns about fast fashion and its harmful environmental impact. COVID-19 influenced this conversation as people returning to workplaces after lockdowns began reevaluating their large wardrobes, which often lacked joy or purpose.
Core Principles of a Capsule Wardrobe
The primary ethos behind the capsule wardrobe? The familiar cliché “quality over quantity.” This approach is intentional by nature, with capsule enthusiasts purposefully curating wardrobes that make the most of each individual piece. In doing so, they can avoid spending hard-earned money on lower-quality items that may quickly degrade or fall out of fashion. Simplicity is also a priority. Classic styles, colors, and patterns are easier to mix and match than bolder or trendier pieces.
Sustainability was not originally at the forefront of capsule-inspired collections, but it has become a central part of this discussion. Research reveals that the fashion industry creates a significant carbon footprint. By purchasing fewer items, consumers can reduce emissions and resource consumption. Meanwhile, curated designs include pieces that people genuinely love and are less likely to contribute to textile waste.
The Role of Minimalism in Fashion Design
The concept of minimalism is often tied to a specific aesthetic, featuring clean lines and neutral colors. However, it is possible to wear a minimalist piece without actually embodying the spirit of minimalism. True minimalism in fashion design goes beyond any one piece to emphasize an overarching emphasis on simplicity within one’s wardrobe and lifestyle.
Less Is More: Designing With Purpose
While maximalists adopt a “more is more” approach, this stands in stark contrast to the primary philosophy of minimalism and its accompanying capsule wardrobes. Less absolutely can be more, especially when pared-back wardrobes are purposefully designed to bring out those who wear fewer — but better-crafted — pieces. Under this approach, a single item can be re-imagined to elevate numerous styles or outfits.
Elevating Functionality
Functional fashion design brings greater purpose to clothing pieces beyond how they look. Comfort should be a priority, with pieces ideally promoting a range of motion and offering the ideal blend of breathability and insulation.
What is deemed functional may also depend on the situation or setting in which various items are used. Ideally, pieces will be versatile enough to feel appropriate everywhere, from home to the office and even in formal settings. Durability also plays into the functional nature of minimalist style. If fewer items are to be worn more frequently, they need to hold up to regular use.
Sustainability Lessons From Capsule Wardrobes
In an era of fast fashion, it is easier than ever to maintain a large and varied wardrobe. That said, this does not represent the pinnacle of high fashion, as some may assume. Rather, true fashion calls for an in-depth understanding of tailoring, craftsmanship, and design principles, which coalesce to form thoughtful and even sustainable wardrobes.
Reducing Waste Through Thoughtful Design
No matter how sustainably produced, every clothing item calls for the significant use of natural resources. Insights from the United Nations Environment Program, for example, suggest that it takes nearly 1,000 gallons of water to produce a single pair of jeans.
Unfortunately, with the average garment worn a mere ten times before it’s discarded, the fashion industry produces significant waste. Yes, sustainable practices can reduce this to some extent, but the biggest energy savings come from simply wearing the same pieces more often so that new, energy-intense garments do not need to be manufactured in the first place.
Thoughtful design accomplishes this in a few key ways. It promotes durability so that individuals can continue to wear the same pieces for years, and it also prevents the wearer from needing to purchase replacements to keep up with quickly changing trends. When pieces feel timeless, consumers are reluctant to let go of these beloved garments.
Encouraging Sustainable Material Choices
In addition to promoting durability and timeless styles, designers can elevate sustainability by opting for the most eco-friendly materials available. BBC Earth highlights wool and linen as among the most sustainable materials, but hemp and seaweed can limit the environmental impact of clothing manufacturing. Ideally, designers will strike a balance, promoting both sustainability in production and durability so that each sustainable piece lasts as long as possible.
Designing Capsule-Inspired Collections
Capsule collections remove the guesswork from building a capsule wardrobe, giving consumers a ready-made approach that appeals greatly to those with a potentially limited understanding of style and craftsmanship. This can save time and help consumers avoid impulse purchases. Many high-end designers are beginning to gravitate towards this approach, driven not only by ethical priorities, but also by the desire to boost loyalty and create committed, lifelong customers.
Building a Cohesive Color Palette
Much of the current waste in fast fashion stems from a limited understanding of color palettes, with consumers often purchasing items on a whim without considering whether these pieces actually match any garments in their current wardrobes.
Capsule collections solve this problem by helping consumers understand which colors work well together. Usually focused on neutral tones with a few planned accent colors, these palettes enhance the capsule concept’s mix-and-match versatility. Base colors add visual interest, but should complement the wearer’s skin tone.
Timeless Silhouettes and Trends
A few elevated silhouettes consistently feel relevant, while others are more likely to come across as dated once they depart the runway. This timeless tailoring is flattering and can provide a polished look that transcends seasonal trends.
For dresses, classic wrap and sheath styles always look lovely. Jeans and trousers can be trickier, especially as styles traditionally deemed ‘classic’ may not prove ideal for all body types. That being said, straight-leg styles and modest boot-cut pants qualify as timeless fashion pieces, remaining visually compelling even as trend-oriented consumers cycle through wide legs, skinny jeans, or dramatic flares.
Versatility in Design
Because capsule wardrobes contain so few items, each specific piece must be capable of serving multiple purposes. This extends beyond the stylistic mixing-and-matching of the capsule collection to include a range of climate and functional concerns. Pieces should not be restricted to specific functions, like yoga classes or dinner parties or even seasons, such as winter or summer. Instead, they should be versatile enough to layer or style for various occasions.
Marketing Capsule Wardrobe-Inspired Fashion
Creating functional, minimalist styles is only the beginning. Designers also need to convince consumers to intentionally purchase these scaled-back items, rather than continue impulsively purchasing eye-catching items that reflect micro-trends.
This calls for a complete reframing of the usual approach to marketing fashion, shifting the focus away from short-lived trends. The new focus? Tailoring and craftsmanship. Campaigns that educate consumers and draw attention to ethical concerns are the most likely to succeed.
Educating Consumers on Capsule Principles
Many consumers are open to the capsule wardrobe idea but struggle to implement this concept. This is where designers can make a difference, revealing which styles and pieces will most likely stand the test of time. This means calling attention to what makes certain silhouettes feel timeless, or color palettes feel cohesive. Ethical education also matters as this helps consumers define their ‘why’ for adopting a limited wardrobe.
Highlighting Sustainability
Many minimalists embrace capsule wardrobes because they recognize the eco-friendly value of this approach. Some may want to expand upon basic sustainable fashion design ideas to ensure that each individual item represents the pinnacle of eco-friendly style. This is best achieved by using sustainable fabrics and manufacturing methods — and ensuring that consumers know which fabrics are included and why they qualify as sustainable.
Creating Capsule Wardrobe Guides
Educational efforts can vary. While some consumers may value regular tips in social media feeds or emails, others might prefer straightforward, comprehensive guides on building and maintaining a curated wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe checklist can provide a great start, but consumers also want to know why specific styles or pieces are recommended.
Each brand-specific capsule wardrobe guide should break down the concept of the capsule, complete with visually impactful capsule wardrobe examples that reveal how to mix and match various items. For instance, it may be necessary to provide gender-specific guidance, revealing the nuances of a capsule wardrobe for women in contrast to the best strategy to create a capsule wardrobe for men.
Examples of Capsule Wardrobe Success Stories
The eco-friendly capsule wardrobe once felt like a novelty but has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with many influencers drawing attention to their curated collections and, more importantly, living out this ethos by consistently wearing the same few, clearly beloved pieces. Many prominent brands and designers are also on board, offering a wealth of capsule wardrobe inspiration.
Brands Leading the Capsule Movement
While influencers have a powerful role to play in advocating for capsule wardrobes, fashion brands elevate this effort by making the process of building a capsule wardrobe feel effortless.
- Cuyana. Offering curated capsules that make it easy to plan a cohesive and elevated wardrobe, direct-to-consumer brand Cuyana has a clear priority: help stylish individuals purchase “fewer, better things.” Themed capsules offer guidance, helping customers create tailored collections, such as a travel capsule wardrobe or one designed for work.
- Eileen Fisher. Encouraging customers to make intentional choices via the Seasonal Planner tool, influential designer Eileen Fisher leans into simplicity, revealing how a smaller wardrobe can produce a more fashion-forward style. The New York Times refers to Fisher as the “queen of slow fashion,” revealing how she has brought a new perspective to the industry by emphasizing purpose-driven collections.
Iconic Capsule Collections
Recognizing opportunity within the quickly growing capsule movement, several innovative brands and designers have developed curated collections emphasizing craftsmanship and sustainability. These collections are surprisingly versatile, encouraging a wider variety of consumers to join the capsule movement.
- Donna Karan’s Seven Easy Pieces. Offering a simple blueprint for how to achieve minimalism in fashion, Donna Karan was clearly ahead of the curve when she created the Seven Easy Pieces collection. Meant to “captivate the versatile beauty of the modern woman and the streamlined spirit of the urban lifestyle,” this mix-and-match system incorporated timeless yet elevated pieces such as bodysuits, tailored jackets, and versatile dresses.
- COS (Collection of Style). Described as “modern style, designed to last,” COS brings a purpose-driven approach to fashion, offering a refined approach that evokes both minimalism and sophistication. The brand offers helpful guidance for building capsule wardrobes, complete with editor’s picks that bring the essence of the COS style to the modern capsule concept.
- Theory Project. Contemporary fashion label Theory blends luxury and accessibility while emphasizing precise tailoring. With Theory Project, this concept goes a step further, drawing on the expertise of Paris-based designer Lucas Ossendrijve to “expand on Theory’s design codes.” Ossendrijve tells Vogue, “It’s not a niche brand, it’s not just marketing, and it’s not a runway show where you have to seduce with extreme propositions.”
- Patagonia’s Fundamentals. Patagonia reveals the power of a practical wardrobe, which, although primarily intended for outdoorsy activities, has become something of a fashion trailblazer due to its eco-friendly fashion commitments. Fans explain that the brand’s favorite pieces “hit the right sweet spot between East Coast money and West Coast casual.” With the Fundamentals collection, Patagonia brings a capsule-inspired approach to casual and recreational wear, proving that this strategy doesn’t need to feel limited to professional wardrobes.
Discover Your Fashion Philosophy With RMCAD
Are you passionate about minimalist fashion? Would you like to embrace eco-friendly opportunities? You will uncover a whole world of exciting ideas as you study fashion design with Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD). Our fashion design program is available both online and in-person, offering many ways to develop and refine your fashion philosophy. Get started today, or reach out to learn more.