What you need to know as a busy mum
A capsule wardrobe is a streamlined (some would say 'formulaic') way of dressing, where all your fashion separates work back with one another in a cohesive, uncomplicated way. It means buying fewer random items (impulse buys) that are difficult to outfit and, instead, building a wardrobe that consists of core pieces, on high rotation. There is no set number of items you must adhere to when building your capsule wardrobe; it really depends on how many items you’re starting with. It could be anywhere from 10 to 30 items and upwards. The idea is to make your life easier, not harder. Everything should mix and match without too much thinking – allowing you to pull together different outfits that suit your style.
A major appeal of a capsule wardrobe is that it not only enables you get dressed quicker in the morning but also ensures you get maximum wear out of the pieces you already own. When you can see clearly what is hanging in your wardrobe and the pieces that you return to time and time again, you'll be encouraged to shop more strategically and get dressed with less dread and stress – despite whatever chaos may have unfolded in your busy morning.
How has the capsule wardrobe evolved over time?
If you love vintage, trend or bold pieces, you may have found the traditional capsule wardrobe rules boring and uninspiring. For example, "every item should be in a neutral hue so as to coordinate back with other items more easily, and every woman should own a beige trench coat, a crisp white shirt, and a little black dress", but what if you’re not a trench coat wearing woman, and beige tones makes you look sick?
The ‘rules’ around capsule wardrobes have evolved to more appropriately consider life stages, seasons and lifestyles. Fashion needs to make sense with how we live our lives each day. So whether you’re a new mum reading this, or you’ve been ‘mumming’ for a while, you will know better than anyone that your wardrobe requirements have changed.
Your capsule wardrobe will likely differ from a twenty-something corporate climber’s wardrobe. Your capsule wardrobe should be based on your personal style preferences and your life as a mum. Whether you’re a working mum or a SAH (stay-at-home) mum – it makes sense to create a capsule wardrobe, if for nothing more than to eliminate one of life's daily stresses– figuring out what to wear in the morning.
As a new mum, how can I apply capsule wardrobe principles?
As a busy mum, it makes sense to adopt at least some of the capsule wardrobe principles and see what works for you. Practicality aside, with the accelerated demand for sustainability, it makes more sense than ever to embrace clothing that gets plenty of love and wear and to pass on items that don’t bring as much lasting joy.
Your capsule wardrobe can still have trend-driven items if you love them and they align with your style, but it’s important to ask yourself if a new item will work back with the majority of your existing wardrobe. How much wear will it get realistically?
If you haven’t already, you might like to take our ‘find my style’ quiz to help solve your style confusion or re-inspire you. If you’re confident in your personal style, then you’ve got a good head start for curating your capsule wardrobe.
For example, if your style is mostly ‘soulful’, then you might want to consider how a floaty boho dress you purchased in summer will work for you when Autumn blows around. Will it look great belted with boots and tights? Paired back with a denim vest over top? These considerations will help you get more mileage out of your wardrobe.
I’ve distilled each of the five style profiles down to three key words. You might find it helpful to keep your key words in mind when culling your wardrobe and beginning to create a capsule wardrobe.
Soulful: soft, feminine, natural
Chic: Unexpected, effortless, inspiring
Cool: on-trend, bold, edgy
Casual: uncomplicated, relaxed, practical
Classic: uniform, quality, timeless
Where to begin?
Curating a capsule wardrobe does not mean starting from scratch, quite the opposite. It means carefully examining the items you already own and getting clear on what you get the most wear out of and what items mix and match with ease. Along the way, you may identify some missing ‘gaps’ in your wardrobe. Make a note of what these gaps are, and when you’ve finished creating your capsule wardrobe, you’ll have a good idea of what colours and styles you're missing (ensuring that they work back with your edit) before you rush out and purchase the wrong thing. You could attempt this first step while your little one is down for their midday nap.
Step one: Process of elimination
I recommend starting with a wardrobe cull (also known as a wardrobe detox) before you start rebuilding. This presents a great opportunity to cleanse your space. Start with separating the items you know you love and return to time and time again – pull these aside, then get to work on the other items in your wardrobe that you don’t like, don’t fit, or that you haven’t worn in over a year. Allocate piles to sell, donate, and keep but store elsewhere.
Examine all items in your wardrobe – make sure you can see everything. The ‘ideal’ wardrobe should contain a mix of key pieces, statement pieces and quality basics.
Tip
Basics often get overlooked, so there can be a tendency to buy cheap rather than invest. This is a mistake; your basics should do the heavy lifting by tying your separates together seamlessly. You should be returning to your hard-working basics repeatedly, so spending a little extra on quality fits and fabrications will serve you in the long run.
Step two: Sorting for success
Now that your wardrobe is cleansed of clothing that no longer fits, you no longer wear or enjoy, you can start organising the remaining items.
It helps to focus on a mainly neutral colour palette for this exercise, as this allows for effortless mixing and matching, but if you love colour, or have a wardrobe full of colour then select a few key accent colours that flatter your hair and skin tone colouring and also work back with your neutrals.
I find it helpful to also consider the season you’re in, as this will dictate whether or not you need boots, knitwear and coats on display. Once you’ve removed items that belong in a different season and that you know you won’t be wearing for a while, you can organise the chosen items that remain into categories: jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, shirts, t-shirts, jackets, etc. I recommend folding your knitwear as it will keep its shape longer and won’t take up precious hanging space. Even if you are in spring or summer in New Zealand, you’ll likely still need some light-to-midweight knitwear.
Step three: Refine
Once you have edited your wardrobe and organised by style, you can hone in on the specific pieces you love and wear the most. As a stay-at-home mum, your capsule wardrobe is bound to look different from a working mum’s wardrobe. It’s all about the season, practicality for your lifestyle, and what makes you feel good. Go through each clothing category and select 1 - 3 items from each. Repeat the process for each category and check that tops and bottoms mix and match and that your selected jackets and outerwear work over the top of your casual and dressier items. Finish with footwear. As a mum, sneakers belong in every season, but boots and strappy sandals will have their place in a winter or summer wardrobe, respectively.
If you have the space, carve out a dedicated section for these capsule items only. It will be so satisfying looking into your wardrobe and seeing outfits jumping out at you. Decision-making fatigue plagues most people, but especially sleep-deprived mums. You already have multiple tasks and little people demanding your attention in the mornings, so if you can eliminate one headache, why wouldn’t you? The satisfaction you’ll feel when you can reach for your favourite got-tos and know you’ve got a cohesive look that you feel good in, makes all the pre-work worth it!
Universal mum staples
Well-fitting blue denim jeans
Relaxed shirt
Flattering and versatile t-shirts
A jacket that works back with casual items and dressier items
Quality knitwear that you can layer
While it is true that each capsule wardrobe will look different for most mums, I do advocate for a few key pieces that have a place in every mum's wardrobe. They are a great pair of blue jeans in a classic cut – not too baggy, not too tight. A flattering t-shirt (at least a couple). A ‘flattering’ t-shirt considers the neckline, body fit, sleeve length and fabrication. Every woman needs a trusty tee they can turn to repeatedly, one that works tucked into denim and paired back with leggings. A versatile and well-tailored or ‘cool’ jacket (whichever best suits your style) that works back with both jeans and a dress. Having a versatile jacket in your wardrobe is an absolute MUST. Activewear leggings for lazy weekends and rushed school drop-offs. And lastly, unless you’re living in a tropical climate year-round, every mum needs at least a couple of knits – a cosy and chic jumper you can layer with and a statement cardi you can throw on in a hurry.
Key Takeaways
As with all things ‘fashion’ there is always room for creativity and the process is open to interpretation. The steps above are guidelines that you can follow as loosely as you choose, depending on the time you have available and the size of your existing wardrobe. I do strongly believe that once you start purchasing considered quality staples and fewer throwaway items, you’ll get more wear from your wardrobe and more satisfaction from the things you do wear. It's not necessary to conduct a complete wardrobe overhaul now that you’re a new mum, but it is a great opportunity to reassess what does and doesn't work for your new life stage by re-embracing your personal style and simplifying the act of daily dressing.
