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WAYS OF STYLE

How To Build A Minimalist Wardrobe – Step by Step Guide

in Capsule Wardrobes, Personal Style on 04/27/21

Home » How To Build A Minimalist Wardrobe – Step by Step Guide

I’m sure at some point you’ve heard the phrase ‘capsule wardrobe’ or ‘minimalist wardrobe’. But what’s the difference? How to know which one is for you? Well, today I’m going to explain everything I know about each and share some pieces that will help you start to build a closet that’s functional and timeless.

The more clothes you have, the less you will enjoy them and believe or not, the less outfit options you have too. You can apply minimalism to every aspect of your life, and your closet is a great place to start. After you start downsizing, you’ll free up so much space from your mind that you will want to do it for every aspect of your life. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even sell everything and start living in Airbnb’s full time like me and my husband did last year!

Pin this post! – How to build a minimalist wardrobe

how to create a minimalist wardrobe

In a hurry? Go straight to the answers you are looking for:

  • Why I created a minimalist wardrobe
  • What is a minimalist wardrobe?
  • What is a capsule wardrobe?
  • How to know which one is for you?
  • Step by step – How to build a minimalist wardrobe
  • Spring capsule wardrobe
  • Summer capsule wardrobe
  • Fall capsule wardrobe
  • Winter capsule wardrobe
  • Important things to remember
  • Final thoughts
  • Related style posts you may also like

Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

How and why I started building a minimalist capsule wardrobe

We had to cut down on our spending at the end of 2017, when we made the decision to travel the world full time (More on that here) and try to make a living while at it. Of course, that meant we had to save a lot of money to give ourselves some time before we could make any real money while traveling.

We had to adjust to the idea of being happy with less things and saving money became a priority to us. I had to create a simple wardrobe for myself and my husband did the same. Let me tell you, it’s the best decision we’ve ever made! I love not having a massive closet. It makes life so much easier.

If you look at my Instagram, you can notice that I wear a lot of the same basic pieces in many different ways and it has a lot to do with the fact that without even noticing, I’ve been building a minimalistic wardrobe for the past 2 years.

Life update in 2021: Last September we sold everything we owned and started living in Airbnb’s full time. We haven’t left for our trip yet, but hopefully we will soon! It’s been 6 months since we started living out of a suitcase and love it!

Let’s start learning about having a minimalist wardrobe VS. a capsule wardrobe.

What is a minimalist wardrobe?

A minimalist wardrobe is a closet filled ONLY with things you love and wear consistently (and it all fits too!). Ideally good quality pieces. It’s pretty simple. Believe it or not, by having less things you free up space in your mind. We experienced this when we sold everything we owned.

Have you ever looked at your closet and said the words ‘I have nothing to wear’? This is exactly what we want to avoid by building a minimalist wardrobe.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is even smaller than a minimalist wardrobe. I’d say your whole closet can be minimalistic (100 pieces or so) and you can have seasonal capsule wardrobes (25 pieces per season).

I don’t have just one capsule wardrobe yet, but it is my goal to get there one day.

I created a list of 25 pieces to build a Summer Capsule wardrobe and a list of 25 pieces to build a Capsule Wardrobe for Fall. I think that’s a good start. I plan to have two different capsule wardrobes (no more than 50 pieces total) and I’ll get creative using all of those pieces all year round. I can call it maybe a minimalist capsule wardrobe? LOL who cares!? I’ve sort been doing it already because I have been living out of a suitcase for the past 8 months, but I need to get it together and make a final post about it!

How to know which one is for you?

This depends on what you want to achieve. Today, I can confidently say that I have a SMALL minimalist wardrobe and not ONE capsule. My goal one day is to only have 40-50 pieces and that’s it, but I must confess I’m not there just yet.

You have to sit down and think about what you want. Where you live also plays a big role. If you live in a 4 season city, it’s unrealistic to spend the whole year with only 30 pieces of clothing, unless you always want to wear the same things. Which is fine too. You just have to sit down and think about what would make you happy.

If you work from home permanently and live in a place like South Florida, then by all means I think it’s possible to build a capsule wardrobe and look cute throughout the year without looking the same every day.

So think about your lifestyle, personality, what you want to achieve and work from there. What matters is that you start owning things that fit you, that you use all the time and if possible, were made ethically (Check out my ethical brand clothing guide here).

How to build a minimalist wardrobe? – Step by Step

Step 1 – Go through your closet (all of it!)

This is where it all starts. Please don’t go out there and shop for anything just yet.

If you can, take everything out of your closet and lay all your stuff on your bed. Create piles of all the different categories. Here are some ideas:

  • Tops (t-shirts, casual, going out, long sleeves, short sleeve, sleeveless, turtle necks, button downs, etc)
  • Bottoms (work pants, comfy pants, denim, shorts, skirts, sweatpants, etc)
  • Dresses (cocktail dresses, casual, sweater dresses, button downs, beach cover ups, etc)
  • Jumpsuits
  • Jackets & Outerwear (blazers, coats, raincoats, moto jackets, casual jackets, etc)
  • Activewear (tops, leggings, shorts, hoodies, etc)
  • Sweaters (statement sweaters, crewnecks, V-necks, for going out, hoodies)
  • Shoes (heels, boots, flats, sandals, sneakers, etc)
  • Accessories (jewelry, hats, scarves, tights, bags, etc)
  • Bathing suits
  • Intimates (Underwear, bras, socks, workout tops, sleepwear, etc)

*I’m linking some of my favorite sustainable brands for each type of piece. If you click on it it will take you to their site and you can browse some VERY CUTE options. This should be your last resource JUST IN CASE you need to shop for something.

Step 2 – Get even more specific:

You can get as specific as you want. It will depend on how many things you have.

Lets say you have all your tops together right? Then break them into even more specific categories (T-shirts, dress tops, long sleeves, short sleeves, etc). This will help you visualize what you have of each piece. Do you really need 6 black t-shirts? Nope.

Do this for everything. You don’t need more than one of the same piece. In some rare cases with really basic pieces, you can have a couple of options. For example, I wear a lot of white t-shirts, so I decided to keep 3 (I should have just 2). I wouldn’t do this for anything else. In most cases, you only need one of each.

Get picky!

This is the not so fun part, but you have to get picky! After Step 2, you’ll be able to easily visualize the type of clothes you have a lot of and how many. Ask yourself these questions in order to decide if you’ll keep it or not:

  • Is it outdated? If it’s from a weird trend from 5 years ago, please say bye to it.
  • Is it in good shape? Check every piece for stains and how the fabric looks like.
  • Is it flattering on you? If you are not sure, try it on. Does it work for your body shape?
  • Can you style in different ways?
  • Is it a high quality piece?
  • Can you wear it for most seasons? Ideally you should be able to style it for all 4 seasons if you are creative. 3 seasons is a good number too.
  • When was the last time you wore it? If it’s been more than a year, then you don’t like it that much.
  • Did you know that particular piece existed in your closet? If the answer is no, get rid of it. You’ll survive.
  • Does it fit?

Keep in mind that your lifestyle and your personal taste will help you decide if it’s a yes or a no.

Step 3 – Get rid of the things that no longer fit

I know from experience this is a tricky one. But please, think about the things that don’t fit you. Are they goal pieces or are you just keeping them because one day they will fit you? There’s a difference.

Goal pieces are those $300 jeans you bought one time and it’s been 2 years since they last fit. Keep those and 2-3 more. That’s it.

If it’s a fast fashion item that you wore 5+ years ago and doesn’t fit, then definitely get rid of it.

Be honest with yourself. I wouldn’t try to fit into something I wore in my early 20’s you know? It’s been a while.

After you pick your 2-3 goal pieces, try them on and see how far or close you are from your goal. Put them somewhere visible and make a plan to make your goal a reality. Otherwise, it will stay collecting dust in your closet and taking some serious space off your mind.

What to do with the things you get rid of?

I usually donate everything. But if you have expensive and high quality pieces that are in good shape, try to sell them to your local thrift store or on ThredUp. They make it super easy! It’s not a bad way to make some extra cash.

Minimalist wardrobe essentials

Now I’m going to share some basic pieces you can start with. I organized them by season. I’m also sharing some looks to show you how much you can do with some of them.

Notice that I’m mix & matching the pieces too. Pay attention to the looks.

I’m using a lot of the same pieces for different seasons as well. Please keep in mind that these photos are from the past 4-5 years. So, if you see that I have 3 different bags, it doesn’t mean you need 3 bags, it means I had each of those bags at different times, because you do replace/update things with time. These are just for inspiration. You’ll still see a lot of the pieces on repeat. For example: denim jacket, some dresses and white sneakers.

Spring Capsule wardrobe

  • 3-5 T-shirts
  • 2-3 versatile dresses
  • 1 pair of comfy/casual pants
  • A Denim Jacket
  • One Long cardigan
  • 1 pair of White Sneakers
  • 1 pair of Espadrille Wedges
  • White denim
  • Chambray shirt
  • Trench coat
  • Spanx Leggings
Spring outfit ideas with basic pieces
Spring basic pieces to create multiple outfits

Summer Capsule Wardrobe (25 pieces)

  • 3 plain t-shirts
  • 2 button down shirts
  • 1 denim jacket (Also read: 70+ outfits with a jean jacket for every season)
  • 1 long cardigan
  • 1 long vest
  • 1 cami (printed one)
  • 1 going out top
  • 2 pair of shorts
  • 1 mini/shorter skirt
  • 1 midi OR maxi skirt
  • 1 pair white jeans or pants
  • 1 pair of Jeans
  • 1 pair of chic/comfy pants
  • 1 black dress
  • 1 printed dress
  • 1 other color of your choice
  • 1 jumpsuit
  • 1 beach cover-up
  • White sneakers
  • Slide sandals
  • Espadrilles or sandals (neutral color)

I wrote a whole blog post on how to build a Summer capsule wardrobe and I provide over 80 outfit ideas with the pieces mentioned above. Make sure to check it out.

Summer capsule wardrobe
Summer 2021 capsule wardrobe ideas

Capsule Wardrobe for Fall

  • 1 Flannel Shirt
  • 3-4 sweaters (make sure they are different from each other)
  • 1 going out top or sweater
  • 2 Long Cardigans (How to wear a long cardigan)
  • 1 Moto Jacket
  • 1 Faux Fur Vest
  • 1 Puffer Vest
  • 1 Coat or Trench
  • 1 Blazer
  • A good pair of jeans or cords
  • Black skinny jeans
  • 1 Midi Skirt (More midi skirt outfits here)
  • 1 Faux Leather Skirt (more leather skirt outfit ideas)
  • 1 Maxi Skirt
  • Spanx Leggings
  • 1 Sweater dress
  • 1 going our dress of your choice
  • 1 pair of casual booties
  • 1 pair of going out booties or OTK boots
  • Rain Boots
  • 1 Hat
  • 1 Scarf

For more details on how to build a capsule wardrobe for Fall, check out this post.

Capsule wardrobe Fall pieces to consider

Winter Capsule Wardrobe

  • A nice coat (yes, you only need one)
  • Faux Fur Vest
  • A sweater dress
  • Flanel shirt
  • Snow boots
  • OTK boots

*Note: A lot of the Fall pieces and outfits you can also wear for Winter. Just need to add warmer boots, a hat and a coat.

Winter capsule wardrobe
Winter capsule wardrobe

Things to remember about building a capsule/minimalist wardrobe

As you can see, you don’t need to add 20-30 pieces to each season. With just a few intentional add-ons a couple of times a year you will be just fine. The same sweaters you wear for Spring, you can wear for Fall & Winter too. A denim jacket, LBD or black skinny jeans you’ll wear all year round. Same for shoes. You can wear a good pair of white sneakers all year round.

Again, remember that these photos are just for inspiration. They were taken in the past 5 years, so if the black booties are different it just means that that was the version of black booties I had in the moment. I’ve changed the style once I replace them.

So, now go and check your closet. Check which of the pieces I mentioned above you already have and try them on. Keep what fits and get rid of what doesn’t.

All of these piece together make your minimalist wardrobe.

Final thoughts about minimalist wardrobes…

As I said before, a decent minimalist wardrobe would contain around 100 pieces (MAX!) for all seasons (if you live in a city with 4 seasons). If the weather where you live is nice (lucky you!) there are so many of these you can skip. Once you’ve built your closet with all these basics, you’ll see the benefits of having less stuff.

Ideally, you would refresh your closet a couple times a year by intentionally adding 4-5 new pieces (yes that’s it!), and these would usually be tops and dresses (Maybe a pair of pants/shorts). Remember that if you buy high quality pieces (they don’t have to be expensive!), they will last you for multiple seasons and since they are so classic, I promise you, they will never go out of style.

Hope this post helps you to build a minimalist wardrobe and one day maybe even a capsule. I hope you are able to make better choices next time you have to shop for something, it doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything you own. Remember that by having less things you are helping the planet, you’ll shop less (which means saving money for traveling and important stuff!) and it will be less difficult to make the decision of ‘what to wear’ every single day.

Simplify your life. I assure you will be a lot happier with less.

XO,

Aimara

PS: Some direct links to my favorite sustainable stores are detailed above (at the beginning of the post). If you want more, check out my ethical brand clothing guide. In that blog post I detail all my favorite sustainable brands and they are organized by category.

Liked this post about capsule/minimalist wardrobe? Pin it!

How to create a minimalistic wardrobe that works for all seasons

Related posts you may also like:

  • How to build a Summer capsule wardrobe with just 25 pieces
  • How to build your own capsule wardrobe for Fall (25 pieces)
  • A 7-item capsule wardrobe checklist + 25 outfit ideas from our 3-month trip to Turkey!
  • How to create a capsule wardrobe for travel
  • Sustainable brands organized by category – Your ethical clothing brand shopping guide
  • More outfit Inspo for basic pieces:
  1. Spanx Leggings review + how to style them
  2. Outfit Ideas for the office
  3. How to wear a white tshirt
  4. What to wear with leather Leggings
  5. How to style a black dress.
  6. How to style white jeans
  7. How to wear a long cardigan
  8. How to wear a sweater dress
  9. How to style a white blazer – 10 stylish white blazer outfits for 2021
  • What to wear on a first date (or for every type of date night)
Home » How To Build A Minimalist Wardrobe – Step by Step Guide

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9 Comments

« Are CBD products right for you? A very honest Equilibria review from a skeptic
How to wear a white Tshirt – Sharing 10 updated Summer looks for 2021 »

Comments

  1. Limelight sale says

    December 20, 2022 at 8:59 am

    It’s one of the most aesthetic and cool wardrobe collection I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much for writing this for us.

    Reply
  2. Ahsan Parvez says

    October 30, 2020 at 9:06 am

    These are some of the elegant clothes. I love these photos.

    -Ahsan

    Reply
  3. Lauren says

    November 2, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    So excited to start building my own capsule wardrobe!!!!

    Reply
  4. Leah says

    October 9, 2019 at 9:51 am

    Oh cool! I already have a few of these but I need to add a couple more pieces. Love that you added the seasonal pieces too!! Thanks girl :)

    Reply
    • Ways Of Style says

      October 16, 2019 at 8:13 am

      Yay!! It takes some time to build that perfect capsule wardrobe, but it’s so worth it when you are done :)
      So glad you found this post useful.
      XO
      Aimara

      Reply
  5. Jess says

    October 3, 2019 at 8:00 pm

    On it! This is GREAT ❤️

    Reply
    • Ways Of Style says

      October 16, 2019 at 8:14 am

      Yay! Good luck building your capsule wardrobe :)
      XO
      Aimara

      Reply
  6. Sarah says

    September 28, 2019 at 8:35 am

    This is the most useful post I’ve seen about building a capsule wardrobe. Thanks so much for sharing :)

    Reply
    • Ways Of Style says

      October 16, 2019 at 8:15 am

      So happy you found it useful Sarah!
      Thanks so much for stopping by :)
      XO
      Aimara

      Reply

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About Aimara

Hi! I’m Aimara and I’m the voice behind Ways of Style.

I created this Blog as a space to express my thoughts and life experiences while wearing cute outfits of course! What started as a hobby is now my full time job and I’m here to encourage you to always be yourself, work hard and to always show up until your dreams come true. Read More…

More looks on Instagram!

I have a million photos to post! Trying to catch u I have a million photos to post! Trying to catch up here but somehow I never seem to sit down and share stuff in this account. I guess I like our travel account better! 😜 @waysoftheworld_ 

I’ve been trying to stay active with travel outfits and styling tips on the @shop.ltk app, so if you are interest you can check them all out by clicking the link in my bio. This dress was one of the best pieces I packed this time! It’s so cute for photos with any background basically!

We are currently on day 53 our of our 70 day trip through the Yucatan Peninsula 🤯 We’ve been to Cozumel, Punta Allen, Bacalar, Campeche, Merida and today we made it to Valladolid. We have one more stop before spending a week in Mexico City with family and then off to a new country we go! This lifestyle comes with its unexpected challenges, but we wouldn’t change it for anything!! 💕

Let this be a reminder to keep working hard to make your dreams happen! We are actively doing that right with @waysoftheworld_ 🙃 Hoping things end up working out for us!
…
#waysofstyle #campechemexico #travelblog #travelvlog #seetheworld #visitmexico #mexicotravel
What a crazy feeling when you start loving somethi What a crazy feeling when you start loving something you once thought was scary. It really makes you realize that fear is not real and exists only in your mind.

Never stop pursuing what sets your heart on fire. Even if it’s scary. And if you don’t know what that is yet, I encourage you to make the time to find out 💙

PS: this photo was taken on a scuba dive trip while in Cozumel a couple of weeks ago. If you ever find yourself there, do yourself a favor and do it with @scubatonycozumel 🤿 You will not regret it!

We are currently slow traveling through the Yucatan peninsula. We are having the time of our lives and documenting it all on @waysoftheworld_ 🌎 See you there? 🙃
…
#waysofstyle #scubadiving #experiencesoverthings #scubatony #scubatonycozumel #cozumel #cozumeldiving #cozumelscuba #fulltimetravel #travelvlog #travelblog
Yesterday we had a full day of exploring different Yesterday we had a full day of exploring different places and I needed different outfits but I didn’t have space to bring a whole new look. That’s when button down shirts + sneakers come handy! 

In the morning we went to the beach to snorkel and in the afternoon we explored Mayan ruins and had drinks and dinner. I needed sun protection and sneakers because they don’t recommend to walk the ruins in sandals (uneven terrain). I was able to change the wet bathing suit at the beach restaurant and didn’! get sunburn! Win win!!

PS: you can now shop all my looks via the @shop.ltk app ☺️ or via stories!
…
#waysofstyle #jumpsuit #howtostyleajumpsuit #grayson #buttondownshirt #cariumas #whitesneakers #travelstyle #vacationlooks #stylehack
🎅🏽 GIVEAWAY TIME!!!! 🎅🏽 Giveaway close 🎅🏽 GIVEAWAY TIME!!!! 🎅🏽 Giveaway closed! Winner @_downbythesea_ 

This little device has made a huge difference in how I travel! I barely have to worry about shaving thanks to laser hair removal 🙌🏻 And today, I’m teaming up with @silknsolution to give one away to one of YOU! 🌟

It’s super easy to enter:

1️⃣ FOLLOW me @waysofstyle & @silknsolution
2️⃣ LIKE this photo 
3️⃣ TAG a friend (each comment with a tag is a separate entry)
4️⃣ BONUS post this photo on your story and tag me! 

Winner will be announced this weekend!! Good luck everyone ❤️

Giveaway not associated with Instagram or Facebook. US or CAD residents only.
…
#silkn12daysofgiveaways #silknsolution #giftidea #hairremoval #mysilknsolution #silkn #giveaway #skincare #selfcare #selflove #treatyourself
Back home after spending the best 3 months of my l Back home after spending the best 3 months of my life in Turkey 🇹🇷❤️

We definitely left a piece of our hearts there, but we also learned so much and we know we will be back many times! And it feels good to be with family this time of the year.

I know I didn’t do a good job at posting in here. Honestly, I thought it was going to be easier, but starting a new Instagram, blog and YouTube channel from scratch for @waysoftheworld_ took a lot more time than I ever thought it would! So now, I’ll try to share some of my favorite photos from this trip in here because it’s never too late 🙃

This one was taken in a small mediterranean town called Kas. It was one of our favorite places in all of Turkey! It’s the perfect vacation spot to just enjoy life 💕

Feels good to be back! Hope everyone has a great week ahead and thanks so much for being here!!
…
#waysofstyle #travelstyle #kasturkey #vacationlooks #capsulewardrobe #experiencesoverthings #turkeytravel #visitturkey
Sharing 25 travel outfit ideas I created with the Sharing 25 travel outfit ideas I created with the best 7 pieces I packed! 🙌🏻

I believe these 7 pieces are not only good for traveling, but to add as part of your capsule wardrobe if you are thinking about starting to live with less things. I promise you won’t regret it!

I hope you find it useful and that you feel inspired to recreate any of these looks with pieces you already have in your closet. If you have any questions, let me know! I’m always here to help 🙂

Happy Monday ❤️
…
#waysofstyle #capsulewardrobe #whiteshirt #midiskirt #travelstyle #traveloutfits #capsulewardrobechecklist #capsulewardrobes #minimalism #sustainablefashion
Turkey has been incredible. We are blown away by h Turkey has been incredible. We are blown away by how beautiful it is, all the different landscapes, the food, and above everything, the people ❤️

Looking back to a few weeks ago when I was really afraid of going on this trip, thinking about all the things that could go wrong, being a little upset with myself in a way for not wanting the traditional life path I always thought was my only choice; get married, buy a house, have kids, save money and travel when you retire. That’s not for me. 

I’m very happy I followed my heart 💕 I wrote a letter to myself on the blog: “What’s the best that can happen if the worst happens?” You can check it out by clicking the link in my bio. I hope it inspires you to think about what YOU really want in your heart, make a plan and go after it (but be patient). I promise that if I did it, so can you.

You have everything it takes ❤️

Link in bio to read.
…
#waysofstyle #pamukkale #turkeytravel #followyourheart #seetheworld
I basically only wear olive green and white now 😂 

Our days in beautiful Kas are almost over. I’m leaving a piece of my heart in this cute little town and we will definitely be back! Now it’s time to hop on a 6 hour bus to Pamukkale and see what that place is all about! 

Honestly, the only reason we are going there is because of me. G is not too crazy about it, but I’ve seen it on Instagram so much that I wanted to see for myself what the buzz was all about. So I’ll keep you posted on what it actually is!

If you are interested in knowing more about Kas (and all the amazing places we are visiting) we share a lot more on @waysoftheworld_ 💞 
We talk about useful tips, costs, best things we do, where we stay and so much more. I also update those stories daily! So I hope to see you there 🙃

Until next time friends 👋🏻
…
#waysofstyle #travelstyle #midiskirt #traveloutfits #kas #kasturkey #worldtraveler #styleblogger #styleinspo #mystyle #fashionblogger #capsulewardrobe
I was brave 💙 This was the most amazing experi I was brave 💙

This was the most amazing experience. I was SO nervous and anxious before but somehow I managed to push through and tried this very scary thing for the first time. And you know what I learned? That I loved it! I would do it again a million times! It wasn’t scary at all. It was all in my head and it wasn’t real. Also, they had the sweetest dog at the shop named Lucy that really help me not to think about it (swipe to see her 😍)

We didn’t do any crazy tricks like G did and it was a very peaceful flight. It’s up to you how you want to do it.

I can see why Ölüdeniz is one of the top places in the world to go paragliding. If you only want to do it once to cross it off your bucket list, this is the place you go to. We shared a post about with useful information in case you are interested. Link in bio + stories.

Would you do it? 🙃
Make sure to follow our adventures around Turkey on @waysoftheworld_ 🙏🏻
…
#waysofstyle #paragliding #oludeniz #exploreturkey #turkeytravel #bebrave #experiencesoverthings
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