On the myth of the capsule wardrobe (and my beautiful, unruly closet)
We’re told to declutter and curate. But what if style isn’t about having less, it’s about knowing more about yourself?
I’ve tried to build a capsule wardrobe more times than I’ve actually done my taxes.
Every fashion girl has had that moment: the Pinterest board full of cream knits, the 15-piece packing video on TikTok, the allure of a wardrobe so precise it could fit inside a single carry-on. The capsule wardrobe promises peace, perfection and ease. You’ll never have “nothing to wear” again. You’ll be one of those women who get dressed in 45 seconds and still look like they have a skincare contract.
I wanted to be that woman. I really did!
But then I’d open my closet and feel a quiet rebellion stirring. What about the oversized blazer I thrifted in the South of France by Isabel Marant that only works with one specific pair of jeans? Or the vintage YSL shoes I’ve only worn twice but still feel slightly magical? Or the blouse that reminds me of a night I can’t quite tell anyone about, but will never forget?
Minimalism tells me to let them go. Intuition tells me they’re part of the story.
The truth is, I dress by mood. Always have. Maybe it’s a Virgo thing, or maybe it’s just that life doesn’t come in neutrals. Some days I want to look like a girl who reads poetry in cafés and never raises her voice. Other days I want to dress like a Milanese auntie on her fourth espresso. And sometimes, often, I just want to feel like the most polished version of myself, which usually involves a blazer, good earrings and the feeling that I’m going somewhere important (even if it’s just the corner shop).
A capsule wardrobe asks for consistency.
But I’m not always consistent. I’m evolving.
I used to feel guilty about my closet: too many options, too many half-loved things. But lately, I’ve started seeing it differently. My wardrobe isn’t a mess. It’s a map. It holds every version of me I’ve been: student Sophia in beat-up Converse, heartbroken Sophia who wore sweatshirts or black for months straight, work-trip Sophia who finally invested in tailoring, London Sophia in ballet flats and a smudged red lip.
They’re all in there. Waiting, and ready to evolve.
Proof that I’ve changed. Evidence that I’ll keep changing.
My mum’s voice is always in my mind: “Buy less, but better.” But I still want chaos. I want space for play. For something that doesn’t make sense yet, but might make me feel something.
So no, I haven’t built a capsule wardrobe.
But I have built something better: a closet that knows me, or at least lets me meet myself, again and again, in whatever form I show up.
And honestly? I think that’s the point.
Your friend in trend,
S