What is it?

In the simplest terms a Capsule Wardrobe is a carefully curated collection of clothing that is considered timeless, high quality, and versatile. Each piece of a capsule wardrobe is chosen specifically to pair with all other pieces in the wardrobe. 

A Brief History

The history of a Capsule Wardrobe dates back to the 1970s, however its popularity has grown in more recent years due to the rise of sustainable fashion. The term Capsule Wardrobe was created by a woman named Susie Faux in the 1970s. She opened a boutique called Wardrobe in London and her ultimate desire was to help women develop style and confidence. She was able to accomplish this through her experience in the fashion industry. She worked with designers like Jil Sander and eventually coined the term Capsule Wardrobe. Her minimalist style and designs made for the perfect collection of styles to create a capsule wardrobe. She gave a more detailed definition in her book called Wardrobe: Develop your Style and Confidence where she states that the the idea is simple. You buy less clothing at a higher quality that you will wear more often. She created this concept with a working woman in mind. It was a road map for women who wanted to look professional at their jobs. 

In the 1980s the designer Donna Karen helped make the capsule wardrobe popular. When she launched her own line of clothing she released the Seven Easy Pieces which were designed with the capsule wardrobe in mind. 

Capsule Wardrobes Today

While fast fashion has played a large role in the fashion industry many people have become aware of its impact on the earth. This has created a large push for sustainability which has significantly grown in recent years. As people learn and understand the true problem with fast fashion they seek out ways to help and one of those ways is curating their own version of a capsule wardrobe. 

While the concept is still the same as it was in the 70s and 80s the clothing has shifted slightly. Rather than focusing on just work attire and professional styles. People today are curating collections of clothing that fits their specific lifestyle.

Sources

https://thatsbrass.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/a-brief-history-of-the-capsule-wardrobe/

https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/what-is-a-capsule-wardrobe