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Reasons to Start a Capsule Wardrobe in 2023.
Seen or heard about capsule wardrobes but never bothered to look into them? Well, you should read this. It could change your life.
A capsule wardrobe is a set number of clothing pieces that complement each other, are of good quality, durable, (typically) minimally designed, and intended to last (a long time). Many fashion bloggers, vloggers, stylists, influencers, the average consumer like ourselves, and a few independent fashion brands have focused their attention on sustainable fashion consumption, with interest in well-made, timeless clothing and accessories, as opposed to one-use, throwaway trend pieces, proving you can still be fashionable while consuming less.
It's no secret that the fashion industry is among the top ten polluting industries. Fast fashion retailers churn out more (a lot more) items than what's necessary, and consumers cop more items than what's necessary. We have too much choice. And we're encouraged to buy things. It's not fair to put the blame on consumers; fast fashion might be the only option some people have.
Read more: The psychology behind choice in shopping. 🛒
Overproduction and overconsumption are ongoing problems associated mostly with fast fashion retailers such as SHE*N. When you really think about it... How is something like this actually acceptable? Well, we don't really see or know what happens before our clothes reach our doorstep (e.g., where the materials came from, where the clothes were made, who made them and their working conditions, the whole journey it took to get to you, etc.) (see Stringer et al. 2020), nor what happens to them afterwards (e.g., shipped off to landfill in African countries). Retailers and businesses should be more transparent with their customers. Out of sight, out of mind. It's that simple.
Not only that, it is suggested that materialism is related to lower levels of life satisfaction (Tsang et al., 2014).
So, why should you give a capsule wardrobe a go then?
Bardey et al. (2021) have carried out some sweet research on the impact of a capsule wardrobe on consumers. 👏🏼
The researchers studied ten female participants’ (who had an interest in fashion) lived experiences with a three week capsule wardrobe. Participants were to wear items only from their capsule wardrobe that consisted of around 37 items; clothing, shoes, bags, and other accessories (not including underwear, sleepwear, or sportswear). Participants were interviewed before and after in order to understand their consumption habits, style, and their attitude towards sustainability.
The results showed that a capsule wardrobe had a positive impact on participants. It was found that participants:
Were less stressed: Participants had no need to plan outfits because their clothes were all complementary, and they had less options to choose from. Also, participants shared that their outfits were decided on faster.
Were detached from fashion trends: Social media (i.e., mainly Instagram, TikTok, and maybe even YouTube) plays a large role in how we think we should dress ourselves. A part of human nature, we follow what others are doing. We follow trends. Before adopting the capsule wardrobe, participants initially felt pressured to follow trends and fit in. Afterwards, they felt more free and less pressured by the latest fashion trends.
Found joy in their own style: Participants were more interested in their own sense of style after the study than before. They shared that they paid more attention to how they styled their outfits (owned both before and after), including the use of makeup, leading them to explore the variety of outfits available to them.
Enhanced their awareness of conscious consumption: The experience of adopting a capsule wardrobe gave participants a chance to reflect on their consumption behaviours and their impact on the environment. They acknowledged the amount of clothes they owned and would consider obtaining better quality items. They discussed that they saved money by not purchasing clothing. How many clothes do you purchase within a month?! Not only that, participants shared that they would pay more attention to the way they treated their clothes.
Here's our guide on creating the perfect capsule wardrobe for you: Beginner's guide: How to create a capsule wardrobe that you'll love.
You might also be interested in: How to distance yourself from fast fashion trends.
Bardey, A., Booth, M., Heger, G., & Larsson, J. (2021). Finding yourself in your wardrobe: An exploratory study of lived experiences with a capsule wardrobe. International Journal of Market Research, 64(1), 113-131. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470785321993743
Stringer, T., Mortimer, G. & Payne, A. R. (2020). Do ethical concerns and personal values influence the purchase intention of fast-fashion clothing? Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 24(1), 99-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-01-2019-0011
Tsang, J. A., Carpenter, T. P., Roberts, J. A., Frisch, M. B., & Carlisle R. D. (2014). Why are materialists less happy? The role of gratitude and need satisfaction in the relationship between materialism and life satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 64, 62-66.