A while back, I shared that I connected with Kristin Green of The Joyful Minimalist (you can read that post here) and started to work towards creating more of a capsule wardrobe. While my closet is still far from capsule (I still have way too much stuff), I’m finding myself really thinking about purchases before I make them. Do I have something to complete this outfit? Will this last me more than one season? Does it fit me perfectly right now (how many times have you purchased something thinking you’ll finally get around to losing those 10 lbs and the pants just sit there with the tags on)? And today, I am so excited to share with you Kristin’s tips for creating a capsule wardrobe of your own! We’ve also rounded up the must-have items you need in your closet this Season to get you started (bonus: most of these will take you into Summer as well).

meet kristin!

I’m Kristin, lover of effortless, timeless style and minimalism. I approach every closet with these 2 things in mind and tell my clients to honor the space they have. Be both ruthless and realistic about the pieces you choose to keep. So what is a capsule closet? In essence, a capsule embraces quality over quantity and favors versatility — less items, endless options. While there’s no magic number, it’s important to hone in on the 20% of your closet you use, wear, and love, and let go of the rest.

If you’re ready to say yes to more joy, peace, and abundance in your closet — follow my easy steps to getting started:

1. Capsule supplies: a wardrobe rack, velvet hangers, seasonal storage, cleaning supplies, XL garbage bags.

2. Create 4 piles: donate, toss, seasonal, keep.

3. Take it all out. Remove every single item from your closet, dresser, and ensure laundry is done so you can get a realistic baseline. Pick up each item and categorize accordingly into 1 of 4 piles.

4. Notice repetition, patterns, & styles. This theme will help inform your style aesthetic — let’s say you have a few pairs of great jeans and tees so maybe you’re more classic/casual. There’s so much that goes into defining your style, but try using 3 words to describe the image you want to project. For instance, mine is elevated comfy casual (think Varley matching sweat sets, Mother denim & a great tee or bodysuit).

5. Put back & organize the items. I prefer to store seasonal based on the closet size. Think like a shoppe — take the time to fold things nicely, ensure there’s space between hangers, display jewelry & special pieces where you can see them.

6. Make a list of capsule opportunity pieces as you put things back. Think: how can I complete this outfit and use this piece at least 3 ways? Shop with a strategy by taking this list with you.

7. Enjoy the benefits a capsule closet gives you: buy back your mornings, get ready with ease, take joy in each item of clothing & take care of less.

If you’re stuck and need an expert eye to help take your closet from chaos to calm — you’ll want to learn more about our Closet Makeover Package, where the Joyful Minimalist x Styled Out West team up to create a complete closet clean out, plus organization & styling! For more info, click here to get started.