How to Declutter Your Closet & Create a Capsule Wardrobe
- Isabella Boston
- 11 hours ago
- 8 min read
The Capsule Wardrobe for the Elegant Christian Woman
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“Your Body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you. You are not your own, but you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
Whether it’s an unexpected dinner invitation or a last-minute request for a formal event, it can be challenging to put together an outfit without the right items in your wardrobe.
I have always felt that I was born in the wrong era. I love looking at vintage photos; the women look flawless, elegant, and exquisite. From their makeup down to their shoes, these ladies were the epitome of modest elegance.
But did you know that most women of the vintage era had fewer clothes than we do today? They knew how to shop for less and choose the right wardrobe items, which allowed them to look well-polished and put together.
One of the methods today that women in the 50s era used is called a "capsule wardrobe". This involved decluttering one's closet and keeping only versatile, high-quality, and favorite items that can be mixed and matched.
How to start a capsule wardrobe?
Fashion is what you buy; style is what you do with it. Your clothes speak before you do."
Start by defining your style and auditing your current wardrobe.
Pick a color palette (80% neutral, 20% accents).
Select approximately 15-30 versatile pieces (tops, bottoms, jackets, shoes) tailored to your lifestyle.
You want to start by assessing and purging your current wardrobe: identify your most-worn items and remove pieces that do not fit, are damaged, or do not suit your current lifestyle.
Second, define your palette and style by choosing 2-3 base neutrals (black, white, navy, beige) and 1-2 accent colors for cohesiveness. Pick three adjectives to define your desired look (e.g., "elegant," "tailored," "Polished," "cozy," "Intelligent," etc.).
"Focus on quality over quantity."
Last, select key items (the basic 5-5-5 rule): A common formula includes 5 tops, 5 bottoms, and 5 pairs of shoes and jackets. In addition to this formula, have at least one black dress and at least three summer dresses. If the "5-5-5" rule doesn't work for you, then select a number that does, such as an "8-8-8" rule. But remember, the whole point of this blog is to declutter your closet and create a functional wardrobe with fewer items.
Tops: White button-downs, high-quality tees, and silk blouses.
Bottoms: Tailored trousers, dark-wash jeans, or a midi/pencil skirt.
Dresses: One black dress and at least three summer dresses.
Outerwear/Layers: A structured blazer, trench coat, or comfortable cardigan.
Shoes: flats, boots, heels.
The goal is to shop intentionally. Focus on quality over quantity. Invest in timeless, durable pieces rather than fast-fashion trends. Fashion is what you buy; style is what you do with it. Your clothes speak before you do. So select clothing that reflects your unique and beautiful personality. Rotate your wardrobe items seasonally. Pack away out-of-season clothes to keep your closet focused and manageable.
You also want to add one to three patterned items. They can be tops, skirts, bottoms, or dresses. The above chart shows some of the most common patterns. Some other popular patterns are polka dots, houndstooth, and stripes. If you choose a floral top or pants, be sure the colors in the top, pants, or skirt coordinate with your accent color and your base colors.
With a little time and effort, you, too, can look like a timeless beauty for any occasion. Here are the must-have items you should keep in your closet to build your elegant Christian capsule wardrobe.
Isabella's Capsule Wardrobe
For educational purposes, I will use my autumn color palette (I have a warm skintone) to create an ideal capsule wardrobe. You can use your own color palette; mine is only as a guide. My neutral base color is black. My three adjectives are elegant, modern-vintage, & polished.
A Black Dress: A black dress is the most versatile dress that you can own; it can be worn year-round and to any occasion. It can take you from the boardroom to a five-star restaurant. A sleeveless sheath dress with a modest neckline, preferably square, boat, or high, will look classy and offer the most versatility. You can pair it with a blazer, shawl, bolero cardigan, or wear it solo, depending on the weather. Keep it simple with a pair of elegant pearls, pumps, and your favorite shade of lipstick.
2. Fitted blazer: A fitted blazer is elegant and classy, and will instantly slim any figure for a well-polished and modest look. It can be mixed and matched with other basic items depending on the event. Wear it over your black dress from tip #1 for the perfect business attire: grab your coffee and work tote, and you are dressed for success!
Skirts: Following the basic 5-5-5 rule, you want five bottoms in your capsule wardrobe, three of which are skirts to mix and match with different blouses, cardigans, blazers, and shirts. Some common styles, such as the A-line midi, mermaid, and pencil skirts, will flatter most figures. Just like your "little black dress," you also want a "little black skirt". You can create countless outfit combinations with one black skirt, let alone three! I love 2-piece sets when I can find them. Take the plaid black and white skirt set below, for instance. I can wear the plaid skirt with the matching coat or with a white blouse, red turtleneck, grey or black cardigan, pull-over emerald green sweater, etc. All from my autumn color capsule wardrobe! The same for the plaid jacket, I can wear it with white or black slacks, my little black dress, a skirt, jeans & heels, etc. The fashion combinations are endless.
Blouses: A white blouse adds a touch of elegance to any outfit. For a nice silhouette, select one that tapers in at the waist. Wrapped blouses are very elegant and can be worn with jeans or a skirt. If the neckline is low, wear a camisole underneath to stay modest. In addition to the white blouse, you also want to have a black one. Both of these are neutral colors and can be worn with different jeans, skirts, and bottoms to create many effortless outfits. The other three blouses should be colors from your personalized color palette. Since my color palette theme is autumn, my accent blouse colors are yellow/gold, orange, green, and wine to match the other items in my capsule wardrobe.
Cardigans/Sweaters: Keep three to five cardigans (outerwear/layers) that fit your style and personality in your capsule wardrobe. They should be a neutral color to coordinate with your other wardrobe items, or mix and match colors from your personalized color palette. A button-down cadigan, as shown below, can be worn alone or with an elegant white/black blouse underneath.
Tailored Trousers or Dress Slacks: 2 of the 5 bottom pieces in your capsule wardrobe are trousers or dress slacks. The dress slacks should be in a neutral color to coordinate with your other wardrobe essentials (I recommend one black pair and one white). Select styles that fit your personality!
Shoes: You want five pairs of shoes (5-5-5 rule) in your capsule wardrobe: flats, heels, boots, and sandals. For dress heels, keep a pair of classic black and a pair of nude to match all your other wardrobe pieces.
Dress Coat: When the season permits, there is nothing more elegant than a beautiful dress coat. I love a princess cut or a wrap. Adding a matching handbag in the same color will turn heads! If you are looking for a touch of glamour, a trench coat will do the job, and it can also double as a raincoat.
Summer Dresses & Two Bolero Sweaters: Aim to have at least 3 summer dresses in your wardrobe for nice occasions. In addition, keep at least two bolero or cropped sweaters for modesty in your capsule wardrobe. They are good to wear with summer dresses or to wear for a semi-formal event with your black sheath dress.
Jeans/Skinny Jeans: As I have stated earlier in this post, I don't believe in fashion trends; I have my own style and create outfits that fit and express my unique God-given personality. I love skinny jeans. They can be dressed up or down. You can wear them with heels, flats, sandals, and dress boots to create a variety of elegant outfits. Below is my ideal casual outfit. I do not wear sneakers or tennis shoes. In fact, I don't even own a pair. I do step aerobics barefoot at home. And when I go out for long walks, I wear elegant walking shoes from Lifestride. They have a wide selection of comfortable heels, boots, and flats that allow you step out in style!
Dress Gloves: I believe an elegant woman should always have dress gloves in her purse. They help you look more modest and better put together.
Elegant Handbag: A versatile, elegant handbag can go from work to dinner, and with many different outfits! A black purse will go with all your outfits, but if your budget allows it, also buy a nude handbag, one from your color palette, and one in a print/pattern. If you like leather, as I do, try to buy from a reputable dealer who uses leather from the by-product of food, or choose vegan (cruelty-free) leather.
Something for you to pray about and consider is wearing a head covering when you're out and about. From ancient times, women of God have always worn head coverings to show that they are completely devoted and submitted to God. Again, I ask that you pray to God about this subject, as it is a personal matter for each woman. If you would like to read my blog post on why Women of God in Christ Jesus Should Wear the Christian Veil of God's Holy Order, you can find it by clicking the following link.
Additional Tips
Please keep jewelry to a minimum. Pearls are always elegant and go with anything! However, due to the animal cruelty techniques used in pearl farms, I strongly suggest buying a pair of imitation pearls and not real ones. If you are not a pearl girl, then invest in a nice pair of gold, silver, or diamond studs or cubic zirconia earrings, whichever will fit your budget.
Keep nails well-groomed at all times; nothing looks worse than scraggly, unkept nails. A clear polish does wonders at the last moment. It looks natural and feminine. The nails in this photo are French Tip Press-On Nails. I was in a wedding once and needed my nails done at the last minute. I went to my local drug store and purchased some press-on nails to match my dress, and they looked better than the rest of the bridal party, who all had their nails done professionally! And never go overboard with the perfume! Remember, less is more, and there is beauty in simplicity!
An elegant and modest capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. Knowing how to shop for the right pieces of garments and what to match together is the key. It's not about how much you have, but what you have that matters.
If you like high-quality items, as I do, then watch and wait for the end-of-the-season sales from your favorite stores. I have bought dresses worth hundreds of dollars for a fraction of the cost. This goes for high-end shoes as well.
So, there you have it!
And remember, ladies, true elegance and beauty come from within.💋
For elegant vintage & retro fashion from the 40s to 70s, please consider Belle Poque.
Author’s Bio
Isabella Boston is a wordsmith and the creator of Bella’s Attic Studio®: A multi-media writing platform and storytelling blog specializing in copywriting, marketing, and content writing.
She is well-versed in medical terminology and scientific research with a focus on neuroscience, immunology, and functional health. She is also a diarist, creative nonfiction writer, and self-published author.
Aside from being a writer, Isabella is a book & vintage-fashion lover, a language enthusiast, and, most importantly, a woman of God in Christ Jesus.
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