Capsule wardrobes are becoming one of the easiest ways to both define your personal style and save money over time. But today, practicing sustainable fashion is also a top priority for many. Great news! Building a sustainable capsule wardrobe full of timeless classics allows you to avoid both the decision fatigue of a traditional wardrobe and the wasteful trends of the fast fashion industry.
Here at Bleusalt, we're hoping this guide will help you start building a capsule wardrobe of timeless and sustainable pieces from Bleusalt's luxurious collection while finding ways to work in items from your own. But first...
What Is A Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe?
An eco-friendly or sustainable capsule wardrobe is a small collection of timeless pieces made from sustainable materials or gathered from what you already own. The ultimate purpose of any capsule wardrobe is to maximize the number of outfits you can create. But there are two main goals behind sustainable capsules that differentiate them from a standard men's or women's capsule wardrobe:
First, starting a small and sustainable wardrobe is much easier on a limited budget because it requires investing in fewer pieces upfront.
Second, a capsule wardrobe of pieces made from sustainable materials reduces waste in the fashion industry. This reduces clothing production and can lead to a smaller carbon footprint.
Ready to build your own capsule wardrobe? Here's the first step to get started sustainably:
Start With Your Current Wardrobe
Start by fully assessing your current wardrobe to set aside any items in good condition that fit well. These pieces will form the base of your capsule, so choose carefully! You want to select pieces that will layer well, because layering is one of the best ways to create different outfits, adapt an outfit to the weather, and much more.
Also, remember to donate or recycle any clothes you've found that are in good condition but no longer important to keep in your wardrobe.
Identify Your Personal Style
Now that you've gathered a mix of pieces to build your new sustainable capsule from, try to identify what's missing. Are you lacking a nice pair of casual shorts or some timeless tops that you can pair with your existing jeans? Think about what you'll want to wear, not just this season, but next.
Your personal preferences for what types of pieces to layer and what kind of looks you're going for will influence everything you do from here on out, so it may be helpful to write down a few notes for later.
Choose A Color Palette
Sometimes your color palette chooses you! It's important to start by looking at the color palette of your existing pieces, because the sustainable choice to make when you already bought one pair of white sneakers is to use them and find ways to blend them into your style. Thankfully in this scenario, white sneakers are a timeless footwear choice that will match with nearly anything. But still, make sure to consider the colors you're bringing to the capsule.
Try to envision a few colors that center around one main idea. Monochromatic looks are great for year-round wear because they can be easily dressed up or down. You might want to keep it dark on the top and light on the bottom! Are you a person who likes statement colors?
Regardless of your personal preferences, it's very helpful to get an idea of your color palette as you start building out the capsule wardrobe.
Stick To Essential Items
The typical capsule wardrobe has anywhere between 30 and 50 pieces, but the most sustainable wardrobe sticks to the essential items. You only need to have as many or as few clothes that work for you. The growing popularity of slow fashion and other types of sustainable fashion is great to keep in mind as you decide what the most essential items are for your collection.
It may be helpful to sit down and revisit your personal style notes from earlier. What kind of pieces did you need to complete those looks, and how will those match with your other essentials?
Avoid Trendy Items
It's easy to see trendy items pop up and think they might add some interest to your closet, but the reality is that most trends aren't very practical. When those brands stop being noticed by Vogue editors, those clothes aren't much more than a dated label. It's better to just live your life and reduce waste at the same time!
Find High Quality Pieces
Focus on only purchasing clothing made from high-quality materials as you add to your capsule wardrobe. This is both a sustainable decision and one that will add so much comfort and luxury to your day-to-day life.
Bleusalt fabrics are made from some of the softest fibers on the planet! Not only are they more sustainable than garments made from cotton fibers, but you'll find these pieces are much more durable and long-lasting than the fashion industry standard.
Style Outfits For Various Occasions
It's important to be able to dress an outfit up or down depending on the occasion. The same tube skirt can work as lounge wear or become much more elegant when worn as a tube dress. Take some time to consider alternative ways you can wear your pieces to make sure your capsule wardrobe covers everything you need year-round.
Save Money Over Time
While investing in high-quality pieces can be costly upfront, the cost savings truly do add up over time. Being able to wear the same pieces year-round without wearing them out makes the value accumulate over years, not months. Plus, sustainable fashion means you might find the perfect top in a secondhand store for way less than you'd expect to pay for it new.
Versatile Pieces For Your Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe
Building your own capsule wardrobe will certainly make it unique to you, but we've found it helpful to look at a few main category staples. We'll also recommend some of our favorite versatile pieces along the way!
Bleusalt clothing is both sustainable and highly versatile, allowing you to easily style multiple outfits with each piece. We're going to look at a few of our favorite staples and suggest some ways to pair them
Classic Tank Top
A good tank top is a classic layering piece that is the center of so many looks.
Following an iconic design, The Tank Top from Bleusalt was carefully created to fit perfectly snug, which makes it an excellent base layer. The Tank Top LITE is a great option for more active wear due to a slightly higher amount of spandex.
White T-Shirt
The simple white shirt is one of the first staples found in any capsule wardrobe. If you have one already, great!
If not, The Perfect Tee from Bleusalt is a staple loved for its softness. It comes in white and also a variety of colors, from navy to cocoa. The Classic Tee is another great option from Bleusalt's collection.
Crew Neck
A comfortable crew neck will pair with almost any pant or skirt, which makes it a welcomed addition to our list.
For an elevated crew neck sweater with billowy sleeves, look no further than The Bubble Crew by Bleusalt.
Oversized Shirt
There's just something about an oversized shirt that never fails to comfort.
At Bleusalt, The Oversized T-Shirt is a great option for those who choose the cozy life. With that being said, The Oversized Crew is a close runner-up because of its versatility!
Versatile A-Line Skirt
A-Line skirts are a chic option for any occasion because you can dress it up or down super easily.
From Bleusalt, the Long A-Line Skirt extends to a maxi length to preserve the natural silhouette. There's also a midi-length A-Line Skirt with a gradual flair below the knee.
Tube Skirt
If you style it right, a tube skirt can be just as elegant as a dress!
The Tube Skirt from Bleusalt is a true showstopper. You can easily go for a sleek look and wear it as a pencil skirt, or for a more casual look wear it as a tube dress. Bleusalt also offers The Maxi Tube Skirt for those who prefer a lengthier bottom.
T-Dresses
T-Shirt dresses are a great option because it they can be worn as loungewear or as a casual everyday (or every night!) look. Better yet, they can be worn year-round.
Bleusalt offers The Perfect T dress; a dress-length version of their Perfect T, which can be styled up or down year-round!
Casual Shorts
Great all summer, everyone needs a pair of casual shorts that will blend well into the rest of a capsule wardrobe.
Bleusalt offers The Women's Short and The Men's Cargo Short, both of which are comfortable options that pair easily with a wide variety of tops.
Straight Leg Trousers
Straight leg trousers are a super practical option year-round. They are comfortable, casual, and can be dressed up to pair with nearly any top you have.
The Luxe Alice Pant from Bleusalt is a versatile option that comes in many colors and blends easily with a variety of styles.
Cargo Pant
Cargo pants have, beyond excellent pocket space, a unique style that goes with a lot of looks.
At Bleusalt, The Cargo Short offers a comfortable yet snug fit with a look that can easily be elevated with stylish shoes or dressed down with a pair of sneakers.
Relaxed Leg Pant
Some of the most comfortable outfits begin with a pair of relaxed leg pants.
Known for their effortless elegance, both The Cindy pant and The Lyndie pant by Bleusalt can add interest and comfort to any look. They also pair well with a tank top, crew neck, or any top.
Classic Blazer
A classic blazer is an amazing layering item and will pair well with nearly every piece we've discussed so far!
From Bleusalt, The Big Rock Boyfriend Blazer features adjustable cinching at the waist to achieve your desired fitted look. The Luxe Unisex Big Rock Blazer is another elegant option that is incredibly well-structured for all-day wear.
Lightweight Wraps
Lightweight wraps are a great layering option and a look with tons of versatility, depending on how you choose to wear them.
At Bleusalt, Wraps come in all shapes, sizes, and colors! Whether you love The Little Triangle Scarf as a lightweight accent or The 3 Yard Wrap to stay warm all winter, a Bleusalt wrap is a fantastic way to layer any of the pieces we've discussed.
What Are The Sustainability Benefits Of Building A Capsule Wardrobe?
A sustainable capsule wardrobe is going to use as many pieces from your existing collection as possible. This keeps useful clothing out of landfills.
Further, by building a capsule wardrobe, you become a mindful consumer who thinks in the long term before making a purchase. Forget donating last year's trendy pieces. You'll donate what you no longer need and prevent wasteful consumption at the source!
Building a capsule wardrobe with new sustainable pieces also means you are actively reducing waste through the clothes you choose to purchase.
Did you know that clothing production accounts for as much as 10% of all global carbon emissions? We did!
That's why here at Bleusalt, we are proud to say that our fabrics are made with beechwood fibers, known in the industry as Tencel™, that take on average 10 - 20 times less water to produce than cotton. The processing chemicals are also contained in a closed-loop system, which significantly reduces water and solvent use.
This is our way of building a more sustainable future in fashion. We hope you can join us on our journey to creating a sustainable fashion industry by featuring one of our pieces in your own sustainable capsule wardrobe!