How to Create a Capsule Wardrobe for Your Child

Children grow quickly and it is easy to find yourself in a never-ending pile of laundry. It is also easy to acquire so much clothing that your little one doesn’t even get the chance to wear them all.  Clothing is a popular gift option and it can be hard to resist the adorable outfits.

Throughout the years I found myself seeking a minimalist inspired lifestyle.  Fewer items and clutter resulting in easier clean up is very appealing.  Since having children I now have small pockets of time to accomplish tasks so the idea of a capsule wardrobe was very appealing.  

“Capsule wardrobe is a term coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called ‘Wardrobe’ in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that do not go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces.” –Wikipedia

Why A Capsule Wardrobe

The key benefit of having a capsule wardrobe in my opinion is less work.  Instead of having piles of laundry to wash, fold, and put away you now have essential pieces of clothing to mix and match. This summer I decided to attempt a capsule wardrobe for my youngest and see how it went.  For a family of four, I do a load laundry every other day.  By minimizing the number of clothing items we had I found I was able to quickly grab outfits from clean laundry or put the couple pieces of clothing away easily.  I immediately knew a capsule wardrobe was the answer to our clothing issues of the past. 

What To Include in a Capsule Wardrobe

The most common concern is how many pieces of each item should one have and this will vary for each individual.  I am a stay at home mom and we often are around our house or friends and in comfortable clothing.  For my first attempt at a toddler summer capsule wardrobe I included:

• 5 pairs of shorts
• 2 pairs of pants
• 8 short sleeve shirts
• 1 button-down shirt
• 2 long sleeve shirts
• 1 polo shirt
• 1 zipper up hoodie
• 5 pairs of pajamas
• 2 swimsuits

When deciding which clothing to add I looked for items that could be interchanged easily for variety and so simplify putting away clothing. I incorporated various textures, patterns, and styles to ensure it wouldn’t appear my son was wearing the same outfits daily.  Our summer wardrobe was very successful and I am attempting even fewer pieces for our fall capsule.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe

Old Navy had a great selection of clothing for my son’s fall wardrobe.  I purchased even less than we had for summer and I was able to purchase a nice variety.  A capsule wardrobe also offers a great money-saving opportunity.  For example, I was able to purchase my entire Old Navy order for $103.00 and I earned $40.00 in Super Cash.  This resulted in my son’s fall wardrobe only costing $63.00

Clothing Included In Fall Capsule

• 5 pairs of pants
• 5 long sleeve shirts
• 3 short sleeve
• 1 zipper up hoodie 
• 5 pairs of pajamas

These outfits are interchangeable and comfortable while still adding in bits of flair.  Purchasing seasonal clothing from the same store has been beneficial for me because often the clothing corresponds easily.  

Simplicity and Independence

Having fewer items ultimately is followed by having less to do and allowing more time to do the things we want to focus on in life. We aim to incorporate simplicity into many aspects of our life, including our play, aiming for open-ended and multifunctional toys.  Having fewer clothing and toys allows for children to have an easier time putting their things away.  The pride and independence a child gains when they are able to clean up their own mess or pick out their own outfit outweighs all other benefits in my opinion.

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