I'll be the first to admit that I used to have a problem. A very, very serious problem. A very. very serious shopping problem. I know I'm not alone either. It seemed as though all my friends were always shopping too, whether it was on trips to the mall that happened way more often than necessary, or online. And why wouldn't we be? With popular fashion bloggers and celebrities publicly showing their closets, most of which are bigger than my entire apartment might I add, full of designer clothes. Fast-fashion retailers like Forever 21 and H&M are cranking out new cheap replicas of these clothes literally every day, why wouldn't we all try to emulate them?
Shopping also became an emotional activity for me. Being a college student puts you under a lot of stress, obviously, and quite frequently I found I used shopping as my coping mechanism. Had a stressful week of tests? I would unwind by shopping. Did well on a presentation? I would reward myself with shopping. Went to the gym every day for an entire week? I had to go shopping because I was going to need smaller clothes once I lost all that weight from so much cardio (disclaimer: this never actually happens, and I never realistically thought I'd need smaller clothes, it was just another way to rationalize, you guessed it, more shopping).
This poses a problem after awhile, because one minute you're shopping for cheap trendy bliss on the Forever 21 website, and next thing you know you're woefully trying to cram your extensive collection of novelty crop tops and printed leggings into your tiny dorm closet, and you realize you still don't own a plain black t-shirt, or anything even slightly appropriate for a professional event or job interview.
How did I solve this problem, you ask? Enter, the capsule wardrobe.
A capsule wardrobe is defined as a small, carefully-selected, and well-balanced wardrobe made up of timeless pieces that never go out of style. This sounds simple, but there are rules you follow when creating you capsule wardrobe, and it requires some thinking, budgeting, and planning. The hard work all pays off in a huge way, I promise. I follow the guidelines of Project 333, which means I create a new capsule wardrobe of 33 pieces every three months. The kicker? You're only allowed to shop every three months while creating your new capsule. Other than that, put your wallets away ladies and gentlemen, no shopping allowed.
Why does this method make sense for college students and young people?
1. Your wardrobe will no longer consume all your storage space
One hanger rack, and maybe a drawer or two. That's all you'll need for storage. Not to mention it's way easier to pack up when you move back to your parent's house for the summer.
2. You'll look fashionable every day by default
When you've hand-selected every article of clothing in your closet, it's kind of impossible for you not to throw on an outfit that looks good and makes you feel good without even trying.
3. You'll have more money
Obviously, when you aren't shopping all the time, your bank account will thank you. You'll have enough extra cash to get guacamole on your burrito bowl every time. You're welcome.
4. You'll have outfits that work for every occasion
One of my favorite features of a capsule wardrobe is versatility. When you're making sure your wardrobe is balanced and you have nice basics you'll be able to dress things up for parties and events, and dress things down for running to class. Capsule wardrobes essentially eliminate those "I have nothing to wear" moments.
5.You'll be able to find what really makes you happy
When you're not using shopping and consumption as a way to buy happiness, you'll be able to figure out what really makes you happy. Maybe it's having a cup of tea, going for a walk or chatting with a friend. You do you.
