Build a Capsule Wardrobe & Slow Overconsumption in Fashion
On Indyxing Your Wardrobe & Developing Taste
I’d been in a closet clean out for maybe four to six years of my life: constantly cleaning out my items to sell or donate, and buying more. I was introduced to the resale market back in high school selling an old homecoming dress. I wasn’t yet sentimental. I saw monetary value, and thus began a long cycle of closet clean outs & overconsumption.
It’s not my proudest era, overconsumption doesn’t necessarily feel good, especially when your item becomes obsolete, but I became a more intentional consumer through indyxing my wardrobe. I began to understand my taste, outside of the constant advertising, and thankfully haven’t experienced buyers remorse in months.
If you’re also interested in developing your personal taste to become a more intentional consumer, I present …
indyxing your wardrobe and build a capsule wardrobe! (this is not sponsored)
I approached this final closet clean out to end the years-long closet clean out in a similar way … by going through my closet. But instead of going straight for resale and donation items, pull your favorite, most feel myself in items.
Upload these items to your closet in Indyx (free app with additional paid features), or group them together in your closet. You’re just going to want to keep these items together. I’ve found that it takes time to understand your style, so there is no rush in uploading your favorite items to the in-app closet.
Next you’re going to upload capsule collection items (that you haven’t already), and add them to your in-app closet. This includes any timeless items that create a blank canvas for an outfit: any black, white, beige / brown tanks, tees (short-sleeve & long-sleeve, tighter & looser), black, white, beige / brown trousers, skirts (mini, midi, maxi), denim, etc. This can get pretty inclusive, especially when you think through different styles and seasons; focus on anything that would be easily reworn and works to connect items in an outfit.
I call this your capsule wardrobe, and recommend styling just these items for two months to better understand silhouettes and quality craftsmanship. As you style in the app, you can view closet insights to see how often you wear an item, favorite materials, predicted cost per wear, etc. It can also feel productive to style future outfits for when you’re in a rush (especially over doom-scrolling).
It’s actually easier to find your style with a limited amount of items, so you could always welcome a shopping break as you lean into your capsule wardrobe. If you’re skeptical, I’d highly recommend ‘The Art of Wearing It Again (and Again)’ from Hot Girls Save Money on how it was actually easier to get dressed, while packed into a suitcase:
If you do implement a shopping break, you’ll have a moment to understand your closet gaps, so when you do buy, it’ll be more intentional. It’s also easier to stay true to your own taste when you go in with an idea of a item, especially over being pulled around by fast fashion and trends.
I also love the ‘three word method’ coined by Allison Bornstein, celebrity stylist and author of Wear It Well, which helps focus your personal style in three characteristics: practical, emotional, and aspirational. If you haven’t heard of the three word method, I loved this podcast interview by Marianna Hewett (co-founder of Summer Fridays), but I’ll explain my take on it below.
Use the practical and emotional word to describe your capsule wardrobe upon styling your Indyx closet. You can be thoughtful because there are a lot of descriptive words, but the aspirational word requires a different brainstorm around inspiration. I’d use Pinterest to collect your favorite outfits and explore the aspirational emotions behind them, until one word takes focus and is intuitive enough to incorporate.
You can use the three words method as consumption framework, but it also ensures you stay grounded in your capsule wardrobe, which makes aspirational obtainable. I found it was useful to brainstorm my own descriptive words, but I also enjoyed this article by Autumn of Stay Here on using ChatGPT to jog your creativity.
Holly Meredith Bossung in ‘The Art of Personal Taste’ explains taste as different than admiration, and as more of an intuition.
There are so many interiors, outfits, and objects I find beautiful. But that doesn’t mean they’re mine. That doesn’t mean they light me up in the way my taste does.
Indyx is incredible for making it easier to understand your closet, and the three word method has made it fun to develop taste. You can also upload items in the app to style before purchase and confirm it works well in your closet.
I’d also encourage getting creative and applying the three word method across the entire style: beyond clothes, accessories, and shoes. I thought about my hair, the way I keep my nails, and my minimal makeup routine when choosing an emotional word for my capsule wardrobe.
Slow down, and have fun as you develop your own taste! It’s meant to be fun, and Indyx was great to stay organized, accountable, and not overwhelmed.
You won’t crave another closet clean out once you build around a capsule wardrobe, but Poshmark is still a great option if I want to give an item another life. Pickle is another great option for renting items that are more occasional, and it’s easy to offer rentals as well, so all the more reason to invest in quality items!
It’s meant to be a slow process, but I’ve already felt more intentional about consumption since understanding personal taste, and thought to share the process.
Thank you guys so much for the support! xx
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These are really great tips for getting started! Sometimes less is more - and, I love the idea of using your closet cleanout to identify your "full body yes" items *first* (and, making sure to Indyx those) vs. expending your prime energy just pulling out what doesn't work.