It’s a universal dilemma: you have a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear. If your wardrobe looks anything like mine, it’s a patchwork of pre-pandemic party dresses and WFH loungewear with a sprinkle of fast-fashion impulse buys.
Culturally, capsule wardrobes are having a real moment — and the neatly arranged, monochromatic clothing racks I see on TikTok have me lusting for a more functional wardrobe. It’s all about quality over quantity, I’ve been told. But still, I’m at a loss as to how to create a closet flowing with core items that seamlessly work together and reflect my personal style.
With the launch of Knix Essentials — a collection of fashion staples crafted from super soft modal fabric — building the capsule wardrobe of my dreams seems slightly more within reach. So, I sat down with stylist and designer extraordinaire, Sandy Kaur Gill, to gather expert insights on where to start.
Don’t Break the Bank
According to Sandy, who came up on the Toronto fashion scene dolling out budget-friendly style tips, creating a capsule wardrobe doesn’t need to cost a fortune. It’s a matter of making use of what you have and acquiring a few key items. For her, it’s all about creativity over couture. “It’s being able to reflect yourself and your personality — and not breaking the bank while you do it,” she says.
Start with Reliable Staples
Building an unwavering capsule wardrobe involves gradually accumulating versatile and reliable items that can be styled easily with other items. For Sandy, that means having a solid pair of jeans, a crisp white t-shirt, a pair of sneakers you love, a black dress (for the feminine folks), a good pair of boots, a button down, and good undergarments that are going to hold and support you underneath whatever you’re wearing.
Ultimately, you want simple items that you can throw on and feel good in and that don’t feel like a mission to style. Curating a minimalist wardrobe means having a core rotation of basic items “that you can style no matter how style or fashion evolves,” says Sandy. “Things come in and out of style so fast, having a basic capsule collection allows you to have basic items you can rely on.”
Pay Attention to Fit and Fabric
When it comes to choosing which items to incorporate into the core of your wardrobe, opt for items that are going to last. Since you’re going to be wearing and washing these items a lot, they have to be durable. In Sandy’s words, “you want good fabric that, no matter how much you wash it, it’s still going to look brand new every time you wear it.”
As for the fit, hold out for garments that form, flatter, and make you feel good. If the fabric is durable, it also means it won’t lose shape with wear. When it comes to Knix Essentials, “they feel like nothing I’ve worn before,” says Sandy. “They’re just so soft and my body feels very free and comfortable in them.”
Comfort is Key
Comfort means wearable items that make you feel good, yes, but comfort also means wearing what speaks to your personal tastes. You can wear a dress that fits like a glove, but if it’s not your style, you might as well be wearing a paper bag. For Sandy, it’s been one of the guiding philosophies of her career — “it’s just so important to wear something that you’re physically and mentally comfortable in.”
Sandy can tell when someone is uncomfortable in something, it’s a skill she’s picked up in her near-decade of styling, she tells me. That’s why she takes a comfort-first approach to all her styling work, ensuring that the colors, fits, and garments work with each person’s personal preferences. “If it doesn’t, their inner confidence isn’t going to shine through,” she says.
Pick a Color Palette
Don’t be fooled, your capsule wardrobe doesn’t need to be made up of granola neutrals and dim blacks in order to be versatile — though there’s no shade in leaning into those classic hues. Sandy recommends exploring different color ways and working within a palette of tones that work for you.
Alternately, you can always start with neutrals and infuse pops of color into your closet over time. “Start with basics and practice elevating them in different ways,” says Sandy. That could mean incorporating a colorful bodysuit into your rotation that can be paired with a dialed-back skirt, a pair of jeans, or some trousers. Once you’ve got that down, keep experimenting with different combinations and colors.
Let Your Personal Style Shine
Once you have basics you can feel good in and rely on, the rest is cake. Sandy is a big proponent of accessorizing with elements that reflect your personality or heritage. Whether it’s a jacket or your grandmother’s jewelry, add-ons can “automatically make you feel safe and represented,” says Sandy.
“There are so many different ways to customize a look to reflect your personality,” she adds. While infusing antique and heritage items into everyday outfits is a trend Sandy says is on the rise, so are prints and vibrant colors. Capsule wardrobes don't need to feel cookie-cutter, but having a solid base of essential items that feel true to you can be a stellar jumping-off point for experimenting.