How to Create a Capsule Wardrobe for Your School-Age Child

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The idea of filling my closet with a carefully selected group of clothes that I can mix and match has always appealed to me. Maybe it’s because I hate clothes shopping, maybe it’s due to the fact that I love wearing my favorite things, or maybe because I love efficiency and simplicity. If you aren’t sure what a capsule wardrobe is, just google the words and you’ll see there are tons of ways to interpret the concept.

Today, I’m going to share with you how to create a capsule wardrobe for your school-age child. An intentionally selected, well-equipped closet ensures that your kids look their best while saving money and time.

You may be used to this, but a planned out , minimalist wardrobe helps keeps clothes more organized.
You may be used to this, but a planned-out, minimalist wardrobe helps keeps clothes more organized.

Usually, when I walk into Cinderella’s closet, I feel like I need a Xanax, a bottle of wine, and spa treatment before I can proceed. She is almost 12, and I am overwhelmed by just the sheer task of shopping for her and helping her stay organized. This fall, however, I was prepared and we rocked back to school shopping if I may say so myself. It’s definitely not too late to join the capsule wardrobe bandwagon and create a simpler, more efficient wardrobe for your child(ren).

Here’s how to get started.

Purge

This step is super important but may prove to be difficult if your sweetie likes hanging onto stuff. The point of purging is that you both, together, go through all clothes and determine what fits, if it’s in good shape, if it’s weather appropriate, etc. Whatever doesn’t fit these criteria must go. I don’t care if you pack it up for a younger sibling or give it to Goodwill, but it should not stay in the closet.

Assess the Needs

Has your child outgrown all of her jeans but has tons of dresses? Don’t waste money on buying more dresses no matter how cute. Does your son have plenty of casual outfits but no dressy ones? Invest in some button-up shirts instead of buying more cheap T-shirts. Capsule wardrobe fashionistas swear by 30 items (many not including jewelry and shoes) and I firmly believe that’s plenty for children.

Make a Plan

If you truly want to save money and time, you need to have a plan when you go shopping. This may be more elaborate when it comes to girls, but a plan is crucial even for guys.

You make your plan based upon your kid’s needs, wants, and the overall principles of creating a capsule wardrobe. This means, you buy clothes that mix and match so it’s easy to wear the same items but style differently. It also means that you have just enough clothes to last for a few days without having to wash them each day.

Focus on classics and basic pieces, with a few items thrown in that express the individual’s personal taste. Here’s an example from my stepdaughter’s fall closet: (note: we will go shopping again when winter arrives).

She needed pants but hates jeans or anything tight and scratchy. She had tons of casual T-shirts, but nothing cute and dressy. She had plenty of casual dresses but nothing to layer them with when colder weather hits. She had piles of outgrown and stained items that needed to go. Then we made a plan:

  1. Buy three pairs of pants that are comfy
  2. Buy a cardigan or two, to wear over her dresses and short sleeves
  3. Buy three to four dressier, unique looking shirts, that also match her cardigan and pants
  4. Buy two neutral-colored camis to wear under shirts or cardigans
  5. Buy one reasonably priced item that she really wants, but doesn’t necessarily need

When we finished shopping, she had enough outfits to last her for a while, without wearing the exact same things twice. This was our best shopping trip so far in the eight years I have been her mom, thanks to finally applying the capsule wardrobe principle. Her wardrobe may not be minimalist enough, because I respect many of her wishes, but I can definitely say I tried to at least steer her in the right direction.

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Her wardrobe may not be minimalist enough, but we are headed in the right direction.

Make ’em Wear It

She gets to pick everything out of the clothes she choose when we were shopping, but I require Cinderella to choose five outfits each Sunday night to wear for the week. My child needs this because otherwise, in her early morning state of mind, she will grab the first (often dirty) piece of clothing she finds on the floor and ends up wearing none of the pretty stuff we spent money on.

I separate play clothes from her school clothes as well, because I want to have several good-looking outfits on hand when we need them. When I approve of her choices, I try to encourage her to wear a variety and pay attention to mixing different items.

If you still aren’t sure what to buy, this is my formula for what a school-aged girl usually needs for fall. This wardrobe contains 29 items or less.

  • 3 different pairs of pants (say one dark, one light-colored jeans, one non-jean material)
  • 1-2 pairs of leggings or tights (neutral color)
  • 4 dresses (short or long sleeves, two dressy, two casual)
  • 2 cardigans – one neutral, one colored or patterned
  • 6-8 shirts (plain T-shirts, basic dressy shirts, colorful shirt, patterns, etc.)
  • 1-2 skirts/shorts (depending on the climate and what the child likes)
  • 3-4 sets of play clothes (shirts/pants combo)

Here’s an example for school-aged boys for fall. This wardrobe contains 22 items or less.

  • 5 pairs of pants (go for a variety of materials, mostly neutral colors, make sure one is dressy)
  • 3 sweaters – one neutral, one colored or patterned
  • 8-10 shirts (button-up casual, plain T-shirts, dressy button-up, neutral, colored, patterned, etc.)
  • 3-4 sets of play clothes (shirts/pants combo)

This is just a jumping board for those of you new to the concept. Keep in mind each child’s taste and needs will be different. Don’t be afraid to personalize your plan … that’s the whole point!

I hope this post inspires you to try shopping for your kids with a purpose and a plan, saving you both time and money! How would you create a capsule wardrobe?

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Hilda
Hilda Crowe is originally from Hungary, a small country in Europe, where she grew up to love God, cherish friends and family, cook good food and have a huge desire to make a difference. When on a 6 months long visit with friends in Charleston, SC, she met Donnie and she immediately knew there was something very special about this single dad, ex-military, laid-back country boy. What she didn`t know was that 2 years later she would be willing to pack it all up and make a cross-continental move to the US, to spend the rest of her life with the combo. Since then, in addition to Donnie`s little princess (Nicole,11), Hilda and her husband welcomed a little girl (Haley, 4) and a little boy (Dominick 1.5) who turned their lives completely upside down, in the best possible way. Hilda and her family recently relocated to the Columbia, SC area where she began to make new relationships and discover what the Midlands have to offer. Hilda keeps busy with raising her bilingual children, learning to navigate the challenges of step-parenting a tween and finding healing from depression-anxiety through diet and lifestyle changes. When not chasing after one of her little ones or cooking up a storm in the kitchen, she enjoys spending time with her hubby, reading good literature, running, getting outdoors and creating meal plans for special diets. Hilda is passionate about impacting others by sharing her story, her victories and struggles and pointing to the One who makes life worth living. You can follow her journey at www.intentionallyblended.com.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Great post, although as an avid Goodwill shopper I urge you to throw clothing away (or turn them into rags) when they have holes or stains rather than donating them. Thrift stores are inundated with used clothing and employees often miss things.

  2. Thanks Catherine, very good point on the donations. Definitely toss clothing nobody would want to use! I guess donations are best for outgrown items! Thanks for commenting!

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