What’s a Capsule Wardrobe?
Capsule wardrobe movement
Have you heard of capsule wardrobes? It’s fashion austerity. You wear the same thing everyday or a uniform of very similar pieces everyday. Brilliant people like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Albert Einstein all avoided decision fatigue by wearing the same thing every. single. day. No expenditure of time, energy or emotional bandwidth on wardrobe.
Can you imagine not standing in front of closet full of clothes, matching, accessorizing and color coordinating every outfit everyday?
I’m no Einstein, but decided to try it. I wore the same dress everyday last week. I wore it to church on Sunday, out to dinner on Tuesday, to the dentist on Wednesday, running errands on Thursday, to my hair cut on Saturday, and around the house the rest of the week.
Same dress every day! It was fantastic.
Freedom and creativity abound.
I actually had more energy and creativity because I didn’t burn time and decision making power on what to wear and what to wear with what I was wearing!
Listen, when what to prepare for dinner, the composition of an email or choosing which picture to post takes too much time, energy and emotional bandwidth, it leaves us lacking space and creativity to contemplate bigger issues of work, play and rest.
My experiment wearing the same outfit all week was successful on so many fronts. It was a no-brainer deciding what to wear every morning! From undies to earrings, it was already planned. It multiplied my time and because I loved the dress, I felt confident to face whatever the day held.
It was fun! Honestly, I felt like I was privately pranking everyone. I kept waiting for someone to say, “Didn’t you wear that yesterday?” I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the world didn’t stop to ridicule, judge or even question. No one even noticed.
Not just for wardrobe.
Systemizing our routines applies to way more than wardrobe. Now my morning starts with a routine of personal hygiene and rich devotional time with Jesus that jump starts my day.
Setting meal times and having the same thing for breakfast and lunch everyday has streamlined my cooking, shopping and prep time.
Batch writing content for books, courses and devotionals has multiplied my work flow immeasurably.
Your turn.
What is a routine you have (or will) systematize to streamline your decision making and multiply your time? Leave me a comment – I read every single one.
Oh, and feel free to try my little experiment. If I see you in the same outfit several days in a row, I promise not to say a thing. We’ll just wink at each and exchange knowing smiles.
Verse of the day: “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. – Matt. 6:31-33 New Living Translation (NLT)
Prayer: Remind me that your approval is enough for me, God. That I don’t need to fret over what to eat or what to wear. Guide and show me the right way to stay in the center of your will. Not my own.
Love it. I wash & dry the same capris & top after getting ready for bed & then ready to wear the next day should I not be going anywhere.
Marietta, Genius idea. Thanks for posting.
Excellent. I do the same with my wardrobe. Plus when first at my desk in the am set up a To Do list to which I add tasks as the day goes by, then always check all the financials (unless there is a pressing customer need) then proceed to review the groupings of projects and then do the individual tasks.
Ginny, sounds like you’re a “Systems Girl” too. I gotta have a to-do list or my day goes south in a hurry.Thanks for posting.
I try to have many things the same each day; take care of personal business before I leave my bedroom, make my bed and dress before I head to the kitchen. Now I enjoy breakfast and coffee, do chores and as often as I can I go for a walk and talk with Jesus.
I’ll plan a light lunch for my spouse and me; clean up and now I can pick a fun project to start- make cards or work in my garden. By 2 pm I grab a book, water and cushions for an outdoor chair and read and enjoy the birds by the feeder.
Elizabeth, You are a champion at routines. Thanks for verifying this idea of systems can work. I appreciate you posting.
I’ve got a favorite pair of comfortable workout pants that I wear around the house and to bed almost daily. Of course they’re laundered often. I make my bed every morning and have my devotions and quiet time early morning. Time goes well because I leave my worries with the Lord. He’ll work everything out for my best.
I try to read my devotions every morning at have time with God. It just starts off my day connected to him and at peace?. I enjoy picking out clothes to wear each day and I don’t usually fret about it. I think great idea if makes you feel better to experiment doing something like you did for a test…..Thank you for your thoughts and great Bible verse.
Agree entirely, Sharon. Appreciate you.
There’s the key, Jackie. Systems and routines work well, but only the Lord can order our steps perfectly.
I think I am going to try this. Also I finally (at least temporarily) have some stability in my work hours so I am going to set a routine for each morning to make sure I maximize my time and energy. I know for most people this is typical but some days I have to be at work at 6 a.m. and some not til 3:00 p.m. It usually varies weekly so it’s always been very tough to do.
Denise, You’ll have to let me know how it works for you. I imagine trying to get a routine will be easier now that you have a cooperative work schedule. Thanks for posting.
I set out what I’m going to wear the night before. Then I have time for a nice walk with my dogs and Jesus in the morning plus devotional time without worrying about what I’m going to wear. I do wear the same pants 2 or 3 days in a row, but since I’m a caregiver working with the same people every day I usually wear a different blouse.
What a good idea to set out your clothes the night before. Not having to decide in the morning would certainly streamline the time it takes me to get out the door. Thanks for a great idea.
I have done this during COVID but I find myself reaching for variety. Not in clothing but where I go, what I see, who I communicate with. So, yes, I’ve done this quite a bit with my clothes and one meal each day (homemade bone broth or yogurt), but the rest is sparking with oodles of variety. But that’s your point, isn’t it? Make room for extra creativity. Yeehaw!
YOU are one of the most creative people I know, Debbie Jo. So glad you posted your thoughts.