The Ultimate Kids Capsule Wardrobe Blueprint
How to create a kids capsule wardrobe that works
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I’m a mom with two young daughters, so it’s no surprise that before I enacted a kids capsule wardrobe I felt as though I was drowning in laundry.
I once thought the solution was to stay on top of it by doing more loads. The result? I spent nearly every spare moment washing, hanging or folding.
Still, I was dutiful. I bought more baskets + better utilized hangers. I created a comprehensive laundry system, too, but nothing worked.
These days I do laundry once a week and I couldn’t be happier. I keep one daughter’s clothes in a single drawer and my other daughter’s clothes in the adjacent drawer in the same dresser. This makes putting laundry away an absolute breeze.
Because, when it comes to laundry, I had an epiphany:
Owning less clothes means there’s less to wash. There’s also less to take care of, less to manage and less to fold. There’s less to put away, too.
You can pare down your family’s collective laundry load, too, by creating a capsule wardrobe for your kids.
What’s a capsule wardrobe?
It’s a wardrobe of select, multi-functional items.
It’s a fancy term for a small collection of items that can easily mix + match to create many different outfits.
[Related: The secret to creating a successful capsule wardrobe for adults.]
Minimizing your kid’s wardrobe doesn’t mean that your kids will be dressed in plain, boring outfits. It means they’ll have just a few, super cute ones.
Minimizing your kid’s wardrobe doesn’t mean they’ll look like ratty-tatty ragamuffins, either. It means they’ll wear quality items that expertly mix-and-match.
Need more convincing?
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-Mornings become a breeze. Fewer clothing choices mean fewer fights.
-You’ll save serious money. On average, Americans spend $500 a year on kids’ clothes!
-You won’t miss overflowing drawers that buckle.
-Your home will create less waste. That’s because owning less is eco-friendly; owning lots is not.
Google “Kids Capsule Wardrobe” and you’ll come up with hundreds of hits from moms who have slimmed and trimmed their children’s closets. This blueprint is different. That’s because it’s incremental. It’s progressive. There’s wiggle room here.
If you follow it to the letter, it’ll take you about 90 minutes per child to create.
How (exactly!) to create a kids capsule wardrobe
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STEP ONE: Set yourself up for success.
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Everyone loves to buy kids’ clothes. Who wouldn’t? But if clothes, shoes and accessories continue to stream into your home, your capsule efforts will sink before it’s even had the chance to float.
So, before you even begin, tell everyone who loves your kid there’s a moratorium on purchasing clothes. Say it nicely. Convey eternal gratitude. Be sure to mention that – when your child needs a new item – they’ll be the first to know.
STEP TWO: Get to work.
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1. Acquire childcare so you can work uninterrupted.
2. Enter your child’s room + close the door. Then dump every single piece of clothing out of those overflowing, buckling drawers. Remove each and every item from the closet + toss it all into the gigantic pile on the floor.
Don’t forget the shoes! Shoes go into the pile, too.
3. Find 4 big boxes and label them like this:
The KEEP BOX – Ideally, this will be the smallest box at the end.
The DONATE BOX – Only donate clothing in good condition.
The REUSE BOX – Items that are stained or ripped can be reused as paint clothes, cleaning cloths, rags, trunk liners, et cetera.
The SENTIMENTAL BOX – Save a few sentimental outfits, if you’d like.
STEP THREE: Get sorting.
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Sort everything in the gigantic pile by putting it into the correct box.
Once everything has been sorted, pare down the KEEP BOX.
This step will probably be – and should be! – hard. If an item really tugs at your heartstrings, know you can always put it in the SENTIMENTAL BOX.
Here are some helpful tips to consider as you minimize the KEEP BOX:
Take out what’s impractical. Onesies with snaps. Short-sleeved sweaters. If it’s impractical for the climate in which you live – or if it’s generally just a pain – donate it.
Think about what matches. That teal sweater is cute, but it won’t match the green pants you saved.
Think about layering. Which long-sleeve shirts can dual as a base layer on particularly cold days?
Think about dual function. A cardigan can be an extra layer when it’s cold. When buttoned, it can also be a stand alone top.
Shy away from the white items. They’ll show wear-and-tear quicker than colored items.
Consider gender-neutral items. A bedazzled vest probably can’t be passed down to a younger son, but a tan cardigan can.
Remember utility. Which boots will keep your kid warmest in the winter? Which pants fit the best, yet also have some growing room left in them?
Think about maintenance. Donate clothes that require ironing or other special care, because no mom has time for that.
You’ll know you’ve got it right when the contents of your KEEP BOX looks something like this:
Just trust me: This is all you need. But if you’re skeptical, be incremental: Reserve a few items from the DONATE BOX and put them in quarantine. If you end up needing these items later, rest assured by knowing you’ll have them on hand.
If after 6 months you haven’t used the items in quarantine, donate them then.
STEP FOUR: Keep it up.
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Don’t let your efforts unravel: Stay on top of the capsule you created by sifting through your child’s wardrobe at the change of every season.
If your child gets a free tee-shirt for participating at an event, politely decline it and refuse to take it home.
Keep your kid’s capsule looking its best by washing smart.
The day will come when you need to purchase clothes for your rapidly growing child. When you buy, buy quality items made from eco-friendly fabrics in a neutral color.
Have you created a kids capsule wardrobe? How’s it working for you? Leave us your best tips in the comments!
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