It’s so much fun to browse through the baby/toddler clothing section at your favorite department store, and who would blame you for coming home with new outfits every time you shop? Eventually, however, your little one’s drawers and closets (and your laundry) may be overflowing with clothes! If you’re a fan of minimalism or just looking for a way to make it easier to keep cleaning and laundering easier, you may want to consider putting together a capsule wardrobe for your little one.
What Is a Capsule Wardrobe?
This is a term used by Susie Faux in the 1970s to describe a wardrobe created with limited items that don’t go out of fashion and which pair with each other. There are several benefits to this idea:
- It reduces the amount of money you spend on clothes.
- It simplifies your choices when you shop for clothes.
- It cuts down on the amount of washing, drying, and folding you do.
- It makes it easier for toddlers to choose their own outfits.
- There are more pieces that work well with each other.
If done correctly, you can use this wardrobe during all seasons, simply by swapping out a few seasonal items that coordinate with your essential items.
What Do You Really Need?
Your first goal in putting together a capsule wardrobe for your youngster is with a recommended standard formula. This generally includes
- 5-6 tops
- 5-6 bottoms
- 1 nice outfit for special occasions
- 1 set of play shoes
- 5-7 sets of underwear
- 1 nice set of play shoes
- 1 pair of shoes for special occasions
- 6-8 pairs of socks
- 1 sweater or jacket
- 1 coat
Rather than browsing through a lot of different retailers, choose just a couple of your favorites, so it’s easier to make sure pieces coordinate.
What Are the Preferred Colors and Patterns?
The second key to successfully using a capsule wardrobe is focusing on choosing complementary patterns and colors. This means choosing tops and bottoms that aren’t hard to mix and match. At first, you may feel that this limits your choices, but as you get the hang of this, you’ll discover that it’s pretty easy to pick colors and patterns that coordinate with a few foundation pieces.
What Does Your Child Love?
Next, keep your child’s preferences in mind. No matter how much you love the items in the closets and drawers, the wardrobe won’t make getting dressed in the morning easier unless your little one likes the selection. This also means making sure you’re choosing clothes that are comfortable and allow for all the wiggling, running, and jumping that little ones pack into their days. Check out Little green radicals baby clothing for some great ideas about how comfortable clothes can coordinate without getting boring.
A couple of tips can make this process easier. The first tip is that you don’t have to keep everything you are gifted for your children. It’s okay to keep what you love and give away the rest. Next, if you can’t create a brand-new wardrobe for your child, choose the existing pieces that you love and then fill in the gaps around those pieces until you achieve your goal.
