Today, I want to share a system with you that has simplified my mom life in the best way. It makes everything from dressing your child to washing laundry magically simple. Introducing: the life-changing magic of a baby capsule wardrobe! 

But let’s begin at the beginning…

Without a doubt, tiny clothes are the most fun gift to buy when shopping for a new baby! AmIright?

Sweet dresses and headbands for baby girls, and adorable rompers and hats for baby boys get me every time. Even when I’m buying a gift for a new mom who needs a whole lot more than just clothes, I can’t resist giving her at least one outfit!

But let’s be real. Most of us end up with tons of cute clothes for the first 6 months of our babies’ lives. Then, before you know it, the clothes train reaches the end of the line (unless, of course, you’re fortunate enough to receive bins of hand-me-downs from family and friends)!

We were gifted with clothes that helped carry Jack through his first summer. Then, one fateful day in late August, I suddenly realized that Autumn was just around the corner!

Jack was growing out of his summer wardrobe and barely had a stitch of clothing for the fast-approaching cool weather.

Starting From Scratch

It’s slightly overwhelming to realize that you have only a few short weeks to buy an entire wardrobe for your child. Even more overwhelming, is realizing he’ll be growing out of said wardrobe in just a few short months!

When considering what to buy him, I realized that I needed Jack’s wardrobe to be 3 things:

1. Simple
2. Affordable
3. Functional

I began brainstorming… How could I remove some of the cost and overwhelm of buying my child a completely new wardrobe? The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that curating a capsule wardrobe for my son would be a fantastic way to go.

I’ve been using a capsule wardrobe myself the past year, and can attest to its effectiveness! My own experience sparked the idea to try it with Jack.

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

Capsule wardrobes operate under the premise that less is actually more. They utilize a select number of clothing items. Though the quantity is lower, the quality and versatility of each piece is higher.

In a nutshell, you figure out which (and how many) clothing pieces you need, and set a budget for yourself.

Next, you choose coordinating base colors and accent colors, as well as an overarching style (i.e. classic, preppy, etc.). Consequently, literally dozens of outfit options are available because the clothing pieces harmonize!

This process is done thoughtfully, before any shopping takes place. The focus of your purchases shifts from cheap clothing that will wear out in just a few washes, to better quality pieces that will stand the test of time.

Capsule wardrobes are an intentional way to approach clothing purchases, saving you both time and money. The entire wardrobe is thought out ahead of time, which removes any stress involved with putting outfits together.

That might just be my favorite part!

(NOTE: If you want to know how to put one together, check out my simple, step-by-step guide on how to create capsule wardrobes for kids!)

5 Reasons to Create a Baby Capsule Wardrobe

1. Your Favorites Always Win

If you’re anything like me, you prefer dressing your little one in your favorite outfits. It’s natural to gravitate toward the colors, prints, and styles we like best on our babies!

I realized that I was doing this a lot over the summer. I thought Jack looked adorable in rompers, so I ended up dressing him in those more than anything else. They were cute and easy—and I loved them!

Consequently, I completely forgot about some of his other outfits. This taught me that even though his dresser drawers weren’t overflowing, he still had more than he needed.

Babies can only wear so much before they grow into the next size!

2. A Baby Capsule Wardrobe Is Versatile

Selecting a limited number of pieces does not mean that your child will have a limited number of outfits to wear. On the contrary, far more options are available to you because each piece has been carefully selected and thought through.

For example: If Top A only matches Bottom B, then you have exactly 1 outfit option for Top A. If, however, Top A coordinates with Bottoms A, B, C, and D, as well as Accessories (sweaters, vests, etc.) A, B, and C, then your options begin to multiply!

A baby capsule wardrobe creates dozens of outfit combinations. Putting together your child’s outfits in the daily gets a whole lot easier— and more fun, too!

Fun Tip: Dad can dress Baby much more easily when the clothing pieces naturally coordinate. My husband really appreciates this aspect of Jack’s capsule wardrobe.

3. A Baby Capsule Wardrobe Saves You Money

Because the clothing pieces are limited, each piece in a baby capsule wardrobe receives maximum wear before your child grows into the next size. Also, capsule wardrobes help you not to over-buy. Because you decide ahead of time which (and how many) pieces you plan to include, you’re automatically creating boundaries.

I would recommend setting the budget before you begin shopping, not after. This will help you to think more strategically, and less emotionally.

“But Baby would look SO cute in this!”

Have you ever been shopping for cleaning supplies at Target, minding your own business, and then all of a sudden— BAM! You noticed something on the rack that Baby just HAD to have. It was so stinkin’ adorable— and such a great deal!

*cha-ching*

Yeah, me too. I know I’m not the only one who has struggled with this!

I’m continually reminding myself, “Jack has enough.” Too much impulse buying is hazardous to the budget.

Capsule wardrobes cut down on the temptation to impulse buy. If you know your child’s wardrobe is already complete, you don’t have to wonder if he could use yet another adorable romper.

Ahem.

But don’t worry— you’ll get to go clothes shopping again next season!

4. You Can Invest in Better Quality Pieces

This is important for two main reasons in my book: resale and future children.

Jack has already worn quite a few different clothing brands in his short life. As I’ve cared for his clothes, I have seen firsthand how big a difference quality can make.

More expensive clothing usually costs more for a reason. The materials tend to be thicker and more resilient. They’re made to last. There is often more attention to detail.

For instance, Benj and I found Jack an amazing orange vest made by a UK company at a garage sale. This vest is beautifully lined with flannel, and also has tiny lined pockets that are actually pockets (not fake ones just for show). The material is nice and plush. The snaps and zippers are sturdy. I don’t even own a vest this nice!

That orange vest will be something I dress Jack in again and again in the coming fall and winter months! (He’s already gotten quite a few compliments on it from strangers, which I find amusing.)

Even if you’re buying higher-quality items pre-owned, you will still be able to resell them later if they’re in good shape. Or, you could bless another family with clothes that still have life left in them.

5. Capsule Wardrobes Cut Down on Laundry

Regular laundry routines work best with capsule wardrobes. Having a weekly laundry day works well for our family, although you could also wash a load each day.

Because you’re working with a limited number of pieces, the laundry needs to be done fairly regularly. I have actually found this to be a good thing because I never feel overwhelmed by it.

Mountains of laundry are overwhelming, plain and simple! When you own fewer clothes, the laundry stops piling up as high. Your laundry routine is instantly simplified and more manageable.

One Final Note

It’s important to note that a baby capsule wardrobe is not a rigid system. It’s a flexible framework tailored to your child’s unique needs. If need be, you can easily tweak it along the way so that it continues to serve you well.

Some people are hesitant, concerned that a capsule wardrobe might be too confining. I have personally found the opposite to be true, and I think you will too! There is so much freedom that comes with a curated closet.

A baby capsule wardrobe is also not as difficult or overwhelming as it may sound at first. In my experience, putting together my son’s closet has been even easier than putting together my own.

Give it a try for at least one season. You never know— you might just love it!

Ready to give it a try? Follow this simple, step-by-step guide I created to help overwhelmed moms simplify their baby’s wardrobes!