Most advice on how to build a capsule wardrobe starts with a number — 30 pieces, 33 pieces — which misses the point. The number matters less than whether every piece you own can be worn with at least three others already in your wardrobe.
Start by auditing what you actually wear on repeat, not what you own. Those repeat pieces usually share a colour palette or silhouette, even if you haven't noticed it consciously — that's your starting template. Fill gaps around that template rather than replacing it wholesale.
Prioritise fit over trend for anything you plan to keep long-term, and save trend pieces for the small, cheap accents — a cap, a bag, a graphic tee — that are easy to rotate out later without wasting money on a full outfit you'll tire of in a season.
Our Best Sellers edit is a reasonable place to start if you're building from scratch.
