Do you feel like you have a near-endless collection of loungewear taking up too much space in your wardrobe? Although loungewear should be a staple in your closet, you should be more selective about what you keep. This is where a capsule collection comes into play. A capsule loungewear wardrobe is a curated collection of 20 to 40 items.
With a capsule collection, you choose a few pieces that mix easily, feel good against your skin, and hold up well over time. Usually, capsule collections include all types of loungewear, from comfy stretchy pants and breathable t-shirts to minimalist sleepwear and other essentials like socks, headbands, and eye masks.
However, we get that knowing what a capsule loungewear wardrobe is and how it should function doesn’t tell you how to build one. That’s why This Is J is sharing what you need to know about building your very own capsule loungewear wardrobe. With this wardrobe, you’ll do laundry less often, get ready quicker, and stop the urge to buy replacement items you don’t even need in the first place.
The Case for Intentional Loungewear
In the past, loungewear was the go-to choice for when you were feeling a little under the weather or while you were cleaning the house. This is no longer the case, thank goodness. Nowadays, loungewear is clothing you can wear at home, for a school pick-up, a quick coffee run, or on a work-from-home day.
If you choose your items well, they can even be what you wear to a Sunday brunch. So, considering this, it's important that you be intentional in selecting your loungewear. You need to think of the many different situations that could involve you wearing your comfiest clothes.
All this thinking will pay off because there are two main ways putting together a capsule loungewear wardrobe will help you:
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You’ll experience less decision fatigue. This is a big bonus if you overthink what you wear on any given day. With a capsule loungewear wardrobe, you'll have matching items, pieces you can mix and match, and different fit styles, so you'll never feel confined in what you wear.
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You’ll improve your cost per wear. Yes…We said it. Since you’ll be wearing fewer quality pieces like those sold in this bamboo collection, you won’t be spending nearly as much on fast fashion. Not to mention, fewer wash cycles mean money saved on your household bills every month.
Choosing Your Base Colours
You also need to know that if you want your capsule loungewear wardrobe to work, you need a few base colours that mix well. Usually, this means opting for neutrals because you can grab these while half asleep and pair them with nearly anything, and they’ll work together.
Here’s a simple approach you may want to try:
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Try to pick two core neutral colours you’ll love wearing. We recommend black and cream or navy and heather grey.
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Add one soft accent colour that feels like you. This could be a muted blush, warm taupe, or sage.
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Try to keep prints subtle or limit them to one piece or set, like with your pajamas.
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Don’t choose colours that you think you’ll love. Go with what you know you like to wear.
If you start with neutrals for your capsule wardrobe, you’ll get far more loungewear outfit choices with far fewer items.
The Essential Pieces: Building Your Capsule
If you’ve never put together a capsule loungewear wardrobe before, it can be difficult to determine which loungewear essentials to add. That’s why we’ve shared a few ideas below:
Two Pajama Sets You Can Mix And Match
If there is one staple you should have in your loungewear capsule, it's pajamas. If you have two sets of comfortable, breathable, temperature-regulating, ultra-soft, beautiful pajamas, you’ll always look put together.
This Is J has numerous pajama set options to choose from for men, women, children, and families, so you’re bound to find a set you’ll love. We also have quite a few pajama sets featuring tops and bottoms that work with other pieces, like button-up tops you can pair with joggers and relaxed tees that pair spectacularly well with lounge pants.
One Pair Of Lounge Pants And One Pair Of Shorts
A good, comfortable, well-made set of lounge pants can act as an anchor for your loungewear capsule. If you buy a neutral set, you’ll have a good base for plenty of outfits that you can wear out and about or while lazing at home. But your lounge pants can’t do all the heavy lifting. You also need shorts for those warm nights, travel days, and summer mornings.
Two Tops With Different Moods
If you want a range of layering pieces without adding too many items to your capsule, get two tops. One should be a short-sleeve shirt and the other a long-sleeve shirt. This gives you options for both warmer and colder weather, and if they have neutral colours, you can pair them with many outfits.
One Cosy Layer
Cold weather inspires coziness, so it only makes sense that your loungewear collection should include at least one cosy layer. There are many types of cosy layers you could choose, but usually a sweater, cardigan, wrap, or soft hoodie is a go-to choice for Canadians.
But if you want to be a little bougie, you could consider a stylish yet comfy robe that doubles as a light outer layer at home.
One “Stylish Comfort” Piece
This is where you’re going to want to bring out the big guns. You need one stylish piece or set that you can lounge in and leave the house wearing. Usually, this is a beautiful casual top or a layer that elevates what's underneath, like a winter coat.
Versatile Pieces That Work Day and Night
In our opinion, the best capsule loungewear wardrobes are flexible, meaning they work for the day or the night. If you’re not quite sure how to pick loungewear to match evening and daytime attire, here’s a quick guide:
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Look for clothing that offers clean lines and a comfortable drape. You don’t want loungewear that is clingy, nor do you want anything too baggy or shapeless.
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Try to get lounging pants that have comfortable waistbands. If you have to constantly adjust your pants, they aren’t right for your capsule wardrobe.
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Pick clothing fabrics like bamboo, viscose, and spandex blends that hold their shape and are super soft. These are two of the most important aspects for clothing you want to last you a long time while still being comfortable enough for lounging.
And it's completely fair to be fussy about what you choose to add to your capsule loungewear wardrobe. It's going against your skin, and you’re likely to wear this clothing for hours, so you want to be as comfortable as possible.
Building Over Time
You shouldn’t feel pressured to build your entire loungewear capsule overnight. You likely already have a few solid pieces you can use to get started, and then you can slowly add more as your budget allows.
In fact, if you take things slower, it's far more likely that you’ll put together a wardrobe you actually love to wear. Here’s a short guide on how to build your clothing capsule over time:
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Audit your wardrobe: Go through your closet and identify the five loungewear items you reach for most often. These will begin the start of your capsule.
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Identify the gap: When you go through your wardrobe to find the loungewear you use most often, you’ll notice gaps. What we mean is that you’ll notice if you’re missing a better pajama set or a comfortable pair of lounge pants. This helps you figure out what to buy first.
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Add a single piece at a time: Although it may be tempting to rush out and buy all the clothing you need, don’t do it. Add one piece or set at a time and wear it multiple ways before you add another.
In addition to the above, you need to replace, not just add. If you have new pieces of clothing, try to get rid of something old to keep your capsule small and curated to your stylistic tastes.
Start Your Capsule with This Is J
You can truly make everyday life a little more effortless by creating a capsule loungewear wardrobe. At This Is J, we offer a wide selection of loungewear, including pajama sets and lounging pants (short and long), nightgowns, tees, and long-sleeve options. There's something for everyone, whether young or old.
To check out our men's loungewear, click here; for women's loungewear, click here. We hope you love our collections, made in Canada, as much as we do.
