capsule wardrobe

noun

plural capsule wardrobes

: a selection of clothing items that can be styled in a variety of configurations for many occasions thereby reducing the number of items needed overall

Crafting a well-rounded fall capsule wardrobe often begins from the ground up …

—Laura Jackson

… Together, the two have created a capsule wardrobe featuring timeless garments, with a touch of modernity added through accessorizing or less classic pieces.

—Olivia Batoul

Examples of capsule wardrobe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Whether that means keeping your favorite lip gloss on-hand for a touch-up in the car or stashing your favorite jeans into your carry-on for back-up, choose a travel capsule wardrobe that covers every possible activity. — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 13 July 2026

The elastic waistband and flowy wide legs make long travel days noticeably more comfortable, while the neutral color options slide seamlessly into a capsule wardrobe. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026

Below, build your everyday rotation with 12 stylish summer capsule wardrobe essentials that make the heat much more bearable. — Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 7 July 2026

All three stars recently wore mix-and-match pieces that are the foundation of any great capsule wardrobe. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for capsule wardrobe

• bathrobe
• earlobe
• microbe
• globe
• jobe
• lobe
• probe
• robe
• strobe
• microprobe