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capsule wardrobe

American  
[kap-suhl wawr-drohb, -sool, -syool] / ˈkæp səl ˌwɔr droʊb, -sul, -syul /

noun

  1. a small, carefully selected set of clothes that go well together and serve as the foundation of multiple outfits.

    Everyone should have a classic white shirt in their capsule wardrobe.
capsule wardrobe British  

noun

  1. a collection of clothes and accessories that includes only items considered essential

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of capsule wardrobe

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Many mastered the capsule wardrobe long before it became trendy.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2025

It’s nowhere near a capsule wardrobe, but it’s madness contained.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2025

"It's great to buy into trends if you think they will fit your personal style and will become a staple in your capsule wardrobe for the next 5-10 years."

From BBC • Dec. 21, 2022

This was my version of a capsule wardrobe, a small collection of clothing and accessories that can be mixed and matched into looks that fit your style.

From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2022

“A capsule wardrobe isn’t just quicker,” Hornby says.

From The Guardian • Feb. 20, 2020

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.