Building My Own Capsule Wardrobe — With a Little Help from Excel and Elizabeth Dean Boutique 💻👗
Many of our customers have asked how to start a capsule wardrobe after having their color season analysis done by Brilliantly Bespoke. Once you know your perfect palette, the next step is creating a wardrobe that mixes, matches, and simplifies your daily style. The secret isn’t always buying more—it’s organizing what you already have and building a capsule wardrobe that works for you.
At Elizabeth Dean Boutique, we love helping customers curate timeless, mix-and-match wardrobes filled with pieces that reflect their color season, lifestyle, and budget. And one of our favorite tools we've come across to get it all organized?
A simple Excel spreadsheet!
Why Excel?
You don’t need a fancy app to feel like a stylist. Excel makes it easy to sort, filter, and color-code your clothing collection. It’s perfect for tracking your consignment finds, planning outfit combinations, and even calculating how much you’ve saved by shopping smart.
After helping Helen organize and photograph her capsule wardrobe (recent blog dated October 3, 2025), I found myself completely inspired! Watching her create a closet full of outfits that mixed and matched so effortlessly made me want to do the same with my own confusing fall and winter wardrobe—only this time, in my own Deep Summer color palette.
I had pieces I loved, but I couldn’t quite visualize how they all fit together. That’s when I came up with the idea of using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to plan my capsule.
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Step 1: Set Up Your Wardrobe Sheet
I started by listing the colors I wanted to focus on across the top row of my sheet—sparkling amethyst tones, gentle misty grays, soft navy or slate blues, dramatic ocean teals, and rosy cranberries—all hues that belong in the Summer palette. Then, I added my item categories down the left side:
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Tops
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Bottoms
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Outerwear
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Dresses/Skirts
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Shoes
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Accessories
From there, I filled in each box with what I already owned, and it quickly became clear where my wardrobe felt complete and where I had gaps to fill. My spreadsheet helped me visualize my wardrobe by showing me balance, variety, and coordination.
Step 2: (Optional) Add Photos
Snap a quick photo of each piece and insert a small image beside its listing. Now you have a visual closet right on your computer. This helps you spot gaps—like needing a layering cardigan or a neutral shoe—and keeps your wardrobe feeling intentional.
Step 3: Finding the Missing Pieces at Elizabeth Dean Boutique!!
When I noticed I needed a few more layering pieces and neutral accessories, I started my shopping at Elizabeth Dean Boutique. Shopping consignment made it easy (and affordable) to fill in the blanks. I found quality items in my Summer tones that fit beautifully into my existing capsule—pieces I could mix, match, and wear in countless combinations.
What I love most about building a wardrobe this way is that every new find has a purpose. Instead of random purchases, each piece works with what I already own. And when everything coordinates, getting dressed becomes simple and stress-free.
Step 4: Record Your Outfit Combinations
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Use a second sheet in Excel to list your favorite combinations, such as:
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Ivory blouse + olive skirt + gold necklace
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Navy striped top + tan blazer + dark denim
You’ll be amazed how many stylish looks you can create with fewer, better pieces—especially if they come from our boutique’s carefully curated racks!
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Step 5: Rotate by Season
When seasons change, simply filter your spreadsheet by fabric or color palette to plan what to store away and what to highlight. Our staff can even help you find new seasonal additions that coordinate perfectly with your capsule wardrobe and color season.
Step 6: Keep It Updated
Each time you add a new consignment find from Elizabeth Dean Boutique, update your spreadsheet! You’ll build a personalized wardrobe tracker that grows with you—and keeps your spending (and closet space) beautifully organized.
Why It Works
Our customers tell us this system helps them:
✅ See exactly what they own
✅ Avoid duplicate purchases
✅ Mix and match more outfits
✅ Stay true to their Brilliantly Bespoke color palette
✅ Enjoy the savings from consignment shopping
💛If you’re ready to start your own capsule wardrobe, bring your color palette (or even your spreadsheet!) into Elizabeth Dean Boutique. Our team will help you find pieces that fit your season, your lifestyle, and your budget—all while helping you build a wardrobe that feels completely you.
🌸 Stop by Elizabeth Dean Boutique and pick up your blank capsule wardrobe spreadsheet copy! It’s a fun, easy way to start mapping out your colors and categories—and we’ll be happy to help you fill in the perfect pieces.
When you pair thoughtful organization with beautiful finds from our store, your wardrobe will look like a million dollars—without spending it!
A well-organized capsule wardrobe isn’t just about clothes—it’s about confidence, clarity, and creativity.
With Excel as your digital closet assistant, you’ll discover new combinations, avoid unnecessary shopping, and truly enjoy getting dressed every day.
-The Consignment Fashionista