There’s a quiet yet mighty rumbling on the Gen Z side of the internet. After a couple of months away from YouTube, Emma Chamberlain has uploaded another video on the platform and, based on the number of closet clean-out videos I’ve seen on my TikTok For You page over the last few days, I have a hunch on what it’s about.
At end of November, Chamberlain uploaded a massive, hour-long wardrobe purge in which the 23-year-old got rid of (almost) everything she owned. The primary motivation? Years and years of massive overconsumption, leading to a wardrobe that, although stretched to fit every aesthetic Chamberlain undertook during her adolescence, felt overwhelming. The mid-2010s were filled with thrift flips and shopping hauls, documented by Chamberlain in weekly vlogs for her loyal audience that hung on every word. In the video, the celebrity and Chamberlain Coffee founder admitted that there were hundreds of pieces sitting in her closet unworn for more than half of a decade.
After checking in with loved ones and trusted friends over the course of three days, Chamberlain dramatically cut the size of her wardrobe and “narrow[ed] it down to stuff [she] truly wears.” Think items that are too loud, too flashy, too trendy, weren’t flattering, only worn once or for special occasions, or items she’d had since being a teenager. The result: a closet that works as a curated capsule wardrobe.
Although the term capsule wardrobe gets thrown around a lot, it’s important to remember that it’s all about working with pieces you know and love. In lieu of going out and buying an entirely new wardrobe, Chamberlain whittled down her closet to specific color palettes, familiar silhouettes, and hero accessories she finds herself wearing over and over—in turn making a tight edit of clothing she actually loves instead of having an overwhelming closet filled with pieces that she has the option to wear (but rarely does).
For many people, myself included, the illusion of choice and overwhelming number of options leaves them wearing the same thing over and over for every occasion: a white T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, with a neutral-colored coat, a black purse, and sunglasses. Just last week, I did the same exact thing Chamberlain did and threw caution to the wind by getting rid of over 200 pieces of clothing in my tiny, New York City closet. There were dozens of items in there with holes, stains, or tags still on them (yikes!) because I would pick the clothing I usually gravitated to in lieu of experimenting more with my wardrobe just since there were so many options. Sure, I didn’t set out to create a capsule wardrobe, but it naturally just happened. And frankly, it was one of the best things that happened to me.
After watching Chamberlain’s video, I searched her name on TikTok to see if other people were feeling as inspired as I did. There were dozens of videos with hundreds of thousands of views, mostly cautioning against the idea of decluttering your closet to make space for more impulse purchases all in the pursuit of matching Chamberlain’s new aesthetic. I’d like to make it clear: This is not a good idea. At the end of the day, flexing your sartorial muscles and donating your closet to curate a capsule wardrobe full of preexisting items you love in an attempt to unlock your truest, personal style is key. Getting rid of items you don’t wear is just a necessary step. If you’re feeling largely overwhelmed by your wardrobe, though, and would like to join the minimalist life, look no further.
Below are a few items from Chamberlain’s video I can’t stop thinking about that are smart, thoughtful investments and basics that, if you don’t own already, might be smart to add to your wardrobe and create a foundation for you to build upon. After all, if I, a self-described style hoarder, can do it, so can you.
Great Jeans
Before my closet clean-out, I was guilty of having multiple pairs of subpar jeans. Most of them never really fit right. It wasn’t until I found a vintage pair that worked on me that I realized the power of true good jeans, and I’ve invested in a couple of pairs that are both incredibly flattering and work with everything in my closet. Chamberlain showed off eight pairs in her video—mostly classic Levi’s she’s had for years.
Levi’s
Ribcage High Waist Straight Leg Jeans
Agolde
Kelly Jeans: High Rise Relaxed Straight
Khaite
Danielle High-Rise Slim-Leg Jeans
Zara
High Rise Z1975 Straight Leg Jeans
A Designer Purse
In the midst of watching Chamberlain’s accessory section in her YouTube video, I was struck by how curated her designer purses were. While the star has a handful of logo-less, casual bags, her go-to, everyday bag was a sleek Prada 1995 Re-Edition. The silhouette was a favorite of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and remains timeless to this day. If you’re going to take away anything from Chamberlain’s video, it’s that you should invest in a versatile bag that goes with nearly everything you wear. Whether it’s from a luxury house or a contemporary brand, it’s worth splurging on something if you’ll use it every day for the rest of your life.
Prada
Re-Edition 1995 Brushed-Leather Large Handbag
Coach
Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 39
Liffner
Belted Bucket Bag Amarone
Basic (But Not Boring) Shoes
When people think of a capsule wardrobe, they often think of basic sneakers, ballet flats, and no-fuss boots that serve as afterthoughts to an outfit. In Chamberlain’s case, the shoes were some of the most fun and interesting parts of her video, with the star opting for classic styles in reimagined silhouettes or fun colors to make her footwear choices feel fresh while the rest of her wardrobe was pared back and minimal. There were a few statement shoes I loved (the Loewe soap heels, for starters!), but the majority of Chamberlain’s footwear were well-loved classics, reimagined—like white ballet flats that had a Tabi split instead of a classic rounded toe.
Maison Margiela
Tabi Leather Ballerina Shoes
Tory Burch
Sculpted Peep Toe Pump
Steve Madden
Jones Black Leather
Classic Base Layers
When talking about her wardrobe in the video, Chamberlain admitted she stuck to a neutral, toned-down color palette of whites, blacks, creams, ivories, olives, stormy blues, and grays for her base layers of tanks, tops, long-sleeves, and cardigans. By having a toned-town outfit foundation, she’s able to play around with different accessories to make outfits feel uniquely her. It’s important to remember that a color palette that feels special to you is simply that: You have to keep your personal preferences in mind. My personal base layers include white T-shirts, chocolate-brown knits, and black tanks—not much else. At the end of the day, you should feel inspired to get pieces that feel neutral in your eyes, not in the eyes of anyone else.
Aritzia
Wilfred Only Turtleneck
Uniqlo
Crew Neck Short Sleeved T-Shirt
Cordera
Striped Merino Wool Cardigan | Dark Green
Reformation
Dusk Knit Top
Personality-Driven Sunglasses
I was struck with how much I adored Chamberlain’s sunglass collection. Although there are dozens of the same style, most of them were affordable and felt exciting and fresh. Green acetate! Orange lenses! Seventies frames! The options are endless and add a personal touch to her wardrobe (and will add one to yours, too).
Warby Parker x Emma Chamberlain
Johnny Sunglasses
Saint Laurent Eyewear
Monogram-Hinge Oval-Frame Sunglasses
Warby Parker x Emma Chamberlain
Emma Sunglasses
