Last week I shared a 25-piece Quince capsule wardrobe. Today I want to pull back the curtain a little, because that 25-piece list didn't appear out of thin air.

It's the curated version of a much bigger reality.

Here's the truth: I own a little over 100 pieces from Quince.

Before you fall off your chair, let me explain... because the number sounds way more dramatic than it actually is. And I think the breakdown is way more useful to you than the headline.

✅ First, the honest math. Out of those 100ish pieces, a big chunk is jewelry, workout clothes, pajamas, scarves, and other "not actually outfit" items.

✅ Second, this took me 3+ years to build. I didn't go on a shopping spree. I bought slowly, kept what worked, and let the wardrobe show me what was missing as I went. (If you want to see the whole thing, you can peek at my full Quince closet here. It's literally every piece I own from them in one place)

So if last week's 25-piece capsule made you think "okay but how do I actually build something like this from scratch?", today's email is the answer.

This is how I do it.

🚨 Important: if you are reading this on your phone and have the Quince app installed, the links will take you to Quince's homepage. This is a bug on their end. I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience. So if you do want to be able to see the links in this email, either delete the app temporarily or read this on a laptop/desktop 🚨

1️⃣ I dress for the life I actually have, not the one I might have.

I'm in warm weather 90% of the year. So 90% of my wardrobe is warm-weather pieces. I also travel full time. 95% of the items in my closet are travel friendly. (I'm working on an email about dressing at home VS dressing for vacation. It will give your more clarity about what to look for when shopping)

I have a few transitional things and a small handful of cold-weather pieces, and I'm slowly adding more because of some trips I have coming up. More on that below.

If you live somewhere with real winters, your capsule should reflect that. If you work from home, your capsule should also reflect that. The fastest way to a closet full of "nothing to wear" is keeping items for a life that isn't yours.

💡 What this means for you: Before adding a single new piece, ask yourself where you're actually going to wear it. If you can't name three specific (and real) occasions, skip it.

2️⃣ When something fits perfectly, I buy it in more colors.

This is the rule that goes against everything fashion content tells you. But hear me out.

I have my tapered linen pants in green, brown, flax, navy and black. I have my Ponte cropped wide leg pants in black, navy, brown, and green. My scoop neck tank in 4 colors.

Why? Because once I find a cut that actually works on my 5'4" frame, the hardest part is over. The fit, the length, the rise, the way it sits when I sit down... all of it is already solved. Adding a new color is a no-brainer purchase. Trying a new "different but similar" piece from somewhere else is a gamble and a waste of time.

💡 What this means for you: When you find a piece that genuinely fits well, stop searching for variety. Buy the win. Your future self getting dressed in 30 seconds will thank you.

3️⃣ I have a "rebuy yearly" category.

A few things I just plan on replacing every year: 2 tank tops, 2 t-shirts, and a pair or two of workout leggings.

Here's why: I travel with 2-3 each at a time and wear them constantly. I also use wash-and-folds in most places, which are NOT gentle. (Your local laundromat is not babying your delicates.) So these pieces get used hard and washed harder.

I'd rather know they're going to wear out and budget for the replacement than pretend I'm going to keep a $16 cotton tee forever. You'll see the cotton modal scoop neck tank and the scoop neck tee in several colors each inside my Quince closet.​

💡 What this means for you: Some pieces are built to last 10 years (cashmere, leather, linen blazers). Some are workhorses you'll replace every year (basics in soft fabrics that touch your skin daily). Budget accordingly. Keep in mind this only applies for pieces that you wear multiple times a week.

4️⃣ Sometimes the smartest shopping is the kind you do months early.

I'm slowly building out a cold-weather wardrobe right now. Why? Because I have some big, long, cold trips coming up (I'll share more soon 😉), and I know I'm going to need pieces I don't currently own.

Here's why I'm not waiting until the month before the trip:

• First, I have to test things. Sizing, fit, fabric weight, how it layers, how it packs, whether it actually keeps me warm. If a piece doesn't work, I want to know now so I have time to return it and try something else. The month before a trip is the worst time to discover that the coat you ordered is too short or the base layer is itchy.
• Second, buying it all at once is a brutal expense. A coat, real boots, a base layer, a few sweaters, gloves... that adds up fast. Spreading it across a few months means I can actually invest in pieces that will last instead of grabbing whatever's cheap and available the week before I leave.

💡 What this means for you: If you have a trip coming up in the next 6 months that needs different clothes than your usual life, start shopping now. Test as you go. Your wallet and your suitcase will both thank you.

5️⃣ I let the wardrobe build itself instead of buying it all at once.

This is the boring answer that nobody wants to hear: I bought one thing at a time, wore it, noticed what was missing, and bought the next thing. Three years later, here we are.

There's no shortcut. There's no "30 pieces in 30 days" version that actually works. The wardrobes that function are the ones built slowly, with real feedback from your actual life and your actual body.

💡 What this means for you: If you're starting from scratch, pick one category (I'd start with bottoms) and get that sorted first. Then build everything else around it.

So that's the whole framework:

1️⃣ Buy for the life you have → not the one you might have someday

2️⃣ Double down on what fits → when a cut works, buy it in more colors (if it's something you wear every week)

3️⃣ Replace what wears out → some pieces are workhorses and make your life easy. Have them handy!

4️⃣ Shop ahead for what's coming → test pieces months before the trip (return what doesn't work. No someday pieces)

5️⃣ Build the whole thing slowly → one piece at a time, with real feedback from your real life and body

Also, I take pieces out of my closet every 6 months. If anything's sitting there that fits my life in theory but hasn't been with me on trips for the last 2 years, it's out.

If last week's 25 pieces felt like the destination, this email is the map for how to get there. And if you missed it, here's the full 25-piece capsule.​

Let me know if you have questions about any specific item. I'm always happy to help 💜

XO,

Aimara

👉🏼 PS: all the pieces from Quince currently in my closet are linked here.​

​Save this image to your Pinterest for easy access any time! (my articles get reviewed and updated every year, so you'll always have access to the current version)