How Less Became Enough
When I found out we were expecting twins, I stocked up on everything second hand. I was unsure what to expect. Would my twins be tiny preemies? Heavy weights and overdue? I reasoned more was better than less. Such tiny clothing would have lots of time to pile up before the wash was worth running. This was a fine strategy for the newborn stage and the rolling over stage, but once the boys took off crawling and climbing, I could not afford the time to pre-soak, wash, dry, fold and hang so many clothes. That’s when I discovered the magic of a capsule wardrobe. It completely changed the way I approached our daily routines for my twins.
What surprised me most was how little we actually needed. A weeks worth of clothing is really all you need to have on hand. Capsule wardrobing forced me to be intentional with the selection of clothing my children would be choosing from, and look at the whole picture of our daily rhythms. I was no longer digging through drawers of tiny pants and shirts, pushing past items, too small, out of season, or that didn’t suit our family’s needs. We had a carefully selected collection of clothes that worked hard and were well worn.
Building A Montessori-Inspired Capsule Wardrobe for Twins
A capsule wardrobe is a small, intentional collection of clothes that mix and match easily. For babies and toddlers, this means fewer items overall, but also clothes that are: durable, comfortable, and versatile. Every top goes with every bottom. No more digging through drawers for a top that doesnt clash with that funky pair of pants. No more clothes left forgotten and unworn because of too many choices on hand.
In Montessori, we aim to support a child’s natural desire to express independence and freedom within limits. With this in mind, I created a capsule wardrobe for my twin toddlers that is accessible, practical, and smart, while also being seasonally appropriate with a limited number of options. When I first began offering my twins the freedom to choose their own outfits, they were quickly overwhelmed. There were simply too many options to sort through, and in the end, they would typically select from their favorite few pieces anyway.
I started by laying out every item of clothing they owned on the spare bed. I then divided everything into categories: short sleeve tops, sweater, pants, short, etc. Seeing it all laid out before me really highlighted the mountain of excess I was working against!
I tackled each category one at a time, beginning with tops, removing anything outgrown or rarely worn. This was the REALLY hard. Forcing myself to let go of pieces I had envisioned for my children, but accepting that for one reason or another these clothes just didn’t serve their needs. I repeated the process for all clothing.
Next, I considered seasonal needs: What are the essentials? How many of each type do they truly need? How does our climate impact their needs? I settled on about a week’s worth of clothes, tailored to our lifestyle.
Capsule wardrobing for twins greatly simplify our storage needs and reduced clutter. Clothes not in season were stored out of sight. I purchased clear plastic bins and labeled them according to size. Here I stored clothes the twins will grow into, and hand-me-downs on hold for their sibling. A streamlined, more intentional wardrobe made it easier to pass along what no longer fit, and to truly value the pieces that were kept. I nourished my sentiment side by making a memory box for each child, filled with cherished pieces they no longer wear.
Here’s a quick example of what our Montessori-inspired capsule wardrobe looks like for our twin toddlers…
Summer
Tops:
2 layering shirts
8 everyday shirts
2 white dress shirts (special occasions, weddings or family photos)
Bottoms:
8 shorts
2 pants
2 overalls
Outerwear:
2 pairs of running shoes
2 pairs of sandals
2 sun hats
6 pajamas
socks & underwear
Winter
Tops:
2 cardigans
4 Basic Sweaters
8 basic long sleeve shirts
2 Christmas sweater
Bottoms:
2 sweat pants
2 nicer pants
6 everyday pants
Outerwear:
2 hooded coats
2 snow suites
2 snow boots
2 pairs of shoes
6 pajamas
socks & underwear
Spring/Fall
Tops:
2 cardigans
6 basic long sleeve shirts
4 short sleeve shirts
2 festive holiday shirts (easter/halloween)
Bottoms:
2 sweat pants
2 nicer pants
4 everyday pants
2 shorts
Outerwear:
2 rain coats
2 pairs of rain boots
2 pairs of running shoes
6 pajamas
socks & underwear
Tops: 12
Bottoms: 12
Outer/Footwear: 6
Pajamas: 6
Grand Total = 36 items
Tops: 16
Bottoms: 10
Outer/Footwear: 8
Pajamas: 6
Grand Total = 40 items
Tops: 14
Bottoms: 10
Outer/Footwear: 6
Pajamas: 6
Grand Total= 36 items
Note:
- This is the total tally of clothes my toddler twins select from. Not per child.
- Many pieces are acquired up-sized for multi year use
- Items not in season are stored out of reach to avoid clutter
Key Principles of a Montessori Wardrobe
Easy to Access: Part of the Montessori method is giving children the opportunity to choose their own clothing. I hang up all their tops on a small hanging rod in their closet at toddler height, and bottoms are laid on an accessible shelf. This allows the boys to easily see all their options and reach for their desired choice. While there are certain pieces each child favours, they both have the freedom to select any clothes from the bar. I make a point of rotating who gets to pick first each day, but this there has been no fighting over a coveted shirt or pants. We’ll see if this system needs to adapt as they get older.
Self-dressing skills: This minimalist approach to their wardrobe not only makes our morning routine easier, but also nurtures our twins’ sense of autonomy and choice. Every available option is appropriate, and having fewer choices helps overall keeps them from being overwhelmed. Our toddlers can feel confident in their decisions. Since my toddlers are constantly in motion, I prioritize comfort and functionality. I focus on clothing that’s easy to pull on and of; elastic waistbands, simple button-down shirts, and shoes without complicated fastenings. As they began independent toileting, I noticed that some pants, and even certain tops, interfered with their ability to toilet quickly and independently. This new milestone prompted me to adjust their wardrobe to be even more accommodating to support my twins’ growing self-care skills.
Fostering Basic Clothing Care: Involving our twins in caring for their clothes has been a great way to teach them responsibility. They slowly come to appreciate the full picture- dressing, laundering, folding and putting clean clothing away. I started with simple tasks. Hanging up tops, putting Pajamas in the drawer, and gathering dirty laundry for the wash. We are building on rolling socks and folding shorts. Even though their help makes the process so much longer, the look of pride and sense of responsibility for the upkeep of their clothes is worth it. Thankfully, having a capsule wardrobe means fewer clothes to manage.
Complimentary vs Identical
Right now, my twins share an open-concept wardrobe, meaning they both choose from the same collection of clothes. This setup naturally results in a their outfits being complimentary without being identical. I intentionally choose complimentary rather than matching clothing because I want to celebrate their individuality while still honoring their unique bond. In Montessori, we emphasize respecting a child’s sense of self. Already, they are showing clear preferences for certain colours and pieces. There are unofficial “Baby S” tops and “Baby B” pants that each twin gravitates towards. One key exception to this approach is high-ticket or high-use items like jackets or shoes. In those cases, I often opt for identical items when a specific color or style is significantly discounted. I once made multiple trips to second hand stores in search of shoes, only to find the same pair I had already purchased was the best quality choice. So the twins ended up with identical shoes.
Layering Pieces
A capsule wardrobe should include a few key layering pieces, such as cardigans, vests, lightweight jackets, and comfy flannel shirts (love our little lumberjacks!). You’ll see that even in summer I have cardigans and layering tops on offer. Layering not only provides warmth but also encourages choice and autonomy. Allow your toddlers to experiment with different combinations—this fosters their ability to make decisions and understand how to dress appropriately for different situations.
Footwear Is Often Overlooked
Choose shoes that are comfortable and well-supported to promote free movement. Cheaply made fast-fashion options tend to fall apart quickly and often have fasteners that deteriorate easily. Our toddlers wear simple running shoes for everyday play, with Velcro straps they can fasten and remove independently. Their rain boots have loops at the top, making them much easier to pull on by themselves. Instead of offering a variety of fashionable options, our boys have 1–2 pairs of shoes per season, which they become familiar with and can put on and take off independently.
