Before you embark on a capsule wardrobe, you need to declutter your existing collection. Decluttering does not mean getting rid of everything in one go or living with less than you need; it simplifies your wardrobe to make it easier and simpler to get dressed in the morning. Before you get started, you need to gather everything from the loft, drawers, wardrobe, car, shed, basement, or wherever you keep clothes. Do not leave anything behind. There are two ways to declutter effectively;

1. Find an ample space and place all of your clothes there in categories, for example, jeans, trousers, coats, jumper etc. This option works best for smaller wardrobes or those with larger closets who have the time to go through all the clothes in one go. 
2. Find space to lay your clothes out and start to declutter by category. You may decide to declutter jeans first. This option works best for those with limited time or with a large overwhelming wardrobe. 

As you go through each item, ask yourself the following questions;

1. When was the last time you wore it?
2. Does it feel comfortable mentally or physically or both?
3. Does it fit with the colours you chose for your capsule?
4. Does it fit? If not, put it aside unless you actively see changes towards that weight goal. 
5. Does the fabric irritate you?
6. Does it dig in?
7. What for, or where will you wear it?
8. Is it damaged? Either fix it or get it fixed; otherwise, remove it?
9. Do you have duplicates? Work out how many you need by knowing how often you wear them and how often you do a wash cycle. To eliminate what you no longer need, choose the best quality, the newest, the most comfortable and the one that fits you best. 

In the end, note what you still need or what you want to replace and what you want to buy in its place.