The Essential Capsule Wardrobe
The essence of a capsule wardrobe is a versatile, minimalist collection that you can mix and match in countless ways. Typically, it includes anywhere from 7 to 10 pieces for a travel wardrobe or 10-20 staples in our wardrobe that can be styled up or down.
Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule when it comes to fashion? It’s the idea that 80% of your wardrobe should consist of timeless, high-quality essentials, while the other 20% can be those fun, bold, personality pieces that really make your style unique!
However, don’t confuse a minimal number of pieces with a minimalist style—you can create a capsule wardrobe in any style, from classic to maximalist.
Here are my top tips for making a capsule wardrobe work for you:
Colour Palette: The key to a successful capsule wardrobe is your colour palette. Most people opt for neutral colours because they simplify coordination. This makes it easier to mix and match all your looks.
Love colour? There's no reason you can’t have a colourful capsule wardrobe. I was tired of wearing black everytime I travelled as in my day-to-day life I was always wearing colour, but I thought simplifying my wardrobe and creating capsule wardrobe travel meant just wearing the option of black.
Fit: Everything in your capsule wardrobe needs to fit you perfectly. You should feel great in every piece. If an item doesn’t fit well, it shouldn’t be part of your wardrobe. For instance, if your trousers are a bit too tight, you won’t wear them, and you’ll lose a valuable piece of your capsule wardrobe!
Essential Capsule Wardrobe Items
Embrace versatility, focus on fit, and have fun with colours and your personal style. To create a capsule wardrobe that stands the test of time, consider these key pieces:
Jacket or Blazer: A classic blazer is exquisitely chic when done right. Focus on the cut and fit to ensure it flatters your body.
The Leather Jacket: Choose a style that fits your personal taste, whether it’s oversized, biker, rugged, or fitted. A leather jacket pairs with all your bottoms or a dress, adding a cool or chic touch.
The Trench Coat: A forever piece, the trench coat is easy to wear and instantly pulls a look together. It's seasonless—perfect with a skirt and vest top on a rainy summer evening or with jeans and a jumper on a cozy autumn day.
The Dress: Think simple, like a little black dress. Remember it doesn’t have to be black, solid colours work best and it has to fit your style. This versatile piece can be dressed up or down, with trainers and a leather jacket or kitten heels and a blazer.
Trousers: Classic tailored trousers are an office essential and work perfectly with trainers or heels.
Jeans: A great pair of straight jeans is a true investment. Choose the shade of blue you prefer, but ensure they fit well.
Leggings: A good pair of leggings can be styled with a blazer and shirt for daytime or with heels in the evening.
Skirt: Select a skirt length and style that flatters your body shape. If your trousers are black, consider a grey or blue skirt or your colour option.
Tip: You will have at least 50% more tops than bottoms in your capsule wardrobe. This allows for greater variety and layering options, giving you more flexibility to mix and match your outfits
Sweater or Sweatshirt: Layering is essential in a capsule wardrobe. A simple crewneck, or cozy jumper or V-neck sweater in a bright colour adds versatility.
Short Sleeve T-shirt and Vest Top: Invest in high-quality T-shirts as they are versatile and long-lasting, just ensure they don't show any bra lines.
Blouse or Shirt: A good shirt, whether crisp and clean or soft and silky, should fit loosely over the midsection, skimming just over the hips. It offers numerous styling options, from layering over a T-shirt to wearing under a jumper or sweatshirt.
Jewellery and Accessories are the perfect way to express your style into your capsule wardrobe. Jewellery is so personal and whenever I buy something it really means something to me it maybe it marks an event and celebrate an occasion. I love statement pieces and for travelling a classic pair of hoop earrings tare perfect as I can wear every day. Buy well, think quality as you want to keep these pieces forever.
Creating a capsule wardrobe tailored to your style will simplify your life and ensure you always feel chic and put-together. You'll never look at your wardrobe and wonder what should I wear. Using a capsule wardrobe as a base for your needs means that you'll always have something to wear that you love.