Hi there! Thank you for stopping by! I always love to put together capsule wardrobe suggestions because it’s a good way to map out your wardrobe and help make sure you aren’t buying things you won’t wear. There are varying ideas about what pieces should be part of a capsule wardrobe, but I think it’s safe to say it’s a core collection of pieces that you can wear again and again, pair together, or pair with seasonal or trendy items throughout the years.
Building a capsule wardrobe can feel intimidating, but I bet you already have a foundation of one. Just think about the pieces in your closet that you feel like you always pick to wear – your favorite jeans or those neutral pants you always wear to work. Both of those pieces are definitely closet staples.
What’s in A Capsule Wardrobe: Getting Started With Closet Staples
Here are the pieces I would start with to build a capsule wardrobe!
Blue Jeans and Black Jeans
A good pair of jeans – some sort of blue denim and a pair of black or gray denim – simple as that! You should be able to wear these jeans with most of your tops. I would avoid ripped jeans or any other type of jeans that you can’t wear to work (if your dress code allows). The pair I’m wearing are perfect for work or the weekend, and they come in tons of different colors.
How To Style Jeans
Straight leg jeans like the pair I’m wearing above have a tailored look to them that just can’t be beat. While I love wide leg jeans and I will always wear skinny jeans, if you’re looking for a super versatile pair of denim, straight leg are a great cut. You can wear them to work or wear them casually. Add a belt to your work outfit for an extra polished look!
Shoes can change the entire look of a denim outfit – ballet flats and loafers are both work appropriate, but they’re comfortable for the weekend too. If you’re worried about your feet being cold in the winter, I love to wear socks with flats. I love these with ballet flats because they’re thin.
Neutral Blazer
I know blazers outside of the office aren’t for everyone. But, they are one of the easiest ways to complete any outfit, whether it’s with jeans and sneakers or a dress you’re wearing to work. If you’re shopping for a blazer as a wardrobe staple, I recommend navy, black, or tan. The color you choose all depends on what you think will match most of your wardrobe, and which color you will be able to wear with multiple outfits.
How To Style A Blazer
If you’re wondering where to start with a blazer, there are two easy blazer outfits I recommend starting with! First, throw on your favorite jeans, then your button up, and layer your blazer over your button up. Add your daily jewelry if you have any. This is a timeless, classic look that is work appropriate (where jeans are allowed) and weekend friendly! This outfit always looks super chic with a ponytail or sleek bun, too.
For a work friendly blazer outfit, simply layer your blazer over a sleeveless work dress – like a sheath dress. If a classic blazer isn’t for you, there are so many beautiful lady jackets to choose from that would work in the same way with the two outfits I just described! Sweater blazers are also a good starting point if you aren’t sure about wearing a more classic blazer!
Button Up or Blouse
The button up is one of those pieces that will really stand the test of time in your wardrobe. There are endless ways to wear this type of top. You can never have too many of these in your capsule wardrobe if you ask me, ha!
How To Style A Button Up or Blouse
You can find a classic blouse or button up pretty much anywhere and in all different styles. I love the oversize button ups that you can wear in more ways than one, and I also have a plain, fitted white button up to wear with suits.
However, button ups are definitely not just meant for the office. They’re also perfect to wear on the weekend with a pair of jeans or over a fitted dress. Some of the button ups I linked below have beautiful patterns and details that will go a long way to dressing up jeans!
Neutral Sweater
Sweaters have always been one of my favorite things to wear. While I don’t think you can ever have too many sweaters, that’s not realistic! To start, I would go for neutral colors like black, navy, tan, or gray. I also think a green or even a pale pink would work with a lot of staples as well. This could be a crewneck, v-neck, or a cardigan. These are sweaters you can wear with most anything.
How To Style A Neutral Sweater
Styling a neutral sweater is pretty straightforward. In fact, all capsule wardrobe pieces should be pretty easy to style – that’s the point of owning versatile pieces! Anyway, a neutral sweater goes with anything – jeans, a slip skirt, over a work dress, or with a pair of trousers.
One of my favorite ways to wear a sweater is a monochrome look like I did below. You could wear a grey sweater with grey pants, or a black sweater with a black slip skirt – just as a few examples!
Midi Skirt
Midi skirts are surprisingly versatile, and they are available at every price point. A pleated skirt, slip skirt, or pencil skirt are all great options, and each one of them can be worn in totally different ways.
How To Style A Midi Skirt
Pleated skirts and slip skirts work with more casual tops, a denim jacket, and sandals just as well as they do with a chunky sweater, boots, and a winter coat. I would again get something neutral that will work with a lot of the tops in your closet throughout each season. I tend to save pencil skirts for work and wear them with a long cardigan and a fitted top I can tuck in. But, I have plenty of friends who wear pencil skirts for girls night or for a date!
I love this look I recently put together with a green pleated skirt. You can wear it to work or on the weekend. This look would be perfect for a city vacation!
A Seasonal Jacket and Coat
This one is pretty straightforward! I recommend a long winter coat that will keep you warm. This wrap coat has been my go-to coat this winter. It also comes in black and khaki. Anyway, I’ve always worn this type of coat to work and outside of work with jeans or even sweatpants. Investing in a warm coat that is made of mostly wool or even cashmere will last you a long time!
It’s always good to have a lightweight coat that you can wear in the spring and fall too!
How to Style A Seasonal Jacket and Coat
Obviously coats keep us warm in the colder months, but layering is also an easy way to add something to your outfit – maybe your coat dresses up your jeans or makes your lounge set ready for the coffee shop. In the spring or fall, you can wear a denim jacket or a leather jacket over a dress!
If you do live in an area where you need to layer in the fall and spring, then a trench coat, denim jacket, leather jacket, shirt jacket, or quilted jacket is perfect as an alternative to a more formal coat and for those days between seasons. Pick the one that is the most true to your style and your needs.
I’ve linked tons of coat options below for all different seasons!
Suit Separates
If you are building a work wardrobe for an office where you need a suit or formal attire, I would start with a suit and a dress that you can wear with your suit blazer. You can find reliable suit separates at J.Crew, Aritzia, and Mango.
How to Style Suit Separates
The great thing about suit separates is that you can mix and match these pieces together and with other pieces from your capsule wardrobe. A suit dress normally looks nice with a button down under it, or you could wear it with a cardigan over it. Of course, you can wear both of those tops with suit pants as well!
When it comes to which shoes to wear with your suit separates, it depends on what your daily life looks like! But, I have a pair of go-to flats, loafers, heels, and boots that I can wear with pretty much anything depending on the season!
If you’re interested in building a business casual work wardrobe, click here for my blog post!
There are certainly many other staples you could add to a capsule wardrobe – a dress, reliable loungewear for the weekend grocery run, and accessories – like a bag you can carry to work every day. Let me know what you think! Hope to see you back here soon!
