Capsule Winter Wardrobe: Now that the year is coming to an end, many of you are probably thinking about what your winter wardrobe should look like.
Since a capsule wardrobe not only saves you tons of time and stress but also allows you to wear only what you love, I’ve been the biggest fan of my capsule wardrobes for a few years now and have already made one for this winter as well.
If you’re also planning to make a capsule wardrobe, this blog article will help you, where we give you everything you need to know and what pieces you definitely need this year that you can wear for ages.
Let’s go!
Table of Contents
Capsule Winter Wardrobe: 13 Timeless Pieces You Can Wear for Years
This one will not only make sure you don’t freeze but also keep its shape forever at same time.
Nothing is more annoying and inelegant than a wrinkled coat. This will directly make your whole outfit look 10x less expensive and instantly ruin your chic appearance.
In addition, wool has the advantage that as a natural product it will always make sure that it airs out on its own. So a restaurant visit at the Chinese is no problem for these great coats – even when walking home it will get rid of the scent on its own. And if that’s not enough, you just need to hang the coat outside for a few hours and it will smell like before.
So go for a high-quality wool coat and rather spend more money on real wool than on a cheap duplicate, because such a great coat will stay with you for years and you’d save in the wrong place here.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be real leather here – and it shouldn’t be!
In most cases, faux leather pants do just as well, because they are lined with a thin lining, ensuring that you get the elegant look for the price of not freezing.
I love leather pants in the winter because they are super easy to combine and still look more dressy than classic black pants.
In a minimalist winter wardrobe, they have the potential to be a real eye-catcher, if you put them well in the scene. But at the same time, they are still minimalist and timeless enough to be worn for many years.
3. Basic White Jeans
Even in winter, white or cream jeans belong in every capsule wardrobe because they are just so beautifully classic.
In addition, stains from denim can usually be easily removed, which is why this shouldn’t be a problem.
4. Chelsea Boots
Chelsea boots are the perfect winter boots that go with any look and look so beautifully timeless.
They also keep you warm because they go over the ankles and are usually made of a faux leather material that doesn’t let cold air through. So perfect for cold days!
5. A Beige Knit Sweater
A beige, or even a white/black knit sweater will bring you joy for years to come!
The comfortable tops are so easy to combine that you don’t even have to think about it – because they can be combined with practically everything.
Plus, they’ll keep you warm,make an effortless chic impression, and look expensive at all times.
A must have piece that you should invest in!
6. A Basic Everyday Belt
A classic belt in brown or black are perfect for everyday wear as they can be worn with all the colors, patterns and pieces in your capsule wardrobe.
In addition, they tailor and thus make a beautiful, feminine figure, in which a belt puts your feminine curves in scene and charmingly embraces.
7. (Pleated) Black Pants
In addition to black leather pants and cream jeans, of course, the perfect capsule wardrobe for winter also needs a chic pair of pants in black.
If you like, also with pleats to visually lengthen your legs.
Black pants are also classic essentials, because they go with everything and you can create a variety of different outfits with these pants.
8. Basic Blue Jeans
Having at least one pair of blue jeans in your capsule wardrobe for winter is super essential for everyday wear, as they are a comfortable and casual companion for every day.
Of course, you can also combine the popular pants more chic, but always it’s a faithful companion, which in the best case will be at your side for several years.
9. Button-Down Shirts
Button-down shirts can not only be pulled on super casual over a top in the summer to enhance any summer outfit, they can also work real fashion wonders in the winter.
With their casual but at the same time very elegant look, they enhance any outfit and make it indescribably comfortable.
With these versatile tops you can experiment a lot and create plenty of new outfits.
So a real must have! Best in the colors white, black and a color of your choice – such as blue.
10. A Classic Wool Scarf
Self-explanatory, right?
A beautiful scarf made of wool keeps you warm on cold winter days and also looks classy!
11. Leather Gloves
The same with the beautiful, timeless gloves.
Absolute must have accessories – ask mom!
12. Basic Ankle Boots with A Heel
13. A Classic Oversized Black Blazer
Is a Capsule Wardrobe Boring?
Since you’re always building your outfit on the same foundation of garments, a certain “boredom” can set in.
BUT: Since you only put together your outfits with pieces that you love, are convinced of, and find beautiful, the joy of creating new outfits is unlikely to evaporate.
If you long for a little more highlights in your looks, you can always play with a few individual colorful pieces as eye-catchers.
Or even simpler, you can play with new jewelry or eye-catching accessories like hats, belts with special buckles, or scarves to enhance your outfits.
The capsule wardrobe only serves to bring order into your closet and supports you as the basis of your outfits. Building on this, you can always add eye-catching elements to your looks later – but the foundation should be there beforehand.
A capsule wardrobedoesn’t mean that you can never buy new, exciting pieces: Just by limiting your wardrobe to fewer pieces, you always know exactly what you already have and what would therefore be unnecessary to buy. Investment pieces that you want to wear as highlights, such as a great handbag, you can of course still buy afterward.
You understand what I mean.
How Many Items Do You Need for a Winter Capsule Wardrobe? ?
Most capsule wardrobes consist of a selection of 25-40 high-quality pieces that can be mixed and matched again and again.
For this, the focus here is on high-quality materials, which should drastically increase the life of the pieces. The purpose is to have pieces that you love and can wear for years.
How Much Does it Cost to Make a Capsule Wardrobe?
If you buy everything new, all the pieces in your capsule wardrobe can cost around $500 to $1000.
That can be a lot of money if you don’t have a lot of money saved or a big budget for clothes.
The good news is that you don’t have to start from scratch. You probably already have afoundation of minimal pieces you love to start building a capsule wardrobe.
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A Capsule Wardrobe is made up of a few essential and classic pieces of clothing that serve the purpose of being able to be mixed and matched over and over again, so you can create a variety of different outfits with just a few pieces.
In addition, the timeless clothes, mostly made of neutral colors, complement each other. That makes outfit creation a lot easier. But of course, it’s not about wearing only boring pieces that you don’t like: it’s more about limiting your closet to a few pieces that suit your personal style, that you feel comfortable in and that you love.
Then it will be a breeze for you, and you’ll never again experience the stress of not knowing what to wear in the morning. That’s what makes getting ready fun, right?
Sounds perfect? It is.
Is a Capsule Wardrobe Worth it?
Yes, it’s definitely worth it!
There are many valuable benefits of a capsule wardrobe, but one of the main benefits is for sure that you’ll wear only your favorite clothes because you’ll get rid of everything you don’t like or feel comfortable in.
Besides, deciding what to wear will be faster and easier, which means that you will have less stress regarding your outfits. Trust me, this makes a huge difference in your everyday life!
For example, it has helped me to always be classically dressed. This might sound a little silly, but I used to have a hard time sticking to a fancy dress code when I was still sitting at home in sweatpants and comfy sweaters, knowing I was about to have to slip into my uncomfortable blouse. However, since having acapsule wardrobe for all seasons, I’m always styled in the best way – with less effort.
It also helps you save money by buying fewer clothes and being more conscious of the clothes you already own or buy new. It also helps to organize and tidy up your closet – and keep it tidy, too 😉
Besides these practical benefits, it can also boost your confidence as you find your personal style and figure out what suits you best and what you feel most comfortable in.
7 Benefits Why You Should Have a Capsule Wardrobe:
1. You’ll Always be Well Dressed
By not having to think about what to wear in the morning when you’re half asleep or stressed, you’re less likely to wear an outfit that’s too casual or one that might be inappropriate.
In a nutshell, it means you’re less mistake-prone. As a result, you’ll always be dressed appropriately and always be well styled.
2. You Save Money
Self-explanatory, right?
By relying on a select range of clothes you love, you don’t have to chase short-term trends or constantly buy new clothes. After all, the pieces you’d love to have, have you already – at least similar ones.
I know there are always new pieces coming on the market and even some that intrigue us, but trust me, once you own a great variety of pieces, you’ll keep thinking to yourself, “Those pants are so nice, but luckily I have similar ones like that already!”
It’ll lighten the load on your wallet, and maybe in a few months you’ll be able to use that money to make a little – or even a big – dream come true? A romantic trip, for example?
3. You Increase Your Confidence
By focusing on the clothes you love and weeding out the ones you never wore anyway or don’t like, you’ll go through life with more confidence.
After all, the famous quote, “I’m nicer when I like my outfit,” applies here.
4. You Save Time
That should have become clear now, I think: You’ll save a lot of time if you don’t have to ask yourself the same question over and over again in the morning about what you want to wear today.
Now you can simply choose from your variation of clothes, which all look good in different combinations. So you can just blindly grab a pair of pants and a top – they almost always go together.
You don’t have to fret that the clothes don’t fit you or that you don’t look good in combination.
There is also less maintenance and repair required because you have fewer garments. You’re also more likely to choose garments that are easy to care for, and they’re easier to pack when you travel or move.
6. It’s Environmentally Friendly
Another very good reason for a capsule wardrobe is the sustainable aspect.
By owning mainly timeless pieces and buying less new fashion, you usually wear your clothes for years. This leads to a much improved ecological footprint in the long run, for example, you don’t support fast fashion stores that release a lot of water, waste, and chemicals – and under miserable working conditions.
So not only are you acting in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way if you have a capsule wardrobe, but you are saving real lives that would otherwise have suffocated from the chemicals released in the factories. This is no longer an exception, but unfortunately, the pure reality and this is increasing more and more.
Since you don’t own a lot of clothes, you wear every single piece you own so no clothes go to waste.
People who choose to have a “capsule wardrobe” also often invest in high-quality pieces that last a long time, thus avoiding the fast fashion industry, which is known for its wasteful nature.
7. You Are in a Better Mood
Marketing is nowadays indispensable and almost exclusively responsible for the fact that we constantly think and feel that we aren’t good enough – don’t have enough.
What most consumers often forget in the process is that those new pants, that new designer bag, or those heavily discounted slingbacks won’t fill that need “for more.” On the contrary, they get you used to wanting more and more – until you eventually reach the point where you’re either broke or mentally down – or both at the same time.
And the paradox is that these aggressive marketing strategies come from people who basically want to satisfy the same need: To want more and more – not more clothes, but more money. And with that money, most employees buy a lot of clothes too. You understand the cycle.
Getting out of that toxic cycle and focusing on your own range of clothes makes you free and independent from this cycle of manipulation. Yes, it is nothing but exploitation – at the expense of your wallet and mental health.
As a result, you’ll gradually be in a better and better mood and, moreover, you’ll no longer be so easily influenced. Trust me, it’s worth it.
What Do You Put in a Winter Capsule Wardrobe? – Must Haves
How Do You Build an Autumn Winter Capsule Wardrobe? – Easy 3-Step Formula
Step 1: Anchor Pieces
The first step is about the so-called anchor pieces: They’re the pieces you want the rest of your wardrobe to revolve around.
So if the capsule wardrobe that you’re working on is going to include bold colors or prints, then these are the anchor pieces that you need. Because you want to make sure that all of the other pieces in your wardrobe go with those bold colors and prints.
The important thing here is to choose colors and prints that can mix and match, and that are easy to color-match with the other pieces in your closet – so it’s best to pick two colors that you’ll mainly focus on in your capsule wardrobe, and from a pattern and color standpoint, make sure that all the anchor pieces match with each other so that it’s easier to incorporate the rest of the pieces into your outfits later on.
The other option is that obviously, not everyone wants a bold color or print – some people are more minimalist, like me. I don’t always want those colors with a print in a capsule wardrobe.
No matter what you end up choosing, minimalist colors and prints or more bold colors and bold prints, these anchor pieces are the items that your entire wardrobe will revolve around.
Also, here it’s very crucial that you love these pieces and you feel comfortable in them because they’ll be the base of your later outfits. So if you don’t like the pieces, you’ll have a hard time creating new looks with the same pieces over and over again.
Step 2: Tie-In Pieces
The tie-in pieces are the rope for the anchor pieces.
These are the pieces that you’ll tie to the anchor pieces, so that’s sort of the opposite garment of what the anchor piece is.
Let’s say three top pieces are your anchor pieces. Here you’re going to pick two or three bottom pieces to go with those top pieces. The main idea with these connecting pieces is that they’re a little more neutral or complement the color palette a little bit.
The main idea with tie-in pieces is also that any of these pieces can be combined with the anchor pieces.
Step 3: Top Off Pieces
Top-off pieces are the boat through our anchor and the rope. Now it all makes sense, doesn’t it?
These are the pieces that will frame the whole look. They’re the final layer – the final pieces of your look.
Maybe it’s black because black is always a good frame color. It can be a black sweater, a black oversize blazer, or a black coat.
Of course, other colors like taupe, brown, or navy blue are also easy to add to any color palette.
It’s just important that you choose a color that matches all the other pieces.
*Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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