How to Build a Fall Capsule Wardrobe
Twenty four pieces, endless combinations to wear all season long.
I never considered myself a capsule wardrobe kinda gal, but recently I realized that I do end up wearing the same 6-7 outfits, or rather, outfit recipes, on repeat each week, so I thought I’d give it more of a formalized go for the upcoming season – aka, my favorite season for dressing (and everything else).
Tips for Creating a Capsule Wardrobe
Consider your lifestyle & needs first. My office has a very casual (nearly non-existent) dress code, so I have a lot of outfits here with jeans that can double as work clothes too. But I also like dressing up just for my own sake, so I end up wearing a lot of skirts. I also walk A LOT since I live in a city and don’t have a car, so I need footwear options that are cute but also comfortable for walking long distances in. And you’ll see lots of layer options, since I live in the Midwest, and the temperature during the fall varies widely day to day and sometimes hour to hour.
Stay true to your personal style while investing in basics and pieces that will stay in style year after year. For instance, I’ve learned that I’m drawn to exactly four colors in my wardrobe – white/cream, brown/tan, black, and burgundy/red. You will clearly see this reflected in my choices below. It’s really ironic, because design-wise, I’m very drawn to lots of color and pattern, but that rarely reflects in my wardrobe. I like to add pops of color in the way of fun shoes or bags, or maybe a cool jacket, but usually that’s it.
Don’t feel like you need to buy a ton of new stuff. I’m sharing a lot of pieces here – I’ve by no means purchased all of these. Some I already own, like the Sezane gingham pants, and wanted to figure out how to work those into more outfits. Many are representative of other things I already have in my wardrobe. I get a LOT of my clothes secondhand from ThredUp, Poshmark, or local thrift stores. So I’m definitely not suggesting you go out and buy a ton of new pieces, but rather use this as a jumping off point to think more holistically about your own wardrobe, and how you can better mix and match pieces you already own or invest in a few key pieces that will be in style for years to come.
