10 Piece Essential Capsule Wardrobe

Essential capsule wardrobe items

An essential capsule wardrobe is not a novelty or surprise in the fashion world. The idea of restricting the number of items we own and going for fewer, better-quality pieces rather than many, cheap ones became the most common (and valuable) advice. However, while the concept itself is thoroughly developed.

The specifics concerning which items should be part of your wardrobe are mostly left up to interpretation. This is why today we have put together a short and concise list of 10 essential capsule wardrobe items that can work all year round, to help you narrow down your search.

Read – 5 Simple Ways To Create A Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe

What makes a piece a ‘must have’?

Start with the basics and you can create endless amounts of outfits. It is important to remember that you must have a collection of interchangeable and versatile items you can mix and match with each other. Is the key to any capsule wardrobe. It’s about creating different looks with what you already have and not constantly buying new pieces.

Neutral and classic are the keywords, we are looking for pieces that be both dressed up or dressed down, to make the most out of their potential. Even more than that, they must be clothes you love wearing and feel comfortable with every day.

Read – How to create a Capsule Wardrobe in 3 steps.

Essential Capsule Wardrobe: Tops

T-Shirts

Might seem an obvious one, but good quality T-Shirts are never to underestimate. To the untrained eye, they can all look the same, but we urge you to distinguish their material, arm-length, neckline, and overall shape to find your favourite. Once you did that, get a few in neutral colours and you’ll find that they will always be of use.

Shirts

The quintessential, comfortable, fancy and gender-neutral item. Cotton or silk shirts of three different colours (white, black, and blue) for everyday use. Don’t forget that a tied-up shirt is also an amazing summer look!

Vest Tops

This tight-fitting classic has the upside of being both a perfect undergarment and a trendy top on its own. Vests come in different styles; the beautiful, round neck, squared-neck as well as the sportier race-back tank. Wear it on its own through Spring/Summer or as a layer in the Autumn/Winter months.

Read – The Minimalist Guide to Creating a Summer Capsule Wardrobe

Essential Capsule Wardrobe: Layers

Trench Coat

A good coat is a must that goes well with anything and elevates a casual look. Choose a trench coat for a proper London look and a woollen one for colder days. Beige or grey are the best colours suggested.

Faux Leather Jacket

A slightly pricier item, and not everyone’s top choice, but a good quality black leather jacket is the kind of piece that you need only one of in your life. This timeless garment will stay in your wardrobe for decades, a statement piece that completes any outfit.

Chunky Jumper

The apex of comfort. A good quality, comfortable, and slightly oversized jumper is the kind of item you never get tired of. Regarding colour, any would do but we would recommend a cream or beige.

Read – How to Create an Elegant Capsule Jewellery Wardrobe.

Essential Capsule Wardrobe: Bottoms

Jeans

For jeans, it’s easy to get lost in all the options, tons of cuts and shapes that can be confusing, and end up with way more than necessary. So let us help; in your wardrobe, you truly only need two cuts: a loose one (also called baggy, oversized, wide) and a fitting one (usually labelled as skinny). These are the two ends of the spectrum and cover all the styles jeans achieve. Color-wise, go for light blue, dark blue, black, and white.

Trousers

The perfect counterpart to the classic jeans. Trousers are often overlooked and kept for more formal occasions; however, every capsule wardrobe fan will tell you that they are also the perfect everyday look. A straight-leg, high waist lean pair of trousers in both light or dark colours work with both sneakers and heels and achieves an effortlessly put-together look.

Skirts

Depending on how much you wear them, skirts can almost become an alternative to trousers. Overall, a maxiskirt and miniskirt are non-negotiable as they always come in handy. Our favourite skirts colours are black and navy for the darker tones and cream and blush for the lighter ones

The (little) black dresses

As Coco Chanel introduced it, a little black dress is a long-lasting, versatile type of dress. There are no requirements except the colour, look at your body shape and style, it must be something you feel beautiful and comfortable in. It’s the final piece that completes any wardrobe, an elegant and simple item can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

By Carolina Tani