Can I wear trend-led pieces and keep a capsule wardrobe?
It’s easy to get caught up in trends, especially with the speed with which certain items suddenly flood our feeds. The trick is knowing which ones have staying power, or that you will still love long after their shelf life.
In my younger days, I was certainly a victim of these fleeting crushes, rendering my wardrobe a graveyard of neon tees and cowboy belts. Now older, and hopefully wiser, I’ve become better at identifying the trendy items that I will tire of by the next season. I stayed away from capri pants last summer, for example, because I know they never have and never will suit me.
That’s not to say there aren’t trending items that are just good investments. The quiet luxury bags, for instance or the ballet flats, will always be relevant. A good rule of thumb is to see if you can think of at least three outfits this trendy piece can go with, then maybe it’s more than just a fad.
What does a capsule wardrobe consist of?
A good capsule wardrobe will vary depending on personal style. It’s a misconception that capsule clothing means it has to be minimalist or boring. One of my core capsule items is a statement jumper which is a lot more whimsical than most lists might advise. But there are core categories that most people need to own to address all the different occasions in your day-to-day life. Those items usually include: Jeans, coat, blazer, jumper, LBD, tote bag, flats, heels and trainers.
How many clothes should be in a capsule wardrobe?
I would be a hypocrite no matter what number I gave you, but I can say that in an ideal world, I’d aspire to have between 20-30 items in my wardrobe, including variations of certain staples (ie: a dark denim and a light jean).
While I’m certainly not a good example of someone who has nailed the micro wardrobe, I can, however, share the 13 essentials I always have in my closet that I turn to time and time again, for those of you looking for inspiration on filling out your own minimalist capsule wardrobe.
Why you can trust us
You won’t be surprised to hear that, as Fashion Editors, Charlie and Rosie have researched, shopped, tried-on and road-tested more than a few key wardrobe buys. It is their job, after all. But not only that, they’ve also keenly analysed shopping habits – both their own and their readers’ – and are acutely aware of where so many of us trip up when curating a wardrobe; impulse buys, seduced by fleeting trends and lack of versatility being some of the more common mistakes. So after well over a decade of both professional and personal research, we can confidently say that the concepts and items recommended in this edit are not only worth your consideration but are also ones you’ll return to time and time again, year after year, season after season.
How we test the best capsule wardrobe pieces
Sure, fashion is subjective – but the experience of getting ready in the morning is generally quite universal. We’re all quite exhausted. We want to feel confident. We want to limit stress and confusion. And we don’t want to spend all of our savings. So we’ve put together our ultimate guide of capsule wardrobe items that we truly believe nail it across the board. What makes them so great? Chic pieces, yes, but also timeless, universally flattering silhouettes, un-fussy details, a classic color palette and every day comfort.
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