How to Put Together a Winter Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is essentially a curated collection of a handful of fashion pieces that you can put together into many different outfits. It is built around the concept of simplicity and elegance. To create such a wardrobe, all you have to do is invest in high-quality items that can be mixed and matched with each other to create various outfits.
That said, putting together a capsule wardrobe that’s specifically meant to be worn during the winter can be quite challenging. This is because a lot of winter clothes tend to feature similar looks, given that they’re designed to provide ample warmth and protection from the elements during the colder seasons.
Winter clothing also tends to be quite bulky as a result, which can limit how many pieces you can realistically store in your closet.
The good news is that building the perfect winter capsule wardrobe isn’t impossible. You just need to know what you’re doing in order to pull it off. Read on for our top tips:
Figure Out Your Personal Style
The first step to putting together a winter capsule wardrobe is to conduct a thorough audit of your personal style. Put another way, your winter capsule wardrobe should be based on your favorite clothing items.
To determine which pieces these are, ask yourself what clothes you usually like to wear. You can also think about whether you prefer certain types of clothing items over others. For example, some people prefer wearing pants instead of skirts or dresses. Others like to buy socks that come in a variety of colors and patterns over plain-looking ones.
Identify the Pieces You Like Most
Next, go through your closet and select the winter clothing and accessories that reflect the kinds of aesthetics you love.
Start by categorizing your existing clothes into different categories: short-sleeved t-shirts, sweaters, jeans, dresses, and so on. Pick your favorites from each category and discard anything you haven’t used in a year. Tailor down your collection to only the items that you really need or love wearing. These are the staple pieces of your collection that will act as the foundation of your winter capsule wardrobe.
Lock In Your Color Palette
The key to creating lots of outfit combinations with just a few select pieces lies in your winter capsule wardrobe’s color palette. In other words, you’ll have a much easier time mixing and matching your tops, bottoms, headwear, footwear, and accessories if they all come in colors that complement each other well.
After auditing your existing clothing, you’ve probably already noticed that you gravitate toward pieces that come in certain colors. If not, most style experts recommend sticking to pieces that come in neutral colors such as navy blue, beige, and grey, to name a few.
Identify Gaps in Your Wardrobe
Once you’ve gathered your core pieces, it’s time to check what pieces of winter clothing you need but don’t have yet. Do you need several pairs of tights to keep your legs warm or a couple of cashmere crewneck sweaters in different colors to expand your outfit options? Are you missing a pair of thick gloves or a beanie or earmuffs for keeping your ears toasty?
Remember: this isn’t an excuse to go on a shopping spree, so be honest when you ask yourself what items you need to buy. Also, make sure that the new items you get are in colors that suit your chosen winter capsule wardrobe’s color palette.
Prioritize Versatility over Trendiness
Remember, having a winter capsule wardrobe is about simplicity and flexibility. This means you should only add versatile pieces: clothes that elevate your existing style rather than one-off items that you’ll never use again after a single wear.
For example, you’re better off investing in a plain but neutral-colored sweater over one that comes in bright colors and Christmas-inspired patterns. While there’s technically nothing wrong with the latter, you may find it more difficult to match with the other pieces in your wardrobe.
Make Sure You’re Covered from Head to Toe
Of course, the outfits in your capsule wardrobe should be able to keep you sufficiently warm and comfortable during the colder times of the year. Make sure that you’ve got a few color options for every clothing piece you need to brave the winter season in style. This includes, but isn’t limited to:
- Your base layer items (thermal tops, bottoms, and underwear)
- Your middle layer (down jackets, sweaters, and cardigans)
- Your outer layer (coats and wind-resistant jackets)
- Accessories (scarves, beanies, earmuffs, gloves, and socks)
At the end of the day, your wardrobe should always reflect your personal style and favorite pieces. A capsule collection is what you deem essential to you; no one else can truly dictate what you should or shouldn’t wear.
Given this, keep in mind that this guide is just that: a guide. Ultimately, there is no right way to put together a winter capsule wardrobe, but most stylists would say that anything you wear should make you feel good. So, always choose to include fashion items that you love and always feel good wearing.
