A capsule wardrobe is nothing new. The term was coined back in the 1980s by Susie Faux, the West End boutique owner who introduced her clients to minimalist brands like Jil Sander, while Donna Karan popularised the idea in the USA in ‘85 with her Seven Easy Pieces. In 2014, Unfancy founder Caroline Rector reinvigorated buzz for the concept when she posed the idea of a 37-piece capsule, just as Marie Kondo’s decluttering method was shaking up wardrobes the world over. The notion of a refined and utilitarian collection of clothing, of creating the maximum number of outfits from as few items as possible, is a familiar one.
Now, though, its appeal is greater than ever. With nowhere to go and no one to see, the pandemic has forced many of us to recalibrate our relationship with fashion. Giving us time to step off the fast-moving carousel of disposable trends, we’ve had hours in lockdown to sit with the clothes we own and admit which were bought to secure a quick and dirty serotonin hit in the shadow of Instagram’s comparison culture, fuelled by the ease of same-day delivery. For others, waking each morning to a global pandemic has left little room for the effort and energy required to pull together a playful outfit. With heavier burdens weighing on our minds, functionality is often the biggest draw when choosing what to wear each day.
“People are starting to rethink their relationship with clothing and with nowhere to go, more time is being spent organizing and decluttering as well as learning how to create a streamlined wardrobe,” says personal stylist Eunice Abe of the surge in search for capsule wardrobes during lockdown. Donating, selling or gifting items which no longer fit into your life is a great way to save them from landfill but the aim isn’t to mindlessly purge your wardrobe and start anew. It’s about whittling it down to a selection of thought-out pieces which will help you to resist the pull of passing trends. “Building a capsule wardrobe made up of core items not only helps me shop less and rewear my pieces over and over again,” Eunice says, “but also to not shop impulsively for the ‘next best thing’ to wear.” I feel the same way. Pre-pandemic, I felt an involuntary urge to shop whenever I saw a new look on Instagram but since rotating a steady collection of around 15 pieces, from crew-neck knitwear and plain, long-sleeved tees to straight-leg jeans and my trusty Birkenstocks, I’ve found it easier to put some distance between what I tell myself I want and what I really need.
At the core of a capsule wardrobe is the idea that its contents transcend passing trends but of course it will mean different things to different people. If monochrome and minimalism isn’t your flavor, a capsule wardrobe bursting with print and color is just as valuable – so long as each piece can be worn in multiple ways. Fine-tune your wardrobe so that you’re wearing what you own as much as possible, so that each piece stands the test of time and serves a functional but joyful purpose in your life. What it looks like is up to you.
Below, we’ve found the best pieces for a traditional capsule wardrobe, from summer-ready sandals to Breton striped tees.
Refinery29’s selection is purely editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items we love! As part of our business model we do work with affiliates; if you directly purchase something from a link on this article, we may earn a small amount of commission. Transparency is important to us at Refinery29, if you have any questions please reach out to us.
The Black Turtleneck
From Audrey Hepburn to Steve Jobs to the stereotypical Parisian or beatnik-inspired creative, the turtleneck has stood the test of time for good reason. Layer yours under white workwear shirts and crew-neck knits or wear tucked into straight-leg denim.
The Plain White Tee
If you can avoid spillages and stains, the plain white tee is your hardest-working piece – just ask James Dean, Brigitte Bardot and Pam Grier. We’re teaming ours with black blazers, gold jewelry and flared denim but it works with just about anything, from slip skirts to high-waisted shorts.
The Straight-Leg Jean
Jeans silhouettes fluctuate – goodbye skinny, hello kick-flare – but the straight leg remains a constant faithful, no matter which way the pendulum swings. Levi’s Ribcage has a fantastic size range, while Re/Done’s repurposed pieces are the best sustainable option.
The Crew-Neck Knit
The crew-neck knit is a timeless classic with a neckline that lends itself to different necklace lengths. Don’t feel wedded to camel if it’s not a color you’d choose to wear, but do explore the cut’s styling possibilities: we’re wearing ours with big collar blouses and turtlenecks while it’s chilly and over slip dresses come spring.
The Lace-Up Shoe
Lace-up leather shoes aren’t for everyone, but if a smarter style works for your wardrobe, the styling solutions are endless. We enjoy them paired with a colorful sock and tailored trousers, with patterned tights and a mini skirt, with a black sock and a mini dress, and with straight-leg jeans and a turtleneck.
The Breton Tee
The Brittany-born striped top has been synonymous with French style ever since Coco Chanel turned the fisherman’s staple into a fashion favorite. Our preferred marinière tees are by Kule or Comme des Garçons Play, but there are heaps to choose from. Tuck into tailored trousers or denim and top off with black lace-up shoes or white kicks.
Gold Jewelry
Whether you go for chunky or subtle, yellow or pale-toned, gold jewelry is a perennial classic. It’s at its strongest against a block-colored background like a white tee or black rollneck – perfect for those back-to-back Zoom calls.
Loungewear
Loungewear may not have appeared in traditional capsule wardrobes throughout the years but if the pandemic has taught us one thing about getting dressed, it’s that comfort is a top priority. Whether you go for a coordinating set or sling a classic grey marl sweatshirt over your denim, make room for the newest addition to your wardrobe.
The Cross-Body Bag
Handbag trends fluctuate, from XXL totes to itsy-bitsy micro bags, but our daily walks around the park have hammered home the benefits of going hands-free. Make sure it fits all your essentials – hand sanitizer, keys, phone – and check the fastening is secure enough to make you feel comfortable. A.P.C’s Demi Lune is a perennial classic, but & Other Stories also has an impressive selection of black leather cross-body bags.
The Oversized Button-Down
Whether you nab a vintage linen number from the men’s section of your local thrift shop or borrow from your dad/brother/boyfriend, an oversized button-down shirt will last forever. Wear over turtlenecks or under oversized knits in winter and over slip dresses, swimsuits and tucked into Bermuda shorts come summer.
The Black Ankle Boot
No matter your style of choice – hiker, Chelsea, monkey, lug sole or heeled – there’s a black ankle boot to suit everyone. Heritage labels like Hunter can be relied on for pairs that survive years of wear and tear, while contemporary labels such as Dear Frances and Ganni make dance floor-ready boots with interesting heels.
The Knitted Dress
Another new addition to the concept of a capsule wardrobe, the knitted dress is lockdown attire at its finest. Comfortable enough that you can hit the sofa but smart enough that you feel presentable for Zoom calls with your boss or virtual catch-ups with your family. Layer over a rollneck now and team with gold or silver jewelry and sandals when spring (finally) arrives.
The Summer Sandals
Beyond the sneaker revival, nowhere has the shift towards comfort-first been seen more than in sandals. Birkenstock has the lion’s share here, with its two-strap Arizona style dominating every season (with a fresh pedi for summer or chunky socks for winter) but Teva and Ancient Greek Sandals are both worthy investments for sandals you can wear from the pool to a sunny plaza in styles that won’t date.
The Trench Coat
The trench coat needs no introduction. Though the classic belted style is perfect for those wanting a defined silhouette, we’re enjoying the loose-fitting iterations coming from Alexachung for Barbour and Studio Nicholson. Nab a vintage Burberry number from eBay and wear with everything from midi dresses and boots to tailored trousers and tees.
The Tailored Trouser
Thanks to a slew of contemporary brands, tailored trousers have thrown off their stuffy and restrictive connotations. Universal Standard makes the smartest and sleekest pieces in a wide range of sizes while Oak + Fort’s streamlined styles are tempting us away from our trusty denim. Go suited and booted if you please but a tailored trouser looks as good with a white tee and silver jewelry as it does with a crew-neck knit.
Silver Jewellery
If gold isn’t your thing, simple silver pieces work equally well with just about everything in your wardrobe. From super thin snake chains to no-need-to-take-them-out sleeper hoops, see Daisy, Missoma and Astrid & Miyu for the cream of the crop.
The Leather Jacket
Whether you want to emulate a Matrix-inspired cyberpunk or channel your inner Rebel Without A Cause, leather jackets are more adaptable than you might think. Vintage is best – they get softer with age and there are tons waiting for a new home – but the high street has some fantastic biker silhouettes, too.
The Tank Top
Thanks to the ’90s revival, the humble tank top enjoyed a renaissance in 2019. Now a summer staple, we wear ours with boxer shorts in bed, with slip skirts and mules for balmy evenings and with mom jeans and gold jewelry for a throwback look. Urban Outfitter’s Monica tank is the high street’s best offering but we love Totême’s too.
The White Sneaker
However you get your kicks, there’s a white sneaker for you. Box-fresh and chunky? You can’t go wrong with New Balance’s 1400. Retro-inspired? Look to Converse All-Stars or Adidas Sambas. For sustainable options, Veja and Cariuma hit the spot, and non-branded options come from Novesta. The more worn, the better – there’s no trick to styling this perennial classic.
The Black Coat
There are plenty of coat styles that never age, from a navy pea coat to a khaki parka. If you’re looking for something to survive every winter without being too trend-dominated, may we suggest a black coat? Whether you opt for double-breasted and wool, quilted and collarless or fuzzy faux fur, as long as you’ll get substantial wear out of it come winter, and it’ll protect you from the cold, it’s a forever piece for sure.
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