A Capsule Wardrobe is a collection of essential items that you love that combine to create outfits, or form the foundation of outfits, that you can wear all year round and for all occasions. Capsule Wardrobes can differ from person to person depending on your style, preferences and climate that you live in, however we’ve put together a guide on building a Capsule Wardrobe that is very classic and suits all women and all body shapes. We hope you take inspiration from some or all elements for your own Capsule Wardrobe.
Crisp Shirt and T-shirt
A crisp shirt in white, blue or pinstripe is a wardrobe staple. The great thing about shirts is that they are so easy to dress up with a suit and heels or dress down with jeans, shorts or skirts. Although capsule wardrobes are about minimising what you have in your wardrobe and tend to mean only having 30-40 items per season, if you tend to wear shirts a lot, it’s worthwhile investing in a few good quality shirts in different colours and fits to ensure you have versatility. Like shirts, t-shirts in white, black, grey, navy or colours that suit your wardrobe and style are essential year round. They’re great layering pieces, under dresses if you want to be a little more playful and youthful or under your suit with white sneakers if you like a relaxed work look.
Leather Jacket
We recommend having a leather jacket in your capsule wardrobe as they can be worn all year round, over dresses for nights out or layered on top of knitwear for extra warmth during the colder months. There are so many different styles of leather jackets to choose from including bomber, aviator, moto, blazers, shirt jackets, mid-length, long, cropped, oversized and more. When choosing which is best for you, things to consider include: Does it go with 3 other items in my capsule wardrobe? How many outfits can I create with this item? Does it fit with my personal style? Does the fit flatter my body shape? Does this work with my lifestyle?
As you know, we are a fan of leather bags for women in versatile shapes and colours. When it comes to choosing your bag, it’s important to determine what best suits your body shape, personal style and lifestyle. While all of our Katya Komarova bags are great for both weekends and work, one of our most versatile bags is our latest introduction, our Shoulder Bag. The great thing about this bag is it’s large enough to fit all of your essentials, plus an iPad and your gym clothes if you like exercising right before or after work, and small enough to take out with you on the weekends and to lunch dates. It’s perfect for markets or shopping as you can be hands-free with our cotton strap worn cross-body. Check out our Instagram at @katyakomarovaofficial to see how Katya styles the bag for all different occasions.
White or Light Coloured Trousers and Jeans
Whether your current climate is coming into the warmer months or nearing winter, white or light coloured trousers and jeans are a great way to lighten up your capsule wardrobe. At times it’s easy to always reach for black pants and jeans, however adding white, cream, beige, grey or any colour that suits your skin tone, is a great way to freshen up your capsule wardrobe and add interest to your looks. We recommend opting for a few different fits, straight leg for workwear and a more relaxed fit like boyfriend jeans as Katya is wearing below for a fashionable casual look. The great thing about light coloured trousers is they go with pretty much anything!
Oversized Blazer
Oversized Blazers are a great versatile piece to include in your capsule wardrobe as they can double as a dress for a night out. Of course, if you prefer to be a little more demure or if your blazer isn’t long enough, you can wear a dress underneath to provide a bit of extra length, we recommend a lace dress with biker boots as it’s a great way to incorporate both feminine and masculine elements to create a fun and sexy look. An oversized blazer will also allow you the extra room needed to fit a chunky sweater underneath, particularly around your arms, during the winter months without feeling too constricted. Black and white blazers are great for a capsule wardrobe as you can pair them with anything you already own for an extra chic look.
Cozy Knitwear
Cozy knitwear is perfect for layering on top of shirts and under coats in the cooler months and also on top of dresses in the warmer months for added warmth when the sun goes down. Knitwear in varying thickness and warmth is a capsule wardrobe staple and can be paired with trousers, suits and skirts for work and jeans, shorts and dresses for the weekend. If you do want to add knitwear on top of a floaty dress but don’t want to lose the shape of the dress, a little trick is to add a belt around your waist and pull up the knitwear to cover the belt so the knitwear is cropped. This ensures that you are showing off your waistline and the dress and can also add shape to your body if you desire. Another option is wearing your Katya Komarova bag around your waist as Katya is below to highlight your figure if you’re wearing a looser fit knit.
Feminine Dresses
Feminine dresses are a fun way to add a bit of flare to your capsule wardrobe. Most of the other items that we have suggested are quite classic and understated, dresses are a great opportunity to show a little more of your personality. Feminine dresses don’t always have to mean floral if that isn’t your thing. You can incorporate dresses that are more form fitting if you’re comfortable or are in feminine colours; this is a chance for you to play and have fun. The great thing about a capsule wardrobe is you can pair your dress with anything from your leather jacket to your blazer if you want to add extra warmth or plan to wear the dress to the office.
Biker Boots
While we will always suggest incorporating white sneakers, a great pair of kitten or block heels and sandals into your capsule wardrobe, biker boots are so versatile for all months of the year. If you like to add a bit of extra edge to your outfits like Katya, we recommend pairing biker boots with everything from your light coloured trousers and jeans, to dresses and skirts.
If you’re having trouble choosing other items that you want to include in your capsule wardrobe, take a look at our blog post ‘How To Feel Confident In Your Style’, it provides insight into finding your personal style, colour, shape and fits that suit you, having fun with your wardrobe, investing in good quality and more.
