Guide to creating the perfect winter capsule wardrobe

Guide to creating the perfect winter capsule wardrobe


Are you looking to plan your winter wardrobe? We guide you through a checklist of essential winter wardrobe items and give you winter capsule wardrobe ideas.

Winter means gorgeous snuggly knits, roaring log fires and fingers wrapped around a steaming cup of your favourite hot drink. It’s also the season of wooly hat mountains and drawers that won’t shut because they are just too full. How can you even begin to get dressed quickly before work let alone find that cute matching pair of gloves? The answer is to create a thoughtful winter capsule wardrobe.

Making a winter wardrobe into a capsule wardrobe does take a little more thought and effort than doing the same for spring and summer. Stuff is bulkier – just a 10 piece winter capsule wardrobe can take the same amount of space as your entire selection of summer clothes. So, what exactly should make up your winter capsule wardrobe?


How to create a winter capsule wardrobe

Having some go-to winter styles will make the dull and grey winter mornings that little bit easier. Creating a winter capsule wardrobe also helps you to feel more comfortable with your style and reduce your impact on the planet. If you’re wondering where to start, we’re going to take you through it step by step.


Step 1: find out what you’re working with

To start with, you need to take stock of what you’ve got. Take note of what’s in style (and what’s your style), and which winter wardrobe basics you’ll need to source. It’s always best to work with what you’ve got rather than heading straight for the shops. Pick out pieces you can reuse and upcycle, then see what you’re missing. Here, it’s really important to be brutally honest with yourself about the things you will or won’t wear.

Once you’ve gone through this process, you should be left with some pieces that genuinely make you feel good and will be used and loved over the coming months. At this stage, it’s all about pleasure and comfort. You can then move on to what you actually need as your essential winter wardrobe items.


Step 2: make your checklist of essentials

Next up, you’re going to need to make your capsule wardrobe checklist for winter. This will vary a little from person to person, but there’s always some common elements. The idea here is to compare your list to what you’ve already got, and then work out what you need to buy to ensure you’ve got everything you need. It’s important to think about your lifestyle in terms of your work requirements and the kind of socialising you get up to.

So, what are the essential winter wardrobe items that you should consider putting on your list?

Some of our favourite winter capsule wardrobe ideas include:

The right knits

Winter days are made for snuggling up in a chunky knit. Neutrals can work really well, particularly if your accessories are bright and cheerful. You may want to have a bold and bright knit for those wintry days when you need colour to elevate your mood.

A lighter weight knitted roll-neck can work well as office wear. It can become a really versatile option – you could wear it with a midi skirt, or under a dress or suit. A knitted dress might also be just right for you, depending on your style and day-to-day life.

Check out our preloved knitwear.

The right hats

We won’t be parting with our beloved beanies just yet, but berets came back in style last winter and we know that our influencers love them this season too. They make sure you look sleek and smart and stay warm.

We especially love this light pink faux pearl beaded beret.

The right coat

With a winter capsule wardrobe, it is actually possible to have just one coat. Saying this, we’ve got to be honest and admit that most people only get it down to two or three.

A classic camel coat will be your mainstay – it actually ends up being far more versatile than a standard black coat. However, there’s a big difference between what you want to wear when heading for an evening on the town, a day in the office, or a wintry walk in the woods with friends. The puffer jacket is still a favourite and is the only way to really enjoy winter days outdoors.

The right boots

Winter is wonderful because it’s time to bring out the boots! Tread sole boots are making a huge comeback which is perfectly practical for icy days on the streets. Indeed, expect to see hybrid hikers keeping feet warm and looking good this season. They can be worn with jeans or a midi skirt – we’d suggest choosing a structured style for warmth!


Step 3: check through to find any gaps

With a capsule wardrobe it’s really essential to double-check that you’ve included everything on your checklist that you will need. You don’t have room for many items, so each that you choose has to carry their weight! You need to identify any gaps so that you can be sure you’ve got everything covered.


Step 4: shop for your missing staple items

Lastly, it’s time to get shopping and make sure you’ve got everything on your checklist. A great option for shopping sustainably (which is often a big driver behind choosing a capsule wardrobe) is to choose pre-loved items that would otherwise be going to landfill. Choosing high quality pre-loved items is an ethical choice and can ensure you get some really fabulous items in your ownership. Choose pieces that are designed to last and then you can repeat the above steps each year with only needing to make a few tweaks.


Browse our womenswear to choose the perfect pieces for your winter wardrobe.

Don’t forget that it’s accessories that bring diversity to a capsule wardrobe! Make sure you’ve got your favourite and striking pieces to really make your winter wardrobe sing.


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