How To Build a
Capsule Wardrobe
Thinking of starting a capsule wardrobe? In this guide, we discuss must-have capsule wardrobe essentials, with style advice on key pieces you’ll need. A capsule wardrobe is all about investing in high-quality, timeless pieces that can be styled in multiple ways and will transcend seasons.
Read on to discover how to build a capsule wardrobe with designer denim experts Trilogy.
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a minimalist collection of garments that enables you to mix and match your essential basics with ease. A capsule wardrobe is designed to feature a number of essential key pieces that can be mixed and matched for variety and versatility. This conservative approach to your wardrobe reduces the number of unnecessary items of clothing, so you can build out a tailored collection of signature essentials that you can love and wear time and time again.
List of Capsule Wardrobe Essentials
You should also include a range of high-quality basics in a range of neutral shades, which make it easy to mix, match and diversify. Your capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be bland! Ensure you incorporate your favourite colours and cuts into your capsule wardrobe collection for a completely tailored collection. A capsule wardrobe is also dependent on your personal style and lifestyle, too. For example, if you like a smarter look, or work in a corporate environment, you may want to incorporate classic tailoring into your capsule wardrobe checklist.
Our style experts have expertly curated a collection of signature designer pieces with timeless styles for every occasion. Below we share our favourite fits, with bespoke capsule clothing that’s effortless to style. Instantly elevate your daywear with our collection of women’s designer clothing, with seasonal drops and on-trend pieces you’ll reach for again and again.
Quality denim jeans - The basis of every capsule wardrobe is great premium denim. You should aim to include a range of light wash jeans, mid wash jeans and dark wash denim jeans in your capsule wardrobe.
Knitwear - Always aim to choose high-quality knitwear fabrics like cashmere and wool, as these are timeless styles that will last a lifetime.
Shirts - Shirts in high-quality materials such as silk, cotton and satin create a luxurious feel and timeless look.
T-shirts - Aim for quality cotton t-shirts for durability, comfort and long-lasting wear.
Classic coat - A camel trench, navy wool coat, or black puffer are all great options for your capsule wardrobe. Always aim to invest in high-quality coats made from soft, warm and durable materials, so they’ll last a long time and are easy to style with other items in your capsule wardrobe collection.
Statement jacket - A statement jacket is perfect for elevated fits and evening style. Lightweight utilitarian style shackets are ideal for summer styling, with velvet and fitted blazers a go-to look for sophisticated winter outfits.
How Many Jumpers Should I Own?
Jumpers and sweatshirts are a failsafe in any wardrobe collection, and capsule clothing is no different. Identify your favourite shapes, fabrics and cuts of knitwear, and have a good range of neutral options including black, cream and grey. Add to your jumper collection with key items in your preferred colours, and make sure your chosen colours pair well with other items such as denim, trousers or a tailored jacket. The best fabrics for capsule knitwear are cashmere and wool, as they will last a lifetime. Always remember to pay attention to care labels to keep them in top condition.
Need more style inspiration? Check out our designer knitwear buyer’s guide
How Many T-shirts Should I Own?
T-shirts are an absolute must-have for your capsule wardrobe basics, providing the perfect base layer for many outfits. Aim to have at least three or four t-shirts in your capsule wardrobe, with a few black and white t-shirts to start with. The exact number will depend on how often you wear them, as your preferences will always influence your final collection. Feel free to incorporate key styles and colours that align with your style and complement the rest of your collection.
How Many Pairs of Jeans Should I Own?
If you wear jeans often, we'd suggest having a range of denim washes in your favourite premium denim cuts. For example, if you love wearing bootcut jeans and wide leg jeans, invest in a few signature styles, fits and washes to make sure you have a few pairs of each to suit different occasions. Your choice of capsule wardrobe jeans should also include key pieces for seasonal wear, which may include dark wash jeans, coated jeans, or velvet jeans in the colder months. For summer capsule dressing, invest in key pairs for easy summer styling, such as light wash jeans, cropped jeans and cream or white denim.
For more outfit ideas and advice for wearing denim, check out our denim style guide, full of expertise and outfit ideas to wear with jeans.
How Many Items do I Need in a Capsule Wardrobe?
Though most people think of a capsule wardrobe to contain between 30-40 pieces, you shouldn't be strict with the exact amount of each item you include. When you’ve built out your capsule wardrobe basics, you can easily rotate a smaller number. For example, aim to work with 20 timeless pieces, and should you discover you need more styling options, invest in them slowly to build out your wardrobe. The idea is to identify your favourite cuts, styles and fabrics, and invest in a few options of these, in the highest possible quality.
Your capsule wardrobe collection may also be something that you build gradually, as naturally your tastes may change and evolve over time. The final number of capsule wardrobe items should depend entirely on what kind of pieces you wear the most. If you usually opt for a more casual look, your capsule collection might include more mid-wash jeans, light-wash jeans, t-shirts and trainers. Alternatively, you might want to include more tailored pieces such as fitted designer jackets, smart blouses and dark wash skinnies that align more with your style.
How to Decide Which Clothes to Keep
The pieces you reach for most often should be the base of your capsule clothing. Any impulse buys or pieces that might not fit in with the rest of your collection. If you’re considering investing in clothing with colours, shapes or patterns outside your usual style, it probably won't fit into your capsule. Be sure to think about how much you’ll wear the garment and whether or not it is worth investing in.
Capsule Winter Wardrobe Essentials
Winter Knitwear
Cashmere and wool knitwear will build a solid foundation to work from in the winter months. Invest in high-quality knitwear in timeless cuts with a range of necklines. This will ensure you can mix and match with ease. Invest in different styles of jumpers and cardigans such as crew necks, rollnecks and V-neck jumpers for casual and elevated dressing.
Winter Denim
A popular jean fit for winter styling is bootcut denim. Perfect for elevated styling and a chic evening look, make a statement with a classic bootcut in a clean, dark wash that will transcend from day to night with ease.
Winter Coats and Accessories
The best coats for a capsule wardrobe should be versatile and should suit your style. Good options include a classic trench, a high-quality leather jacket, and a sturdy and durable wool coat. Choose coats in classic colours such as black, grey or beige. Another winter wardrobe essential is accessories. Mix and match with a few cashmere scarves and hats in your favourite colours as well as more neutral tones. A pair of classic black gloves can be worn with most outfits and colours.
Capsule Summer Wardrobe Essentials
Summer Tops and T-shirts
A range of t-shirts, cotton button-ups and tank tops are a must-have for a capsule wardrobe. Choose some classic colours with a few brighter shades, depending on your preferences. A classic white shirt is a must-have.
Summer Dresses
Capsule dress styles can vary depending on your personal style - choose from tea dresses, midi dresses and shift dresses, and find lightweight, breathable fabrics for the warmer temperatures. Neutral tones are great for diverse styling options, and a black cotton midi dress is a trusty failsafe you’ll reach for again and again.
Summer Denim
Opt for light washes and bright basics with your capsule summer denim. White denim jeans are a must, and cropped denim is your best friend for the warmer days, giving a comfortable fit and feel with plenty of movement. Soft stretch denim and vintage blue hues are great for easy summer styling, or play with iconic 70s-inspired flared jeans for a chic bohemian feel.
Summer Footwear and Accessories
Footwear and accessories are effortless to mix and match. The best summer shoes for capsule dressing are trainers and sandals. For seasonal styling, opt for a few sandal options in black, tan, or white.
Curating a Capsule Work Wardrobe
If you work in an office environment, a few pairs of tailored trousers in your preferred shape and style are key. These can be styled for a really smart look with a blouse and heels, or worn more casually with a t-shirt and trainers. A tailored jacket or blazer is also a capsule staple, which can be worn as part of a suit, or added over a dress or top and jeans as a lightweight outerwear option.
Many workplaces now embrace a more casual dress code, with clean dark denim washes being a great option for work styled with other capsule pieces like a classic white shirt or silk blouse. These options all blend into your non-work wardrobe too, and can be styled more casually for weekend plans or dressed up for evenings out.
Best Jeans for a Capsule Wardrobe
Aim to build a capsule denim collection of favourite denim shapes in a few different styles and washes, as this will ensure versatile outfit options depending on the occasion, setting, and weather. Dark wash denim is a must-have for autumn and winter dressing, whereas lighter washes and mid-wash blues are a great choice for spring styling and summer denim outfits.
Light wash, vintage-inspired denim is a perfect choice for weekend wear or off-duty styling, with breezy wide leg fits bringing a bohemian feel to your spring and summer outfits. Coated jeans and velvet and cord jeans are great for elevated styling in the colder months, whilst lightweight cargo jeans provide a chic, modern edge to your summer basics. If you wear jeans to work, you may choose to opt for clean and classic styles for a smarter look. Dark wash denim is a staple go-to for sophisticated looks.
Choosing capsule wardrobe jeans is especially personal, and will always depend on your style preferences, including your favourite leg shapes, rises and styles. The key is to have options!
The Ultimate Denim Capsule Wardrobe: Trilogy’s Favourite Fits
Fall in love with denim again with our premium designer jeans collection. Browse signature stretch denim styles and vintage-inspired fits from the most loved denim brands and transform your capsule wardrobe with Trilogy.
Capsule Wardrobe FAQs
Do Capsule Wardrobes Save You Money?
Investing in quality items to build a capsule wardrobe can save you money in the long term. Choosing thoughtful, investment pieces that are built to last will mean replacing items less frequently, as well as spending less on passing trends.
What’s the Most Important Item in a Capsule Wardrobe?
Depending on your individual style, quality denim is the pillar of a great capsule wardrobe. Once you've established your preferred leg shapes, rises and styles, it's good to have a few staple washes at the base of your capsule wardrobe to mix and match with other pieces.
How Many Colours Should I Choose for My Capsule Wardrobe?
It's a misconception that a capsule wardrobe should be built entirely on neutral shades. Whilst it's always good to have things like t-shirts, button-ups and tanks in classic colours like white and black, you can incorporate other colours if they fit with the rest of your wardrobe and align better with your style.
A capsule wardrobe is about encapsulating the pieces you wear on repeat and collating high-quality versions of these that you can style together in a multitude of ways. If that includes colour, go for the shades you wear the most.
How Many Outfits Can You Make with a Capsule Wardrobe?
The point of a capsule wardrobe is that you can mix and match the pieces in a multitude of ways. Always aim to ensure that most of the pieces in your capsule can be able to be styled with one another. If you do incorporate brighter colours, for example, shirts or knitwear in pink, blue or green, these are still easy to style with a classic blue or black pair of jeans or black tailored trousers, giving you a host of interchangeable outfit options.
How Long Does A Capsule Wardrobe Last?
If you invest in high-quality items and care for them correctly, your capsule wardrobe will last you for years.
For more styling ideas and advice, check out our denim guides and style guides.
