Learn how to make a fall capsule wardrobe, plus styling tips for fall fashion trends.
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This post is all about how to make a fall capsule wardrobe.
If you’re one of those people who feels like you never have anything to where, or if the idea of putting together an outfit makes you nervous, then a fall capsule wardrobe may be just the thing for you.
A capsule wardrobe is great for people who:
- Feel like they never have anything to wear
- Are too busy to spend a lot of time picking out clothes
- Are unsure about how to put a great outfit together
- Want to dress well no matter the situation
If any of these statements apply to you, then a capsule wardrobe may be just what you need to level up your personal style.
The purpose of a capsule wardrobe is to narrow down your closet to 30 to 40 key clothing and accessories that you wear during a certain period of time. This means that your wardrobe largely consists of great, basic clothing items that you can mix and match to create outfits.
A capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be boring, however. It should consist of versatile pieces that give you the most bang for your buck and that you love to wear.
While a capsule wardrobe is usually filled with basics, fall gives us a chance to bring lush fabrics and warm tones into the closet. Start with basics, like good quality pants or a white button-down shirt, and add a few clothing items or accessories that give you a pop of color, such as a jewel-tone cardigan, scarf, handbag, or shoes.
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
Capsule wardrobes have become associated with minimalist lifestyles, but the principles behind building and using capsule wardrobes can be used by anyone.
Minimalizing your wardrobe helps to simplify your morning routine, which means more time and less hassle for you. Plus, you can pack less or keep fewer clothes in your closet, which also means more room for the clothes and accessories that you love to wear.
Why Make a Fall Capsule Wardrobe?
Creating a fall capsule wardrobe has it’s benefits. Here are just a few.
- Spend less time deciding what to wear. With a capsule wardrobe, you always know what you have to wear.
- Always have something to wear. A capsule wardrobe allows you to design outfits ahead of time, so that you have an outfit to wear for almost any occasion.
- Look better. A capsule wardrobe full of good basic pieces helps you look more put together.
- Be more organized. Clean out your closet while developing a capsule wardrobe. Good clothes that you don’t wear can be donated. As a result, you’ll have more closet space and fewer items, making it easier to organize and keep track of what you have.
- Do less laundry. Keep your wardrobe organized in a way that let’s you do less laundry. If many of the pieces in your capsule wardrobe can be washed together, then you can potentially save time, effort, and money when it comes to doing laundry.
How to Make a Fall Capsule Wardrobe
Here are some tips on how to create a fall capsule wardrobe.
1—Decide on your personal style.
Figure out what you like to wear best and what works for your lifestyle. Decide on colors and fits that you like, and use this information to help you find basics that you can use to make different outfits. Don’t be afraid to make changes—your personal style may evolve over time.
2—Clean out your closet.
Go through all your clothes. Choose a few pieces that you love and feel that you can build a wardrobe around. Do you have a few favorite outfits? Pull these out. Think about why they are your favorites. Are there certain looks, colors, fits, or materials that you like? These are all important concerns for putting together a capsule wardrobe that you like to wear.
3—Plan what you need outfits for.
Get an idea of what you will need outfits for—this includes daily activities like going to class, going to a job, running errands, or taking a yoga class, for example. You’ll also need clothes for social activities and hanging out with friends. Also consider having an outfit that is appropriate for job and internship interviews.
4—Research the weather.
Weather can play an important role in what your wardrobe looks like on a daily basis. Make sure to dress for the weather that you experience where you live. A fall capsule wardrobe in Vermont will likely look different from a fall capsule wardrobe than Southern California, for example.
5—Focus on the basics.
Invest in basics that can be worn from season to season.
6—Aim for 30 to 40 pieces total.
A good way to do this is to start with easy to match and neutral colors like black, beige, navy blue, gray, and denim. Shirts in white, black, denim or chambray, are easiest to match up with other colors. Accessories—especially smaller things like bracelets, watches, belts, and handbags—can be used to add color and interest to an outfit.
7—Make sure to include undergarments—but not in the total count.
While underwear doesn’t necessarily count toward the capsule wardrobe, it’s important to make sure that you have what you need to wear under your clothes, whether that is bras, panties, boxers, slips, long underwear, hosiery, or other base layers.
8—Don’t forget about sports or other activities.
If you participate in sport or fitness activities, then you’ll also need clothing to wear for these activities.
9—Pick clothes for rest and relaxation, too.
Don’t forget about pajamas and lounge wear to wear around the dorm. This includes your favorite oversized sweater or sweatshirt.
The clothing in your capsule wardrobe should make you feel confident, comfortable, and unique. Edit the clothing and accessories in your capsule wardrobe and choose the best pieces according to your style and taste.
Here are some picks for a fall capsule wardrobe.
Fall Capsule Wardrobe
The crisp autumn air gives us a reason to look at our wardrobe to decide what we will need to create an autumn season capsule wardrobe. Here are a few ideas for great items to add to a fall capsule wardrobe.
Tops
1—Button Up Shirt.
A crisp, classic button-up shirt is a foundation piece for a capsule wardrobe. Shirts in white, pink, and light blue are easy to match with pants and skirts for work outfits or jeans and casual pants for dressy casual weekend wear.
2—Sweater.
Sweaters in neutral colors like cream, camel, navy, or black are great to add to a capsule wardrobe. They are versatile, and you can style them with anything—from dress pants or midi skirts for work to jeans and leather pants for the weekend. Popular silhouettes this year include oversized sweaters, balloon sleeves, and turtlenecks.
3—Cardigan.
A duster cardigan looks great with leggings, providing more coverage and adding a layer of warmth.
4—Polo Knit Sweater.
A short-sleeve polo sweater is perfect for the warmer days of fall, plus it can be layered under a cardigan or blazer when the weather gets colder.
5—Sweatshirt.
A sweatshirt is always good to have for running errands or casual weekend wear.
6—Blouses.
Silky blouses and camisoles help to dress up an outfit and look great with blazers and cardigans.
7—Blazer.
Blazers are versatile and can go with anything. Use a blazer to dress up an outfit for work, or style it with jeans and a cute top for brunch or spending time with friends. A basic black blazer is a great piece to have in a wardrobe, while blazers in brilliant colors, like red or blue, or jewel tones, like marigold, add a pop of color to your wardrobe.
Pants
In fall, denim shorts and cargo pants are changed out for heavier weight pants, denim jeans, and trousers. Dress pants in neutral tones are great for work, while jeans and leggings are perfect for casual wear and the weekend.
1—Trousers.
Dressy pants in neutral colors like navy, gray, and black are great to have for putting together a work outfit. Black pants are also great for evenings out.
2—Paper Bag Waist Trousers.
A paper bag waist gives a feminine touch to pants, skirts, and shorts.
3—Jeans.
A great pair of jeans is a staple for any wardrobe. Denim goes with everything and is really versatile. Light wash or medium wash jeans are great for casual daytime wear, while dark wash jeans can be dressed to up with heels or boots to wear for date night or a night out with friends.
4—Leather Pants or Leggings.
Faux leather pants are all the rage right now, and it’s no wonder, because they look good with just about everything.
Skirts
A great skirt is a key piece to have in a fall capsule wardrobe. Pleated skirts are in this fall, as are skirts in faux leather fabric.
1—Midi Skirt.
A pleated midi skirt is a great look for work or for the weekend. Flowing fabrics and even faux leather materials give you plenty of options for styling these skirts.
Dresses
Dresses are versatile and easy to style up or style down. Summer maxi dresses can carry over into early fall, especially when layered with tall boots and a denim jacket or blazer.
1—Midi Dress.
A dress can be layered with a blazer or cardigan for a work outfit, or styled with booties or sneakers for a weekend casual outfit. Fancy dresses are great for evenings out and special occasions like fall weddings. Add a denim jacket to dress the look down a bit, or a leather jacket to add some edge.
2—Prairie Dress.
The prairie dress is a nod to the prairie look that is popular this fall. A floral dress is always a classic piece to have in a wardrobe.
Outerwear
Fall is the perfect time to make sure that your jacket and coat game is on point.
1—Trench Coat.
A trench coat is the perfect go-to coat for fall. This classic always looks sleek and stylish, and it helps you look more professional for work or better dressed when it’s time to play.
2—Leather Jacket.
A motorcycle jacket with metal hardware and zipper accents is a classic look for fall. A leather jacket helps to keep you warm while adding a chic edge to your favorite outfit.
3—Wool Coat.
A wool coat in a classic color like camel or black, or in a vibrant jewel tone like red, emerald, or blue, is a classic, must-have item for the cold weather wardrobe.
Shoes
Fall shoe trends are one of the best things about shopping for shoes in autumn.
1—Booties.
A pair of black booties looks great with everything and can be styled with outfits for work, casual wear, or for more formal events. A pair of brown booties gives a look that it great for daytime casual wear and weekends.
2—Loafers.
Loafers are on trend this season, and they look great with everything from pants to denim. Style loafers with a pair of jeans, a button down shirt, and a sweater vest for a classic, stylish look.
3—Flats.
A pair of chic flats looks great with trousers for a work outfit or with leggings for something more casual.
4—Platform Sneakers.
Platform shoes are in this season, and a great pair of sneakers can be worn with everything from jeans to dresses.
Handbags
1—Structured Tote Bag.
A structured tote bag is great for work, especially when it is large enough to hold things like a tablet, but small enough that it still looks like a handbag.
2—Baguette Bag.
A baguette bag is a bag of choice for fall. A small bag is great for running errands around the city.
3—Clutch Bag.
A simple clutch bag is perfect for evening wear and special occasions, like date night or fall weddings.
Accessories
1—Scarf.
A soft scarf makes a great accessory for dressing up an outfit and keeping you warm.
2—Sunglasses.
Retro sunglasses are in, and they add a chic look to any outfit.
3—Umbrella.
Autumn brings rain in many places, so it’s a good idea to have an umbrella.
Rainy Weather Clothes + Accessories
Fall tends to bring rainy weather in many places. If you live in a place where it rains a lot, you’ll want to have some items that keep you ready for wet, rainy weather, like a rain coat, rain boots, and an umbrella.
Other Items
Here is an example of other clothing and accessory items to have as part of your fall capsule wardrobe.
- Socks—7 to 10 pairs, some in white and some in other colors to match your outfits
- Black Tights—1 to 2 pairs. Thick tights help to keep your legs warm when you wear skirts in cold weather.
- Hosiery—2 to 3 pairs
- Bras—3 or 4
- Sports Bra—1 or 2
- Underwear—10 to 14 pairs
- Leggings—1 to 2 pairs, or more if you wear leggings often
- Lounge Wear—1 to 2 matching sets
- Pajamas or Nightgowns—2 to 3 sets or gowns
- Slippers—1 pair
- Scarves—1 to 2
- Gloves—1 to 2 pairs
- Winter Hats—1 to 2
When it comes to choosing clothing, make choices that make you look good and feel comfortable, confident that you’ll always have something to wear, and unique in a way that only you can put together.
This post was all about fall capsule wardrobe ideas, featuring great autumn looks and styles for fall and winter.
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