My Winter 2017 Capsule Wardrobe
It’s Winter, so it’s time to create another capsule wardrobe! A couple of weekends ago I switched my closet from my Fall capsule wardrobe to my Winter capsule. This was my second all-casual capsule. Before I started working full-time at home managing ClassyYetTrendy.com, my capsule wardrobes consisted of a mixture of dressy and casual clothes. Then, in June when I left my job, I found that I could dress casual everyday.
My Fall capsule wardrobe was my first all-casual wardrobe. It was easier creating my Winter capsule, as I knew what clothes I needed to wear everyday. Since I work at home now, I like to wear clothes that are casual and comfortable, but that also look great for running errands, going to my daughter’s school functions, eating out, going to the movies, etc.
In deciding what clothes I wanted in my Winter capsule wardrobe, first I needed to decide my base color, which is the first step in my post, How To Create a Capsule Wardrobe: A 5-Step Visual Guide. I decided to have black as my base color and that I wanted to use mostly neutral colors. Then, I picked two accents colors: burgundy and blush pink. I knew I needed to include jeans and a pair of leggings, as those are the bottoms I like to wear. I also knew I needed to include long sleeve tees, sweaters and cardigans. I didn’t include coats or shoes in my capsule. I didn’t include coats because we have mostly mild winter temperatures where I live, so I don’t wear coats very often. I did include 3 vests, as usually those are warm enough to wear all day if I’m going to be outside. I didn’t include shoes, because as I’m getting used to my new work-at-home lifestyle, I wanted to see what types of shoes will work with my Winter outfits.
I can remember just a few years ago when I didn’t use a capsule wardrobe. My closet used to be a complete mess! I had too many clothes that didn’t coordinate, clothes that didn’t fit, clothes with colors that didn’t look good on me, you name it. I even had bad shopping habits! I would buy an outfit…a top and bottom that would go together, not really thinking how I could wear the pieces with other clothes in my closet. Plus, I loved to go clothes shopping. When I was bored or having a bad day, I would go shopping and always felt like I had to buy “something” to feel good. Shopping lead to a high credit card bill, so I was in debt.
I’m so glad I discovered a “capsule wardrobe”, because it helped me dress better, I always have dozens of outfits ready to wear, I look great and feel better about myself, plus I shop with purpose for everything now (clothes, household goods, you name it!). Having a capsule wardrobe literally changed my shopping habits for everything. I think twice before buying anything, saving me hundreds of dollars every year! I’m so passionate about capsule wardrobes, that I published Complete Wardrobe Plans each season, all in the Capsule Wardrobe eBook Store.
[su_quote]Thousands of women use these Capsule Wardrobe Plans each season for their closets![/su_quote]
Now onto my capsule wardrobe! I have 28 items in my Winter capsule wardrobe. My capsule wardrobe is a combination of the French Minimalist and the Essential capsule wardrobe eBooks. I’m excited about having mostly neutral colors in this capsule, as I love black, white and gray! These colors are so versatile and I can get dressed quickly and easily when I wear neutrals.
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I created my capsule wardrobe using my 5-step process, which you can see here in this blog post, How To Create A Capsule Wardrobe: A 5-Step Visual Guide.
First, I took everything out of my closet, so that it was empty, like this…
I hung my clothes from my Fall capsule that I wanted to have in my Winter capsule, in my closet. I put the rest of my clothes from my Fall capsule in my storage bins. I took out my Winter clothes from the bins that I thought about using in my capsule and put them in stacks for each type: solid tops, patterned tops, bottoms and layers. I knew I may not include all of them in my capsule, but it gave me a starting point.
I went through the stacks of clothes, determined what I wanted to keep for my capsule, set aside a gray pair of jeans that were worn and needed replacing, then hung the clothes in my closet, using wooden hangers like these. These velvet hangers also work well and these hangers are perfect for hanging skirts. Then, I put any clothes that I wouldn’t be using in the bins and set them back in my closet. I have storage bins for different types of clothes: seasonal tops, denim and shorts, cardigans and sweaters and skirts and dresses. It helps me organize my clothes so I know what clothes are in each bin. You can use these exact bins to store your off-season clothes too! If you need a clothes rack to hang your clothes on, here is my exact wardrobe rack (and it’s on sale!). This black pipe clothes rack and this wooden clothes rack will work well for your capsule wardrobe too. This wooden wardrobe rack also comes in white. And, I love this industrial pipe and wooden wardrobe rack from West Elm!
Capsule Wardrobe Storage & Equipment:
I made a list of items that I needed to complete my Winter capsule wardrobe and shopped for them online. I shop mostly online, since it saves me time and I don’t get distracted if I shop in a store. So, here’s what it is my Winter capsule wardrobe:
Tops:
white long sleeve tee (Banana Republic, new)
ivory cable sweater (Old Navy, new)
camel cashmere sweater (similar) (J Crew Factory, old)
tan cowlneck tunic sweater (Loft, new)
white/black plaid shirt (similar) (Target, last season)
white striped long sleeve tee (J Crew Factory, last season)
black striped long sleeve tee (Nordstrom, new)
gray mockneck sweater (similar) (Nordstrom, old)
black marled cowlneck tunic (Gap, new)
gray long sleeve tee (similar) (Nordstrom, old)
gray v-neck sweater (Banana Republic, new)
black jersey turtleneck (Banana Republic, new)
blush pink v-neck sweater (Nordstrom, new)
burgundy long sleeve tee (similar) (Nordstrom, old)
Bottoms:
dark wash skinny jeans (Paige via Nordstrom Rack, old) // SHOP THESE PAIGE JEANS
medium wash skinny jeans (AG via Shopbop, new)
raw hem skinny jeans (7 For All Mankind via Nordstrom, old)
gray skinny jeans (DL1971 via Nordstrom, new)
burgundy skinny jeans (Madewell, old)
black skinny jeans (DL1961 via Nordstrom, new)
black leggings (Loft, old)
Layers:
beige cardigan (similar) (local boutique, old)
dark gray cardigan (Nordstrom, new)
blush pink cardigan (H&M, last season)
burgundy cardigan (Nordstrom, last season)
burgundy puffer vest (similar) (Old Navy, new)
black herringbone puffer vest (J Crew Factory, old)
gray fleece vest (Nordstrom, new)
Although not included in my Winter capsule wardrobe, I have these coats and jacket in my closet:
Bernardo Down & Primaloft Coat
Blanknyc Black Faux Leather Jacket
LL Bean Camel Peacoat
SHOP THESE COATS
Here’s a few scarves that I’ll be wearing with my outfits:
Scarves (left to right):
pink shimmer scarf
camel cashmere scarf
green/navy plaid scarf
blush cashmere scarf (similar)
beige/gray plaid pom pom scarf (same print, but tassels)
gray plaid cashmere scarf
The Tops:
Tops (left to right):
white long sleeve tee (Banana Republic, new)
ivory cable sweater (Old Navy, new)
beige cardigan (similar) (local boutique, old)
camel cashmere sweater (similar) (J Crew Factory, old)
tan cowlneck tunic sweater (Loft, new)
white/black plaid shirt (similar) (Target, last season)
white striped long sleeve tee (J Crew Factory, last season)
black striped long sleeve tee (Nordstrom, new)
gray mockneck sweater (similar) (Nordstrom, old)
dark gray cardigan (Nordstrom, new)
black marled cowlneck tunic (Gap, new)
gray long sleeve tee (similar) (Nordstrom, old)
gray v-neck sweater (Banana Republic, new)
black jersey turtleneck (Banana Republic, new)
blush pink v-neck sweater (Nordstrom, new)
blush pink cardigan (H&M, last season)
burgundy long sleeve tee (similar) (Nordstrom, old)
burgundy cardigan (Nordstrom, last season)
The Bottoms & Vests:
Vests & Bottoms (left to right):
burgundy puffer vest (similar) (Old Navy, new)
black herringbone puffer vest (J Crew Factory, old)
gray fleece vest (Nordstrom, new)
dark wash skinny jeans (Paige via Nordstrom Rack, old) // SHOP THESE PAIGE JEANS
medium wash skinny jeans (AG via Shopbop, new)
raw hem skinny jeans (7 For All Mankind via Nordstrom, old)
gray raw hem skinny jeans (DL1971 via Nordstrom, new)
burgundy skinny jeans (Madewell, old)
black leggings (Loft, old)
black skinny jeans (DL1961 via Nordstrom, new)
Shoes (left to right):
black sneakers (local sporting goods store, old)
black booties (Zappos, old)
Tory Burch riding boots (this year’s style) (Nordstrom, old)
black tall boots (Belk, old)
brown booties (Shopbop, old)
SHOP THESE BOOTS
CLICK HERE to get your copy today!
I love the capsule wardrobe. It’s really helped me clean out my closet, which need to be done desperately. I did have one quick question. I was wondering how you handle your sweaters on those hangers. When I try to put sweaters on a hanger, I always end up with weird spots on the shoulders where the hanger pokes out and leaves lumps. How do you avoid this?
I purchased the Stay at home and the athleisure. I love the options above too. Is the ebook listed above more of a combination of French and General? I am trying to figure out the best combination of wardrobes. They are all intriguing. I wonder if maybe an ebook of 5 items from each would be possible? Or that wouldn’t be capsule then? 🙂
Jennifer,
My Winter capsule wardrobe is a combination of the French Minimalist and Essential capsules. I incorporated a few pieces from each capsule, plus a few of my own I already had. You can combine a few pieces from each of the eBooks. It will still be a capsule wardrobe if you stick to a set number of pieces, say no more than 30, and use that capsule all season.
Suzanne,
You can keep your sweaters folded in stacks on a shelf, say on the shelf above your rack in your closet, or in a drawer. I hang my sweaters on my wooden hangers in my closet. The wooden hangers prevent shoulder lumps as they keep the shoulders in my tops smooth.
This may be my favorite post you’ve ever done! I love that you talked each step through, and explained how you select items, and store other items. The visuals always help too! I’ve purchased a full year of capsule guides now and look forward to seeing how I can use the items I’ve purchased year after year.
Oh! Wanted to mention that J Crew Factory has the herringbone vest again this year, just saw it in store last week for anyone still looking!
Thank you Teresa! I love sharing my capsule wardrobe with everyone each season! The herringbone vest is one of my favorite layering items to wear. I’ve had mine for a few years now and it still looks new!
Hi – I am ready to radically clean/filter my closet. What do you keep in the wicker baskets on your shelves? Your scarves would probably fit in one, so what’s in the others? Just curious – before I run out and invest in totes and baskets. Thanks!
Tammie
Tamara,
I keep off-season scarves, my small handbags and extra hangers in my wicker baskets in the top of my closet. I love the wicker baskets not only because I can store small items in them, but they also provide a bit of color and texture to my closet.
Leanne, I love seeing your very practical wardrobe! I can see all of those pieces working for many occasions. What do you do to have a few items for dressy wear? I’m wondering what the best way to go to have appropriate items for parties, occasions such as funerals, weddings, church, parties, etc?? I am struggling with creating a capsule for those types of rare, but necessary occasions. Any thoughts? Love your posts!!
Sheri,
Thank you for your comment! I have a couple of skirts and dressy tops, plus a few dresses set aside in my closet for dressy outfits. I don’t include them in my capsule wardrobe, as I don’t wear them everyday, but wear them to church and social functions. Here’s what I have for the Winter: black and gray pencil skirts, two solid color tops that can be worn with the skirts. One of my dresses is a sweater dress. I also have a patterned dress and a black long sleeve dress. For the skirts, if you have cardigans in your capsule wardrobe, you can wear those with the skirt outfits!
This is another way. 🙂
https://snapguide.com/guides/hang-a-sweater/
Thank you for including that post Carolyn! Very helpful!
Thank you for responding, Leanne! I find that I’ve neglected that part of my wardrobe, and then it sneaks up on me when I least expect it! I appreciate the suggestions. I also like the suggestions to some other comments of combining pieces from more than one capsule. I think that could help expand the overall choices 🙂
Thank you Sheri!
I love your capsule, but was wondering if you had a pin with the complete outfits you can wear from this? I need a lot of help in this department and would love to see all the different outfits you can get from this! Thanks!
Amanda,
I don’t have a pin with all the outfits, since I just created my capsule for the winter. You can follow along on Instagram under @classyyettrendy and this blog to see what outfits I wear.
Have you created a link with complete outfits with this capsule? I love it!
I have ordered a number of your ebooks. This morning I thought i was ordering the one that is above but the one that came in was the one with the blue shirt. Not sure what i did wrong.
Wren,
If you’ll send me an email to classyyettrendy@gmail.com with your invoice number in the email from Paypal, I’ll look into your order.
I don’t have a pin with all the outfits, since this is my custom capsule wardrobe. You can follow along on Instagram under @classyyettrendy and this blog to see what outfits I wear!
I would like to purchase my first e book but am not sure which one to purchase. I’m thinking the Winter 2918 is the one as your post had the same color palette ( black, gray, pink, etc.). But when I click on the link it says the palette is blue not black. Can you confirm is the palette blue or black. Thank you.
Stephanie,
If you are asking about the Essential Winter 2018 eBook, the base color is navy.
I tried the French Minimalist travel capsule on a recent 8 day pre-holiday trip. The selection of clothes and shoes easily fit into a carry-on. I had so much fun mixing the pieces to create different outfits and, if I say so myself, looked fabulous. I’m so glad I discovered your capsules, Leanne. Thank you!