3 Ways to Intentionally Build a Winter Capsule Wardrobe
In case you missed my previous post about being in a style rut, let me just get that part out of the way. I AM IN A STYLE RUT. And I’m hoping that curating a winter capsule wardrobe with intention will help me untangle the web that is my sense of personal style currently.
The concept of a capsule wardrobe is inherently simple. Every item of clothing in a wardrobe has a function, plays nice with the other pieces, simplifies getting dressed, and ultimately, gives the wearer extra brain space because they don’t worry about making daily wardrobe decisions.
SIGN ME UP FOR EXTRA BRAIN SPACE.
The only trouble is, I’m in a style rut, remember? It feels hard to curate a wardrobe of pieces I love when I’m struggling to figure out what I would love to wear the most. Truthfully, this time of year is one of the hardest for me to dress for. I’m not planning to add a ton of new pieces right now, but I am looking to solidify my aesthetic and start choosing pieces that align with my current style goals.
So, here’s how I’m going about tackling this endeavor. Buckle up babes, we have a lot of heart work to do!
Identify Winter Wardrobe Essentials
To help reduce overwhelm, I’m starting small by thinking only about this current season. Realistically speaking, a lot of these items can be worn in the fall – but that’s for fall.
When thinking about items to add to a winter capsule wardrobe, be realistic about the weather and how it influences your day-to-day. (In David Beckham’s voice: “Be honest.”)
This might seem obvious but don’t dress for the weather you want, dress for the weather you have. If cold days have a permanent fixture in your weather app, own it. The same goes for the life you lead.
The faster you embrace the life you have, or at least acknowledge where you’re at right now, the sooner you’ll be able to focus your attention on curating your clothes with intention.
I live in a pretty mild climate that doesn’t require a ton of cold weather gear to get through the winter season. While we don’t get snow, we get lots of rain. So my winter wardrobe essentials are going to look different from someone who lives in a very snowy and cold climate.
Here’s what I came up with:
My Winter Capsule Wardrobe Essentials
- Warm coat
- Raincoat
- Weatherproof shoes
- Knee-high boots
- Good socks
- Hats/Scarves
- Base Layer (black turtleneck, tees, etc)
- Straight leg jeans
- Wide leg jeans
- Oversized sweater (both crew and turtleneck)
- Tights
This list is what my ideal day-to-day dressing would consist of, including different occasions like date nights and dinners out with friends. I’ll need to focus on choosing timeless pieces that I can wear in lots of different ways in a variety of outfits.
Evaluate Your Own Closet
Put down the credit card! This is not the time to buy more things in the name of winter essentials. This is the time to reflect and assess.
After identifying what is needed for the winter months, take a look at what you own. Start by taking out of your closet only the things you wear the most. This will help you take stock and identify what you reach for constantly. (It’s good to do this seasonally because what you’re reaching for now won’t be the same as April or August for example.)
Lay these pieces in front of you and notice a few things:
- Color
- Patterns/Textures
- Brands
- Fit
Are you able to notice any themes? What about fits and styles? Do you love wide-leg pants? Do you have one million pairs of winter boots? What about them makes them a consistently great option?
These answers are what you need to harness and they will help influence future winter wardrobe additions and purchases. This is also a great way to figure out where the gaps are in your wardrobe.
Do you have enough boots, but maybe lack when it comes to jeans? Take note of things that would help round out your current closet.
This is how you’ll make your wish list of items!
Gather Outfit Inspiration
If you haven’t tried the “three-word method” to define your style, you should!
It’s a method in which you identify three adjectives that embody how you want to show up in the world. It’s totally genius.
I referenced this technique when I was talking about how I’m finding my personal style. The words I’ve landed on are: classic, neutral, and cool.
I’m thinking of these words as an extension of myself. When I think about how I want to show up in the world, these are the words that I want to embody.
When it comes to gathering inspiration for what to wear in the colder months, think about what you love about what you already own and think about where you want your style to evolve.
I had tons of classic pieces like blazers, jeans, and tees. These silhouettes are about as classic as they come and all in neutral colors that play nice together.
But I will say this, the clothes feel boring on their own. And some of the colors feel too harsh for me. For example, my jeans all have a similar wash and style, there’s hardly any variety. I’m also really lacking in outer layers – a variety of coats, jackets, and cardigans would not only be versatile pieces but would add dimension and texture to a basic outfit. I also have no black pants.
Once the wardrobe gaps are identified and you have a sense of what words would embody your style, it’s time to get inspired.
Keep it simple: use Pinterest! Create boards dedicated to your style words, hopes, and dreams. I set up a board called “classic winter style” to help get me started. Without even noticing it, I chose images that all had a similar tone, feel, and color palette. I think once I finally embraced what I truly like, it became easier to spot it.
This is an exercise in learning to identify your aesthetic out in the world. Browsing through outfit ideas on Pinterest for a little bit every day will help you get inspired.
I know this all seems like a lot to figure out what to wear this winter. (Or in general.) But here’s the thing, fashion isn’t frivolous. How we feel in our clothes can dictate how we get through the day and the way we interact with people.
We deserve to have clothes that honor our bodies, our season of life, and our wildest aspirations.
