Basic Capsule Wardrobe Starter Kit

In today’s blog post, I will be sharing what I consider to be the most basic capsule wardrobe starter kit. All of the items I will be sharing today are the building blocks of my wardrobe, and I consider them all to be absolute essentials. These neutral basics will serve as the foundation for your seasonal capsule wardrobes. Personally, I pull items from this list and mix them in with some more colorful, seasonally appropriate pieces. In fact, you may have seen a lot of these items (or similar ones) in my fall, spring, and winter capsule wardrobes!

My favorite thing about these pieces is that they are all extremely versatile. When you are building the foundation of your wardrobe, I recommend sticking to neutral tones and only include brands/fabrics that you love and feel good in. If you are looking to learn more about how to start a capsule wardrobe, check out my beginners guide here!

This capsule wardrobe starter kit was created for everyday, casual style. It doesn’t include intimates, activewear, loungewear, or business wear. My intention was for this to be a guide for those who are just getting started with their capsule wardrobes and are looking to pare down their closet to the essential basics. It’s also for anyone looking to add more versatile closet staples to their wardrobe!

Let’s get to it! Here is my capsule wardrobe starter kit, including some outfit ideas to get you going!

Capsule Wardrobe Starter Kit

Many of the items in this list are items that I have curated over the years and may no longer be available for purchase. Since these are all classic basics, you can likely find something similar at your favorite retailer. Maybe some of these items are in your closet already! I will link some similar items below, if you are looking to start building or add to your closet staples.

Also, don’t forget to check secondhand or resellers like Poshmark! Many of my capsule wardrobe basics are more on the pricey side because they are the workhorses of my closet, and I need them to stand up to wear and washing. If it is financially feasible, I definitely recommend investing in some high quality items, especially shoes and handbags. You can easily find brands like Madewell, J.CREW & Free People, quality denim, shoe and handbag brands secondhand or for resell. If you really want to buy new, make sure to follow my stories on Instagram where I share the most current sales on investment pieces!

• Camel Coat
• Denim Jacket here and here
• Utility/Field Jacket (affordable alternative here)
• Neutral Cardigan
• Chunky Knit Sweater here and here
• Neutral Crewneck Sweater
• Neutral V Neck Sweater
• Chambray Shirt here and here (highly recommend opting for 100% cotton or tencel fabric here for a relaxed, lived in fit!)
• Basic Long Sleeve Tee
• Long Sleeve Stripe Tee here and here
• Basic Short Sleeve Tees (also love these)
• Short Sleeve Stripe Tee
• White button down
• White tank/cami
• T Shirt Dress here and here
• Dark Wash Denim
• Black Wash Denim
• White Wash Denim (you could also swap out white for a light wash denim!)
• Black Leggings
• Denim shorts here and here
• Black handbag
• Cognac handbag
• Neutral ankle boot
• Black ankle boot
• Neutral Flats
• White Sneaker here and here
• Neutral Sandal

Outfit Ideas

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OUTERWEAR/TOPS

BOTTOMS

SHOES/ACCESSORIES

xo, Kristen