Winter Capsule Wardrobe | 40+ Outfits from 27 Pieces
Hi, Friends! Happy Thanksgiving week! I cannot believe that we are already so close to the holiday season, I feel like 2019 JUST started! I am so excited to share my winter capsule wardrobe with you today. There was such an overwhelmingly positive response to my fall capsule wardrobe, and I hope you enjoy this one as well!
What is a capsule wardrobe?
I am sure if you just google ‘what is a capsule wardrobe?’, you could find a ton of definitions. But, since you are already here, I can help you out. You may want to check out a blog post that I wrote a few months back. There you will find a more in detail explanation about how to create a capsule wardrobe of your own!
My 2019 Winter Capsule Wardrobe
Curating a winter capsule wardrobe was so much harder than I anticipated. Mostly because winter lasts so long in New York, and I had a hard time committing to a smaller number of items. The items I pulled from my closet are perfect for a casual lifestyle. I focused on finding pieces that could be worn while doing all the tasks of my daily life – running errands, dinner with friends, casual weekend outings.
When putting together a capsule wardrobe, it is important to think about the colors and patterns you want to build upon. Make sure to include some fun accent colors as well, which you can change with the season! This winter, I focused on building my wardrobe on my favorite cream, black, and cognac neutrals. I then decided to weave some forest green color and red plaid pieces for some added texture and fun. There are a total of 27 pieces in my capsule, and I created 40 outfits to share with you today.
I plan to use my winter capsule as a guideline, rather than a rule, for the upcoming season! If you follow me on instagram, you may have heard me talk a lot about mindful shopping. Without a doubt, I will be purchasing some new clothing this season, but I plan to be cognizant of whether or not the items I purchase fit into my current lifestyle and wardrobe!
Let’s get to it! Keep reading to see my winter capsule wardrobe lineup for 2019!
OUTERWEAR
I always pay up a bit for my outerwear and shoes for the winter, since those are the items that will work the hardest in my closet.
PARKA // (XS) I absolutely adore this coat. It has a warm sherpa lining and is nice and long for those cold and windy NY winter days. The fur lining on the hood is also removable, making it a great fall/spring transition coat!
WOOL COAT // (0) This coat will last you YEARS and it is reasonably priced in my opinion. It is super warm because of the wool, but not itchy. This wool coat can also be dressed up or down.
FAUX LEATHER JACKET // (XS) I went back and forth on including this one because it is not really that warm. I do like it for the milder days in winter. It will be a great outerwear option during November and March specifically, when the temps are in the 30s + 40s.
PUFFER VEST // (XS) A staple in my closet for YEARS! I own a black and white one, and I love layering them over sweaters for a more casual, on the go, look.
SWEATERS
COATIGAN // (XS) A more recent addition to my closet. If you live in a milder climate, this might qualify as outerwear for you! For the price, this sweater is incredibly well made and comes in several great neutral colors.
NEUTRAL CARDIGAN 1 // (XS) This camel colored cardigan was part of my fall capsule wardrobe. I loved it so much I had to keep it around for winter!
NEUTRAL CARDIGAN 2 // (XS) Another neutral, because I can’t have just one! A cream colored cardigan in your closet will work ALL YEAR ROUND. If you don’t own one already, I would consider it! I actually have two different cream cardigans on purpose because I don’t like to be without one when it’s in the wash!
ACCENT CARDIGAN // (XS) I stumbled upon this forest green cardigan recently, and had to pick it up for my capsule. I was having a hard time finding an accent color layer and this one was perfect! Very soft, and I love the long length!
NEUTRAL OVERSIZED SWEATER // (XS) This sweater is an investment. If you can catch this item during a sale, I would grab it! The quality of this is so good, it will last years. Any oversized sweater would do here, though.
NEUTRAL CREWNECK 1 // (S) This was a late addition to my winter capsule! I had a hard time not buying all the colors given the affordable price.
ACCENT COLOR SWEATER // (S) You might recognize this sweater from my fall capsule wardrobe, I own it in a camel color as well!
NEUTRAL DETAILED SWEATER // (XS) I love a good winter white! This sweater reminded me of a Madewell one that I saw recently for triple the price!
ACCENT DETAILED SWEATER // (S) A good mock neck option, and it is lightweight if you live somewhere warmer!
TOPS
LONG SLEEVE TEE // (XS) any basic long sleeve will do! I tend to wear more stripes than basic black and white, so that is what I went with here.
STRIPE TEE 1 // (S) Another wardrobe staple in my opinion. They go with everything!
PLAID BUTTON DOWN // (S) I have been enjoying this top much more than I expected. I actually styled this exact one 9 different ways recently!
BOTTOMS
DARK WASH DENIM // (4R) you likely have something similar in your closet!
BLACK DENIM // (4S) I went with a legging fit so I could wear these with my over the knee boots.
SPANX FAUX LEATHER LEGGINGS // (S) These. If you don’t have them, consider saving your pennies for a pair when they go on sale. They quickly became my favorite black legging, and because of the faux leather appearance, I never feel dressed down while wearing them.
SHOES
NEUTRAL TALL BOOT // I love these ones from Target! They run TTS
OVER THE KNEE BOOT // Still shocked that I am including these! I am officially a convert. I have always been skeptical about OTK boots because I don’t think they are practical. The ones I have are under $40, so even if I don’t wear them as much as my other boots, I feel better knowing I didn’t spend a fortune.
WINTER BOOT // I use that term loosely, these are not snow boots, but a more casual wedge boot I can wear while running errands.
BLACK BOOTIE // These are an investment. I purchased them because they are WATERPROOF and can be dressed up. Highly recommend this brand, they hold up well in snow and salt!
NEUTRAL BOOTIE 1 // I linked a similar pair to my taupe pair.
NEUTRAL BOOTIE 2 // I linked a similar pair to my cognac pair, these are almost identical to the ones I have!
ACCESSORIES
NEUTRAL SCARF // I linked mine here in case it comes back in stock this season!
PLAID SCARF // I have had this classic plaid scarf for years! I love the colors, and it is a bit more dressy than my other one!
NEUTRAL BAGS // I like to keep a black and cognac bag in rotation every season! I HARDLY EVER spend money on handbags, so both mine are old and sold out. Any neutral handbag in your closet will do!
STILL LOOKING FOR
There are a few items I was hoping to include in my winter capsule wardrobe, but couldn’t find in stores. This season I will be on the hunt for a black flat boot, snow boots (I am eyeing these for Black Friday), and a midi skirt I can style in cold weather.
Whew, that was a long one! Thanks for sticking with me, friends! I will be sharing more posts featuring my winter capsule wardrobe this season…so stay tuned if you enjoy this content!
xo, Kristen
