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The 10 key staples every capsule wardrobe needs
You’re doing your bit for the planet, right? Recycling, donating unwanted bits to charity and drinking coffee from a cute reusable cup, but have you managed to reign in those fast fashion habits?
Many of us are guilty as charged: and it’s no secret that Red’s fashion team love shopping. When you write about clothes for a living, it’s hard not to. So, since browsing is pretty much unavoidable for us, we’ve vowed to at least be smarter about it.
When starting to build a capsule wardrobe you want to invest in quality pieces that can easily be mixed-and-matched and kept in constant rotation. The theory being that once you stop being enslaved to trends, the sustainability part will naturally follow.
Thrifting at vintage shops, though fun, can encourage a sense of must-buy panic. You know, that feeling that you might miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if you don’t snap something up immediately.
Luckily, there are ways around this. You can now rent modern and even current-season clothing, thanks to rental and swapping sites such as Hurr, By Rotation and My Wardrobe HQ (read our honest reviews of them all here). If buying something new gives you a real dopamine hit, this is definitely a route worth exploring. But, remember, renting clothes still involves delivery and dry cleaning fees, so try to avoid mass hauls and choose wisely.
There’s also a myriad of brands out there doing their best to balance the harmful effects of fast fashion (some of our favourites include Reformation, Free People, Bite Studios and Nobody's Child). Of course, it’s still important to be mindful when purchasing. It’s all very well treating yourself to a gorgeous bias-cut sundress made from dead-stock fabric, but if you only wear it a handful of times per year, that’s also not exactly sustainable is it?
The other solution? I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before, but a capsule wardrobe really is king. Once you’ve nailed that neat little edit, it should make life easier (perhaps even gaining you that extra hit of snooze each morning), as well as being kinder to your bank balance. Plus, let’s face it, the effortlessness it exudes feels very chic.
The best bit about building a capsule wardrobe is that you can dip a toe in and still make a difference. If you’ve ever heard of Livia Firth’s company Eco-Age and its #30wears mission, you’ll know that making use of your clothing is what counts. Since we can’t all afford to be decked out in dense wool coats and crisp cotton shirts from the likes of Max Mara and The Row, that usually means shopping on the high street.
Going forward, besides working with what we’ve already got (the most sustainable item in your wardrobe is the one you already own), we plan to shop sensibly. We’ll be buying more black for easy styling and considering how many ways we can wear a piece before even thinking about adding it to our baskets.
For now, start carefully curating those essentials. It helps to know where to begin, of course, so we’ve rounded up the five basic building blocks of a solid capsule wardrobe right here...
How to build a capsule wardrobe
The slip dress
Oh, the faithful slip! This bias-cut dress will serve you in so many ways, especially in a demure ankle-length, which balances the lingerie vibes. Layer yours over white T-shirts and turtleneck knits, or wear it solo under a blazer. Team it with trainers during the day, then switch to heels in the evening. Throw on a cashmere crewneck or oversized jumper and, voila, you have your very own slip skirt.
Ghost’s black midi is super versatile thanks to its thicker straps which create a sporty vibe. AllSaints’ 2-in-1 design is even more handy with its accompanying cropped jumper – you can wear the slip solo, layered up to create a skirt, or style the knit separately.
The straight-leg jeans
It’s no surprise really, that we had to include a pair of jeans in our capsule wardrobe edit. In recent years, we have even incorporated more dark wash denims and indigo blue shades into our evening and workwear wardrobes – they can be easily elevated with crisp white shirts or slinky camisoles.
While wide-leg, flared styles are en vogue this season, for a truly timeless take on denim, opt for a slimmer, straight-leg silhouette. That way you’ll be able to wear your jeans with everything from smart ballet pumps to more casual white trainers.
The Breton top
The epitome of French girl chic, the Breton top has maintained its status as a capsule wardrobe staple since the early 20th century. It’s a firm wardrobe go-to for Red’s Fashion team, too. We’re wearing them tucked into cigarette trousers and loafers à la Audrey Hepburn at the office and layering them under knitted vests for a more casual vibe on the weekend.
The crossbody bag
The crossbody bag is a firm favourite of Red’s Editor-in-Chief Sarah Tomczak. And it’s not hard to see why. We’re all for a hands-free commute when we’re rushing to the office, out for a weekend with the kids or jetting of on a summer holiday. All our picks of the best crossbody bags are secure and easy to wear with just about anything. Plus, we love how luxe the additional gold hardware looks!
The white T-shirt
Every woman needs a hard-working white T-shirt – or several – in her capsule wardrobe. This jersey basic is no longer reserved for casual weekends. You can layer it underneath slip dresses, let it tone-down tailoring and team it with jeans and heels (this is basically Jennifer Aniston and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s LA uniform).
The perfect-fitting white T-shirt isn’t a myth, but it is subjective. When it comes to versatility though, go for a slim-but-not-skin-tight cut (they’re the true layering heroes). Our favourites this season come from high street star Arket and the ever-reliable Cos.
The denim dress
To work as a transitional staple, your wear-everywhere denim dress should have a midi hemline. Aligne is the king of denim and drops a new iteration of its best-selling pinafore style every season. While the long sleeved, zip-front Gabriella dress is still a firm favourite, we love the brand’s new take on the denim trend with its asymmetric hemline, boxy short sleeves and patch pockets.
You’ll wear this capsule wardrobe hero to the office with loafers or smart trainers, in the summer with flat mules, and in the winter with knee-high boots. It can be layered under a knitted vest when you need warmth, and easily elevated with lashings of gold jewellery. True desk-to-dinner stuff.
The trench coat
While we must admit, you might need a thicker coat in the winter months, a trench coat is a great all-year-round, capsule wardrobe staple. Steer clear of bright colours and opt for classic beige iterations instead – we love M&S’ cropped take on the traditional trench and Cos’ pretty-yet-practical hooded version.
The ballet flats
If you find trainers too causal, invest in a staple pair of ballet flats to add to your capsule wardrobe. When shopping, look out for sturdy soles and opt for leather versions to ensure they’ll see you through many seasons to come.
We always recommend sticking to more neutral shades when it comes to accessorising (think black, camel, white and cream). And, while mesh ballet pumps are the shoe du jour for 2024, a classic Mary Jane or ballerina is likely to stand the test of time in your forever wardrobe.
The oversized jumper
Knowing the UK weather, a turtleneck is a must-have even in spring (Victoria Beckham styles hers with everything from cigarette pants to pleated midi skirts). But in general, anything oversized with a longline hem will do. An oversized knit is not only practical, but it also provides another tool with which to layer. Slip one over a dress and you've created a relaxed two piece, or swap one in for a blazer to tone down tailored pants.
The trouser suit
If you didn’t already know, the trouser suit is back in a big way. Invest in a decent cut and you can wear the separates as well as the set. Whistles’ three-piece suit is ideal, but you only really need two of those components for a capsule wardrobe: the double-breasted blazer can be styled over slinky evening dresses or as part of a trusty-jeans-and-heels combo, while the wide-leg trousers look great with a slouchy jumper and trainers.
For those who just don’t do suits, ease yourself into the trend with a black blazer. The style set love this tailored jacket’s ability to smarten up everyday outfits like jeans, joggers, midi dresses and even leggings.
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