Starting a capsule wardrobe is a great way to stay organized, save time getting ready, reduce your environmental impact, and save money all year round. It’s pretty life-changing. Typically, the base clothing items in a capsule wardrobe remain constant throughout the year. However, it’s important to augment your capsule wardrobe with seasonal pieces every three months or so. Doing so will ensure your wardrobe is equipped with all the clothing items you need to stay comfortable—and fashionable—all year round. After all, having to create outfits from the same set of pieces during the summer as you do during the winter would prove to be a bit of a challenge.
Now that fall is coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about which pieces to include in your capsule wardrobe for the wintertime. Below, we have listed some of the must-have clothing items to include in a winter capsule wardrobe to help you put together your wardrobe for the snowy season.
Tops
During the winter, it’s essential to have a variety of cozy tops to keep you warm. The number of tops you include will depend on your style, needs, and the total number of clothing items you try to adhere to for your capsule wardrobe. However, to stay comfortable throughout the colder months of the year, include at least one of each of these items in your winter capsule wardrobe.
Long-Sleeve Shirts for Layering
During the colder months of the year, wearing multiple layers is one of the best ways to stay warm. As such, it’s a good idea to include a few long-sleeve shirts, such as boutique tunics, in a thinner material that you can layer underneath cardigans or sweaters when you need a bit of extra warmth. Plus, these shirts are nice to have under heavier pieces when it’s cold outside but warm inside. That way, you can strip away thick outer layers or put them back on to adjust to the temperature of whatever environment you’re in.
T-Shirts
In addition to long-sleeve shirts, you’ll also likely want to have a few T-shirts dedicated to layering. These short-sleeve tops will serve as nice bases under heavier pieces, or you can wear them alone on days when you plan to spend most of your time indoors.
Cardigans
Cardigans are perfect for layering over other pieces and easy to take on and off when you’re going from cold outdoor environments to warm indoor spaces. If you live in a particularly cold environment, you may want to consider including a longer knee- or floor-length cardigan that will provide more warmth.
Chunky Sweaters
Chunky sweaters are cold-weather staples you simply must have in your winter capsule wardrobe—but we probably didn’t need to tell you that. After all, few things are better than snuggling up in a cozy sweater on a cold winter day
Long-Sleeve Button-Down
When you need to polish your look during the wintertime, long-sleeve button-downs are great clothing articles to have on hand. These staple pieces look sleek and elegant when worn with a nice pair of trousers, or they can add an extra touch of style to an outfit when you wear them under sweaters and let the collar peek out.
Bottoms
These full-coverage bottom clothing options will help keep your legs nice and toasty during the colder months of the year.
Jeans
A pair of jeans or two likely already have a place in your capsule wardrobe. If by some chance you’ve made it by without this versatile staple piece during the warmer seasons of the year, make sure to add a pair into rotation for the colder winter months.
Trousers
You should also have a spot saved for a pair of trousers in your winter capsule wardrobe. A nicer pair of pants will help you dress up your outfits a bit more when a pair of jeans just doesn't cut it.
Leggings
If you enjoy wearing skirts and dresses, a pair of leggings is a must-have in your winter capsule wardrobe. On cold-weather days, leggings will provide the extra warmth and coverage you need under shorter clothing articles.
Dresses
If you enjoy wearing dresses, there’s no reason why the cold weather should prevent you from expressing your style. Below, we’ve listed a couple types of dresses that are particularly well-suited to the wintertime.
Sweater Dress
Sweater dresses are incredibly comfortable and perfect for winter. Their thick material will help keep you warm in cold weather.
Maxi Dress
In addition to sweater dresses, maxi dresses are also great options for people who enjoy wearing dresses year-round. The longer length of maxi dresses will provide you with the extra coverage and warmth you need to stay comfortable despite low temperatures.
Shoes
To keep your feet warm and your outfits looking stylish from head to toe, make sure to include these essential footwear items in your winter capsule wardrobe.
Snow Boots
If you live in a cold environment where high quantities of snowfall are common during the winter, it’s important to include a pair of snow boots to keep your feet protected from the elements.
Fashionable Boots
In addition to a durable pair of snow boots that will keep your feet warm and dry on particularly cold days, it’s also a good idea to have a few pairs of more fashionable boots in your closet. The type of boots you’ll want to include in your winter capsule wardrobe will largely depend on your style. Below are some examples of stylish winter boot options to choose from:
- Ankle booties
- Combat boots
- Riding boots
- Over-the-knee boots
Clothing Items To Remove from Your Capsule Wardrobe in the Winter…
Now that we’ve talked about which clothing items to include in a winter capsule wardrobe, it’s time to discuss a few that you shouldn’t. Having a capsule wardrobe is all about simplifying and reducing your wardrobe to only the essentials. As such, it doesn't make sense to have a bunch of warm-weather pieces taking up precious space in your winter capsule wardrobe. To make more room and avoid excess clutter, make sure to remove these items that generally don’t belong in a winter capsule wardrobe:
- Shorts
- Short skirts
- Tank tops
- Crop tops
- Open-toed shoes
We hope this guide helps you put together the perfect capsule wardrobe. If you’re missing any of the items on this list, shop Cozi Bear Boutique to find amazing winter wardrobe staples you’re sure to love!
