A minimal winter capsule wardrobe
I know winter has arrived when I see a glittering frost on the fields outside my bedroom window. It’s a beautiful sight.
It signifies the time for boots, tights, oversized cosy sweaters and it’s every excuse I need to not leave the house unless I have to. Capsule wardrobe wise, winter is a big season for me. I usually find myself making some tweaks in spring and autumn but winter and summer always require a bigger audit.
I’ve had to have a few honest conversations with myself this time around. There are pieces I’ve been hanging onto when I know it’s time for us to part ways. The more I learn about climate change the less I want to let go of anything because I’m so conscious of my waste, but I know the items I’ve decluttered are better off with someone who will use them. The items I couldn’t sell or donate because they’d been worn out have spurred me on to buy new items that will last even longer.
With the end of the year looming and a new decade imminent I want to go into 2020 with a solid wardrobe foundation. My wardrobe goal is always to make my life simple, help me feel as confident as I can and spend as little time choosing what to wear as possible. I’ve said goodbye to those misfit pieces now and I feel a lot lighter for it. In the end I decluttered seven items and added 5 new pieces after six months of no clothes purchases.
Post overhaul, this is what I’ll be wearing on repeat this winter. You’ll notice the colour palette is simple so everything goes together and there are a lot of mix and match options. The more outfits I can get out of a few items the better.
This list contains affiliate links marked * and gifted items which are also clearly marked
Sweater (gifted) – I’m head over heels with how cosy this sweater is. It’s made from recycled yarn too, so gets bonus points for that. I’m looking forward to wearing it again and again with a thermal vest, top or dress underneath.
Turtle neck jersey (similar) – this is the ideal base for layering because it’s closely fitted with a high neck and long sleeves. I wish I’d got one in a lighter colour too.
Long sleeve tee (gifted) – sometimes the simplest pieces are the best no? This top is soft, cosy and never lets me down. It’s also quite thick so it scores highly on the warmth scale.
Waterproof Coat (sold out but from Elvine) – this is my go to coat for the entire winter. It feels as though you’re wrapped in a sleeping bag when you have it on. I tested it out in Lapland’s -12 temperatures last week and it held up a treat.
Straight jeans* – these are a new purchase and I’ve worn them most days since. Ideally, I wanted a pair of vintage jeans but I couldn’t find any that fit and the Redone ones I had my eye on were out of my budget. You always know you made the right decision when you wear something on repeat from the day you buy it.
Wool trousers* – I think I’m going to get a belt for these at some point so they nip my waist in a bit more but I just love the wide leg. I have them in black and grey and wear them with thermal tights when it gets really cold.
Long sleeve stripe tee (similar) – my wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without stripes. I think I feature this tee in every single season. It’s a firm favourite.
Oversized sweater (similar) – definitely not the most flattering piece I own but still one of my favourites. I like to wear it with something more fitted on the bottom so I don’t like like a bug in a rug. I really like it paired with the straight jeans.
Chunky cardigan – like a warm hug, I couldn’t be without this. It’s the perfect shade of grey too.
Wool Coat* – I like wearing this with dresses and on days when it isn’t raining. I’ve come to prefer a big long coat because they’re an outfit all by themselves. The less I have to think about when it comes to outfit curation the better.
Long sleeve dress – another new purchase. I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for a long sleeve dress for a while now but it’s taken some time to find the right one. Being 5ft 2 I can look like I’m drowning in this sort of thing but I’ve gone for a midi length so I’m showing some ankle and a high waistline to give me some shape. I’m looking forward to wearing this underneath a sweater with boots and tights.
Pinafore (Similar – I bought this but worked with Nadinoo earlier this year) – I wore this a lot over the summer with bare legs but I’m looking forward to wearing it with thermal tights in the winter. It’s so versatile I can throw it over any of the tees and add a sweater or a cardigan on top.
High neck sweater – another sweater? Go on then. Cosy sweaters are my go to winter uniform. I bought this in Sweden last autumn and I’ve worn it on repeat since. It’s sold out now but I’d highly recommend Levete Room for knitwear and you can usually find some on trouva.
Mittens – I bought these in St Anton when we were skiing last year and they are WARM. Whenever warmth is my priority I try to go for a brand which specialises in ski wear or is based in a cold country.
Beret (similar) – we can add this to the list of clothes my husband hates but I couldn’t care less. I’m still getting to grips with how to style it but I love this thing.
Cross body bag* – still coming out for a fancier occasion (a pub dinner) is this little gem.
Backpack (similar) – this has overtaken my black shopper bag now as my everyday go to. It’s done wonderful things for my shoulder pain and I can fit everything in there.
Trainers – the canvas pair I had finally gave way. These are a sturdier alternative (but still vegan!) I’m hoping will last for years to come.
Brogues – I think these are the fanciest shoes I plan to wear this winter. Typing this, I just realised two out of my four pairs of shoes are from Will’s vegan shoes. They have the best collection of classic shoes and are all sustainably made using vegan materials.
Chelsea boots – I’m shocked these have lasted this long. We’re in our fifth year together now and they’re showing zero signs of wear. Not bad for fast fashion vegan leather (they were from Kurt Geiger). They’re sold out now but these are a great alternative.
Rain boots* (gifted) – I wear tall wellies at the yard in winter but these are my ‘no horse poo’ pair. I love that they’re short because I think it makes them more versatile and less of an ordeal to get on.
What are you looking forward to wrapping yourself up in this winter?
If you’re feeling curious about what your version of a year round capsule wardrobe looks like, my how to build a year round capsule wardrobe ebook is designed to help you find out step by step. You can find out more and read what people have to say about it below.
