After an unseasonably warm October, Autumn has flown by in the UK. We've suddenly been plunged into cold weather and I've reluctantly accepted that winter is here—like it or not! It's now time to think about what outfits to wear during the cold season and put together a capsule wardrobe for winter 2024.
How many pieces in a winter capsule wardrobe?
Capsule wardrobes usually have around 30-40 items. This provides enough variation that over 1000 outfits can be styled, preventing a capsule wardrobe from becoming boring or overly repetitive. But what's most important is that a capsule works for you.
Pick the most versatile items you own, expect to wear the most, and know how to style well. But don't be afraid to dip into the rest of your wardrobe if you find yourself wanting to wear something else!
What should I put in my winter capsule wardrobe?
Items to put in your winter capsule wardrobe include: a warm coat, cosy knitwear, long sleeve tops or shirts, comfy trousers or jeans, long skirts and dresses, and boots. While winter accessories, such as a hat, scarf, and gloves, aren't counted as part of a capsule wardrobe, you'll definitely need them during winter!
What items you put in a winter capsule wardrobe depends on where you live, what your job is, and your personal style. So tweak this list and use my seasonal capsule guides to help put together your own winter wardrobe.
A Winter Capsule Wardrobe 2024
Outerwear
Dresses
Knitwear
Tops
Bottoms
Bags
Shoes
Jewellery
This is an example of a winter capsule wardrobe for 2024 created using my current wardrobe. To see how I style these clothes, follow me on TikTok for outfit videos and styling tips.
My Winter Capsule Wardrobe 2023
I really enjoyed wearing my autumn capsule wardrobe. I wrote a little bit about how my style has become more playful this year and I've embraced that both in what I wear and the jewellery I make. The new arrivals reflect the change from simple to bold while maintaining a minimalist style.
I got sucked into the world of capsule wardrobes and fell hard for minimalist monochromatic outfits. Following all the decluttering tips and style guides, I stripped my wardrobe right back to the basics. A decade later and I'm bored.
While I love an all-black outfit and the soft-goth aesthetic, wearing the same thing day after day gets far too repetitive. A successful capsule wardrobe should support your personal style—not strip it away! And most capsule advice encourages you to do just that.
Every capsule wardrobe guide online offers a list of "wardrobe basics" that "everyone must have" and the same items feature on all of them: a white t-shirt, classic jeans, a blazer or trench coat, and sneakers.
If you want to look stylish but you're not interested in personal style then these lists are great. They provide a way of putting together a wardrobe that looks cohesive and makes getting dressed easy. The unfortunate result is that everyone ends up dressing the same.
If you feel the same way, that a capsule wardrobe isn't for you because the clothes don't suit your personal style—read my style guides. I can teach you how to create a capsule wardrobe that isn't boring using clothes you'll actually wear.
On to my winter capsule wardrobe! Despite all that's been said about switching from a monochrome wardrobe to a more maximalist capsule... This winter I'm bringing back the all-black outfits—with an update.
Inspired by my winter style moodboard, I want to add a streak of colour to my outfits to keep them interesting during the long, cold, and dark months. I'm doing this with accessories: statement jewellery and eye-catching bags.
Gingham dresses, lime green bags, and charm jewellery—particularly layering rings and bold necklaces—all feature heavily in my outfit inspiration. I'm putting together a wardrobe wishlist to think over purchases, and if I need to make any I'll definitely be thrifting before buying new!