9 Pieces You Need For The Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe
From the perenially chic white shirt to the French girl favourite, a navy crew neck, get the foundations of your wardrobe right and you’ll make getting dressed in the morning so much easier. We’ve rounded up the 9 ultimate capsule wardrobe pieces you need to make your wardrobe work harder this season and beyond.
A Classic White Shirt
The power of a great white shirt knows no bounds, whether you’re pairing it with jeans at the weekend, over a bikini on the beach or with tailored trousers for an important meeting. On the high street, we love COS – their oversized cuts belie their reasonable price tag. For the mid-range, it has to be With Nothing Underneath – with an almost exclusive range dedicated to just shirts, these guys know what they’re doing when it comes to the wardrobe hero. And for the ultimate investment? Victoria Beckham‘s crisp white cotton shirt with a dropped dagger collar is one to treasure forever.
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A Great Blazer
Add polish to all your looks, from weekend denim to evening slip dresses, with a well-cut blazer. Go oversized to keep things looking more ‘fashion editor’ than ‘boardroom attire’ and stick to neutral shades of navy, camel or taupe to ensure it grounds just about everything in your wardrobe.
Blazé Milano is at the top of our dream investment list, but if you’re looking at the high street, & Other Stories releases their oversized boxy cut every season, and it’s an absolute winner.
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Wide-Leg Tailored Trousers
A great pair of tailored trousers will service times when your wardrobe needs you to look polished and pulled together, even if you pair them with colour-pop trainers.
On the high street, we love M&S’s chocolate brown pair and for the ultimate cut, invest in Toteme’s pleat-front pants. If your budget lies somewhere in between, Marcela London is an unknown gem to bookmark. Their pintuck, wide-leg trousers give Saint Laurent vibes at a mid-market price point.
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Perfect-Cut T-Shirts
The perfect fit on a T-shirt can make or break a look. On the high street, we love ARKET for their substantial cotton and stiff crew necks. If you’re after something more spenny, James Perse is the master of the slub tee – those things are so soft on the skin you’ll want to sleep in them. And for £££, look to Toteme for the perfect baggy tee – long and with arms that hit just above the elbow.
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Simple Straight-Leg Jeans
One foundation of all the French fashion editors? Great denim. Keep things simple with a classic straight-leg and build from there, whether paired with a Breton, simple white tee or going-out top.
On the high street, Abercrombie has some of the best cuts and washes we’ve seen, but if you’re after something on the more expensive side, look to Agolde, who use premium materials, organic denim, and personally fit-test each design to ensure the cut is just right.
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MID-RANGE
A Neutral Knit
When you live in the UK, investing in knitwear is a must. Whilst The Row is the absolute dream when it comes to the perfect chunky grey knit, there are so many great mid-range brands doing homegrown, sustainable knits well. Case in point: Navygrey and their near-perfect jumpers. Trust us when we say you will find your new favourite jumper via them.
For something more affordable, Uniqlo’s cashmere range is stellar. Top tip: shop the men’s department for longer-length sleeves and a cooler cut.
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A Versatile Little Black Dress
For decades, the LBD has reigned supreme for after-hours dressing and with good reason. The simple colour palette will work as a base for many a look, whether you want to go statement with colour-pop accessories and shoes or keep it pared back and elegant with simple hair and makeup.
Fit and length are really up to you – the right LBD is meant to make you feel like the best version of you – so choose whatever makes you feel confident. We love a midi length in a slinky fabric, so you can double up and use it as a skirt with a chunky knit in the cooler months.
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A Great Winter Coat
When you live in the UK and commute to work, you spend a lot of time in a coat, so better make it a good one. On the high street, we love Zara, Massimo Dutti and H&M – Top tip: their best ones always sell out at the start of the season so act fast. Mid-range, Jigsaw do some beautiful cuts and wool blends to ensure you feel pulled together but stay warm. And if you’re looking for a lifetime coat, you can’t go wrong with the iconic Max Mara camel coat.
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Long Sleeve Base Layers
Trust us when we say this will become one of the hardest-working pieces in your wardrobe during this cold spell. A fine, soft-to-skin, long-sleeved base layer may not be the most fun new-season buy, but it is worth its weight in gold.
They look great tucked into wide-leg tailored trousers and baggy denim or peeking out beneath a denim or white shirt. They are also a great way to protect your knitwear – layer underneath to ensure you don’t have to wash precious jumpers as often.
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