Winter is oficially upon us.  Dressing both warm and cute can be a frustrating task, but it’s definitely doable. Creating a winter capsule wardrobe will make things a lot easier on you.

What’s a capsule wardrobe? And how do you create one? Great question! Let’s get straight to it. A capsule wardrobe is a small group of clothes that you can mix and match to create a multitude of outfits.  The benefits of a capsule wardrobe is it helps keep your closet neat and organized, it makes getting dressed easier, and it also helps you really think about an item before you purchase it.

Don’t worry about your wardrobe looking repetitive. The right mix of nice accessories and shoes will give you the options you need. Here’s the basic principles of a capsule wardrobe:

• Choose a base or neutral color (black, blue, grey, beige, etc). You can wear these over and over.
• Choose an accent color. Try to use colors within the same family (cool, warm, or bold colors)
• Be careful with prints. Printed tops will go with more than printed pants.
• Create options by changing up pieces so you can have maximum versatility. Purchase long sleeves, short sleeves, pencil skirts, cardigans, jackets, and cropped trousers.
• Avoid buying multiples of the same colors. Try not to buy multiple tops in the same color. This way you will not feel like you are wearing the same things over and over.
• Add accessories. Having a wide range of accessories will help with maximizing your wardrobe. Accessories can completely change the way an outfit looks.

A winter wardrobe capsule should consist of the following basic pieces:

• Open cardigans (at least two, neutral colors)
• Long sleeve tees (white, black, white/black striped)
• Lightweight Sweaters (at least two)
• Heavyweight Sweaters (at least two)
• Blazers (at least one in black)
• Tops (shirts/blouses, at least four)
• Skinny Jeans (blue denim (dark and lighter wash), black, winter white)
• Pencil skirts (black, gray, or navy)
• Trousers (at least two pair in black, khaki, gray, or navy)
• Dresses (at least two)
• Classic pumps (black and nude)
• Flats (black, nude, or leopard)
• Boots (black and brown)
• Sneakers
• Classic Trench Coat
• Leather Jacket
• Denim Jacket
• Puffer Vest

Once you have the basics, you can build the rest of your capsule around them.  A rule of thumb with your basics: each piece must be able to go with all of the other basic pieces.  For example, each top must work with all of your bottom pieces.

Begin with your neutral base whether that is a pair of black or khaki slacks and work your way up by adding your next layer.  That should be blouse or shirt.  Once you have your base, depending on the weather, add a nice cardigan or blazer.  Try to add color in some form to liven up your outfit.

The purpose of building your wardrobe basics, is to create a functional wardrobe. With a solid wardrobe foundation, you should be able to repurpose the same pieces over and over again. The goal of a capsule wardrobe is to cut down on shopping to add new pieces and to start shopping your own closet.