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Fall Capsule Wardrobe Essentials

The scorching hot days of summer have come to an end and it’s time to start dressing for cooler fall days. Today I am sharing my top picks for this year’s Fall Capsule Wardrobe Essentials that will keep you cozy and comfortable well into winter.

Fall capsule essentials: Neutral sweater, distressed jeans.

As fall begins, and the weather changes it’s time to adjust your wardrobe to the season. While you may be tempted to buy all new pieces, a more affordable and stylish option is to create a fall capsule wardrobe. This involves selecting a few key essentials that can be mixed and matched to create many different outfits.

Today I’m sharing my favorite picks for creating an autumn capsule wardrobe based on timeless essentials that will help you look pulled together and stylish every day, with very little effort.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

“A capsule wardrobe is a carefully selected collection of clothing items that are easy to coordinate.”

Lauren Tingley @simplywellbalanced

My objectives when I create my mini-wardrobes for each season are:

  • Save time getting dressed in the morning because I am not overwhelmed by choices
  • Reduce closet clutter by only having items that I wear frequently during that season
  • Save money by not buying clothes all year. I create my capsule then stop.

If you are looking to learn more about the benefits of a minimalist wardrobe you can check out my Ultimate Guide to Capsule Wardrobes.

The big takeaway is that you really can save yourself a lot of time and money by choosing versatile pieces and closet staples. You will be amazed at the endless outfit combinations you can create from fewer items when you are intentional with your purchases.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe Inspiration

A collection of four stylish Fall outfits, all made with pieces from a simple Fall capsule wardrobe.

Pinterest is always my first stop when creating my seasonal capsules.

Living in a small town, it is helpful to go online to be inspired with new color combinations and styles.

While my closet essentials are all black, grey and tan I like to add a bit of color and pattern to avoid looking exactly the same every day.

This simple fall collection was inspired by the grey, olive green, and blush color palette in the image above.

Sticking to neutral colors and timeless classics is always my best advice for creating a fall capsule wardrobe.

This allows you to mix and match items easily without having to think too much about it.

I also recommend focusing on quality over quantity.

It is better to have a few, high-quality pieces in your closet that will last you for years, than a bunch of cheap items that will fall apart before winter.

Top Fall Capsule Wardrobe Picks for 2023

What's included in a Fall capsule wardrobe? Here are some must-have items for a simple Fall capsule wardrobe for busy moms.

This guide is meant to help busy moms create fall outfits fast.

The pieces suggested would work great for a stay-at-home mom, work-from-home moms, or anyone who can get away with a casual look during the work day.

The best part is that you can select pieces to express your own personal style while using classic staples to create a cohesive wardrobe with endless outfit ideas.

I have included numbers next to each of the wardrobe staples I have listed below, but this is just a suggestion to get you started. The grand total is 21 items if you were to follow it exactly.

I currently have approximately 40 items hanging in my closet because my capsule also contains many of the basics that I wear year round.

Outerwear

With cooler temperatures and some blustery days ahead, the fall season is the perfect time to invest in a quality coat or jacket that will last for years.

Lightweight Coat with a Hood (1)

For those blustery fall days, you need something to keep you warm and dry. A lightweight jacket is a fall wardrobe staple that you will use throughout the cooler months. We suggest a jacket with a hood in case of rain or strong winds.

Denim Jacket (1)

Versatile and classic a denim jacket is the perfect item to include in your minimalist wardrobe. A great layering piece to pair with a graphic t-shirt and white sneakers or faux leather leggings and tall boots. I also love a denim jacket because you really can wear it any time of year, so it’s a great staple piece with classic style.

Tops

A combo of lightweight and heavy tops are perfect for layering for your Fall Capsule. Focus on neutrals and stripes that are easy to mix and match.

Long Sleeve Tops (4)

Perfect for layering under outwear or sweaters, or wear them on their own.

Tunics (3)

I am a huge fan of tunics for the fall and winter. They are the perfect layering piece to throw over a pair of leggings or skinny jeans.

Knit Sweaters (4)

Faux wraps, long cardigans, and lightweight knits are perfect for the cooler days of fall

Bottoms

Black Leggings (2)

Perfect to pair with a tunic or with a summer dress to transition to fall.

Dark Denim (2)

Never underestimate the power of a good pair of jeans. Dark wash jeans are a classic for any minimalist closet. While dark blue or black jeans are easy dress up for an evening out or dress down for a casual fall day. While jean trends come and go, I recommend sticking with the classic cut of straight leg jeans which will stand the test of time.

Colored Denim (1)

I only have 1 pair of colored denim. You’ll want to choose something neutral that will still allow you to mix and match to create multiple outfits

Accessories

Scarves (3)

Truth be told scarves are basically the only accessory I wear. They are perfect for fall because they can keep you warm without the bulk of a jacket.

How to Build a Fall Capsule Wardrobe

The perfect Fall Capsule Wardrobe Items - jeans, a cable knit sweater, sunglasses, a hat, and casual sneakers.

When creating your own fall capsule wardrobe it is up to you to decide what will work best for you.

Personally, I follow a very loose guide when creating my seasonal capsules.

I allow any items that I can wear year-round to stay, and I don’t limit myself to a specific number of items in my closet.

Instead, I just make sure that the clothing coordinates easily and that I don’t keep items in my closet for storage purposes or for “but I might” moments.

Sticking to neutral colors and timeless classics is always my best advice for creating a fall capsule wardrobe.

This allows you to mix and match items easily without having to think too much about it.

I also recommend focusing on quality over quantity.

It is better to have a few, high quality pieces in your closet that will last you for years, than a bunch of cheap items that will fall apart before winter.

If this is your first time creating a capsule wardrobe, you may want to start by going through your closet and sorting clothes into 3 categories:

  • Never wear it
  • Like it
  • Love it

Right off the bat you should donate anything in the “never wear it” category.

Next take inventory of what remains in your “love it” pile.

Notice any gaps you may need to fill with basics. Also take note of what you love about those items – the fit, the fabric, color palette, or how you feel when you wear those clothes.

The goal of a minimalist wardrobe is not to have a closet packed with clothes, but instead an intentional collection of clothing that you love and makes getting dressed easy and stress free.

I find that what works best for me is to have enough clothing to only need to do laundry once a week, but not so much that my closet becomes cluttered or that I have trouble finding items to wear.

How many pieces are in a fall capsule?

There is no set number of clothing items that you must have in your fall capsule wardrobe.

I like to keep my fall capsule around 40 pieces, which includes clothes, shoes, outerwear, and accessories.

This usually means I have about 20 tops, 12 bottoms, and the rest are dresses, jackets, shoes, etc.

While some purists believe a capsule needs to be under a certain number of items, I believe the key is to only keep items in your closet that you love and that you will actually wear.

A fall capsule wardrobe should make getting dressed easy and stress-free, not be a source of anxiety because you can’t find anything to wear.

There you have it mama! A quick and easy way to keep your closet clutter-free with a casual fall capsule wardrobe.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe Essentials: How to build a simple capsule wardrobe with some essential pieces like denim, jackets, scarves, and more.

We would love to hear from you! Have you tried a capsule wardrobe yet?

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