How to build a capsule wardrobe for 2024

Life-changing.

Gladys Lai and Jonah Waterhouse

6 min read

February 9, 2022 - 6:59PM

Fashion

Don't miss out on the headlines from Fashion. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Life-changing.

Vogue Australia may receive advertising or affiliate commission if you buy through our links. Read more here.

This article is part of the inaugural Vogue Essentials Week. All week, Vogue will be celebrating the items that make up our wardrobes and sharing with you the best edits of each.

In the minds of fashion lovers, there’s no thrill quite like buying a shiny new piece of clothing, and taking it for a spin before slotting it dutifully into your wardrobe. However, shopping for new clothes presents its own set of dilemmas: how much wear will I get out of this item? Is it something I really need, or something I just ‘wanted’? Put simply, the concept of a capsule wardrobe is the perfect solution.

You might’ve heard the term ‘capsule’ wardrobe before and balked with confusion, but it’s much more simple than it sounds. Put simply, the concept means dividing your wardrobe into sets of unique, high quality and classic pieces to create ‘capsules’, which can be curated interchangeably to create several different ideal looks. If you commit to the concept of a ‘capsule’ wardrobe and do it effectively, it’ll create the bare bones of a wardrobe that you can work off, help you save money and transform the way you dress and approach personal styling—and save you the decision fatigue.

By dividing your wardrobe into capsules—things like blazers, trousers, jeans and shoes for different occasions and terrains that are easily mixed and matched—the basis of your wardrobe is sorted, and you’ll seldom be left without anything to wear. Our suggestion would be investing in pieces with classic shapes and subtle colour hues that you’ll never tire of, like black and white, or neutral colours, and using them as wardrobe building blocks for more colourful and trendy items—say, a bold scarf, Y2K tank top, bright shoe, or vividly-coloured T-shirt.

If you follow this formula and rarely stray outside it when buying new clothes, your wardrobe will take on a whole new level of versatility, and you’ll wonder where the ‘capsule wardrobe’ concept has been your entire life.

Shop Vogue’s edit of the autumn essentials worth adding to cart here.

How to build a capsule wardrobe in 2024

Keep reading for the building block items you need to create a capsule wardrobe, and Vogue’s edit of the ideal pieces to shop.

The fluid trouser

As mentioned before, subtle colour choices are preferential when purchasing investment pieces, but with things like trousers, there’s room to have fun. Perhaps invest in a pair with a flowy, billowing cut and cool linen or canvas fabric, or something more tailored to wear over a white button up, which are key to building a capsule wardrobe.

Shop Vogue’s guide to the best trousers here.

SHOP NOW: Matteau organic cotton-blend twill wide-leg pants, $540 from Net-a-Porter

SHOP NOW:Loulou Studio Hamil twill wide-leg pants, $306 (originally $510) from The Outnet

SHOP NOW: The Frankie Shop charcoal gelso-pleated pants, $301.21 from Net-A-Porter

The puffer jacket

For cool-weather climes, there’s eternal power in a puffer jacket, and like the majority of other items on this list, it’s something you’ll own for a lifetime. Pick your poison and start your winter capsule wardrobe off with a bang.

Shop Vogue’s guide to the best puffer jackets here.

SHOP NOW: Stand Studio black Tracy down jacket, $324 (originally $635) from Ssense

SHOP NOW: JacandMooki Sports Puffer, $150 (originally $199) from The Iconic

SHOP NOW: Paloma Wool Khaki Otter Puffer Coat, $590 from Ssense

The jeans that fit like trousers

Jeans are like favourite foods: everyone has something different. Your jeans should represent the style you most enjoy wearing, but when shopping for your capsule wardrobe, you should ponder the question: will I still enjoy these jeans, in this cut, a few years down the line, and how will they go with the other clothes in my closet?

SHOP NOW: Levi’s 501 original jeans, $149.95 from The Iconic

SHOP NOW: Ganni cropped high-rise straight-leg jeans, $140 from The Outnet

The longline trench coat

With the durable qualities of a blazer but more accommodating, trench coats can be thrown over practically any piece of clothing you own, and still have the power to look chic. Australians might seldom find the need for a thick, woollen trench coat, so we’d suggest investing in one that carries a lighter fabric composition, while still having body-warming properties.

Shop Vogue’s guide to the best trench coats here.

SHOP NOW: & Other Stories relaxed trench coat, $299 fromThe Iconic

SHOP NOW: The Cotton Long Trench Coat, $307 (originally $521) from Everlane

The everyday black dress

There’s eternal power in an easy black dress that manages to impress, while also putting comfort and wearability as priorities. Australian brands have nailed this formula; think flowy maxis by Matteau that are tailored for movement, or Lee Mathews’ cotton smock dress that’s the perfect mix of chic and comfortable for understated events and can be couple with a variety of shoes and accessories—especially if you go on to build a summer capsule wardrobe.

SHOP NOW: Gathered Drop Waist Dress, $660 from Matteau

SHOP NOW: Stella Silk Satin Slip Dress, $549 from Lee Matthews

SHOP NOW: Minima Esenciales Loretta ruched maxi dress, $70 (originally $260) from The Iconic

The versatile sandal

Shoes you can easily slip on before leaving the house will revolutionise your footwear wardrobe. Australian brand A.Emery’s strappy sandals are a go-to, while JW Anderson’s buckle-toed slip-ons are fast becoming a new classic for any curated wardrobe. Take it step by step.

Shop Vogue’s guide to the best summer footwear here.

SHOP NOW: A.Emery Jalen leather sandals, $318 from Net-a-Porter

SHOP NOW: Mio Sandals, $279 from St. Agni

SHOP NOW: Birkenstock Boston, $220 from The Iconic

The slim sneaker

Sneakers are one of the easiest ways to express your personality through fashion, but there are other methods to conveying your of-the-moment tastes without accidentally investing in shoes you’ll tire of. It’s nearly impossible to go wrong with a pair of ‘dad’-style New Balances or Vejas, while Alexander McQueen’s moon boot-style platform sneakers have the Olsen Twin tick of approval (that’s fashion-speak for ‘you won’t ever want to stop wearing them’).

Shop Vogue’s guide to the best designer sneakers here.

SHOP NOW: Maison Margiela panelled lace-up sneakers, $510 from Farfetch

SHOP NOW: Samba OG shoes, $180 from Adidas

SHOP NOW: Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66, $200 from The Iconic

The easy black pump

An older version of yourself will thank yourself for investing in heels you’ll never want to part ways with. If you purchase the right ones, they’ll work just as masterfully with a cocktail dress as they will with jeans and a white T-shirt.

SHOP NOW: 50mm pointed-toe leather pumps, $620 from Aeyde

SHOP NOW: Maison Margiela Tabi 30mm ballerina pumps, $987 from Farfetch

The tote that fits all

We love an of-the-moment, trendy handbag as much as the next person, but the durable tote bag is an effective building block you’ll never want to part with. Invest in a timeless tote to accompany you on the journey of life.

Shop Vogue’s guide to the best designer tote bags here.

SHOP NOW: Balenciaga neutral Cabas M logo-print bag, $1,850 from Farfetch

SHOP NOW: Brie Leon check straw bag, $159 from The Iconic

SHOP NOW: Marni Black & Beige Tribeca Shopping Tote, $625 from Ssense

The slightly oversized blazer

A dependable blazer should be a cornerstone of every wardrobe, and has the power to anchor formal looks or add a layer of elevation to more casual ones. As much as we love vivid colour, investing in wardrobe building blocks in understated colours is a worthwhile way of future-proofing your wardrobe.

Shop Vogue’s guide to the best oversized blazers here.