The Winter Capsule Edit (#013)
styling ten pieces ~30 ways
It’s been a full year of capsule wardrobe edits, and I hope that you’ve enjoyed these as much as I’ve enjoyed putting them together. Right back where we started, with another winter capsule wardrobe. I always feel like I need to caveat that winter in Sydney is pretty mild, though don’t worry, I’m no stranger to layering. It’s one of the reasons why I recommend a straight leg jean or pant, because you can layer thermals underneath (my go-to are from UNIQLO).
If you get to the end of this newsletter, and are left thinking, I wish I had more ideas for ways to wear my winter wardrobe, then you might like to check out the first winter capsule I shared. There’s also this one which I shared for my Northern Hemisphere friends a few months’ ago. And I have you covered for cosy winter workwear in this capsule edit.
You’ll know my usual strategy at this point. Start off with one or two key items, and build a colour palette around it. I wanted to play a little with more unexpected colour palettes, so mixing this bright cerulean blue with earthy, mossy greens felt really interesting.
When you’re thinking about your winter wardrobe in layers, I recommend using pieces which are thin but soft next to your skin. Merino wool is ideal as it is temperature regulating and insulating at the same time (these COS ones are great!). But cotton works just as well (I quite like this sort of thing from Arket, and this one from JAG is on current rotation).
For this winter capsule, I included:
2x tops (both long-sleeved)
2x knit sweaters (something classic, something textured)
1x skirt (full length)
2x pants (a pair of jeans and a pair of straight leg pants)
1x coat (in an easy neutral)
2x shoes (a flat pair and something with a walkable heel)
the ten items
#1 | Thin long-sleeve base layer: Something that works as a standalone, but also can be layered underneath other tops or chunky knit sweaters. Design details like visible seams, gentle textures, lettuce hems or a little roll neck help to elevate this sort of piece. Pictured: COS
Alternatives: Henne | Friends with Frank | baserange | Sezane | Everlane | Glassons | Dazie
#2 | Printed long-sleeve top: Go classic with stripes, a check or a spot. If subtlety is your jam, a smaller scale print will be ideal, or you can go bold with a high contrast graphic print. Pictured: Assembly Label
Alternatives: Isabel Marant | Sezane | &Other Stories | Sheike | Oroton | Camilla&Marc
#3 | A fun coloured sweater: Think timeless silhouette, in any colour. I’ve gone for a classic crew, but a mock neck or roll neck would be just as versatile. Pictured: JAG
Alternatives: Glassons | Everlane | Guest in Residence | Sezane | Oroton | COS
#4 | The textured sweater: Perhaps the best part about winter dressing - aside from layering - are all the delicious textures you get to play with. Dial it up here with something with a visibly tactile quality. Pictured: Marle
Alternatives: COS | Loewe | Veronika Maine | Jenni Kayne | Henne | Everlane
#5 | A chic maxi skirt: When we consider that texture play that’s present in cosy winter outfits, this is an opportunity to bring in something glossy, shiny or silky, in addition to a variation in silhouette if you opt for a style with a lot of volume. Pictured: Quince (I use a mail forwarding service to get Quince in Australia)
Alternatives: Lee Mathews | Sheike | Jenni Kayne | Friends with Frank | Nanushka
#6 | Full length jeans: No cold ankles here. We want to be able to wear thick socks with our shoes, and also, give ourselves some visual height. Pictured: Marle
Alternatives: Levi’s | Everlane | Assembly Label | Henne | Madewell | Arket | Friends with Frank | NEUW Denim
#7 | Straight leg trousers: You could also go wide leg, but at the bare minimum, I recommend a style with some ease through the leg. The reason being that we’re considering the functionality and purpose of what we’re wearing. We want to be able to layer both on top of, and underneath! Pictured: Karen Walker
Alternatives: H&M | DISSH | Oroton | Assembly Label | COS | Everlane
#8 | Neutral-hued coat: Coats tend to be the whole outfit for most of winter, so pick one you really enjoy wearing. Something in a neutral is the obvious choice as it’ll work back with everything in your closet. The style I featured here is reversible so you basically get two coats in one. Pictured: Sportscraft
Alternatives: Goelia | COS | Henne | Marcs | The Curated | Ena Pelly
#9 | Flat closed-toe shoes: Something in black is ideal, only because you can team it with sheer stocking socks for a seamless, full coverage look. But you could go with something fun like a silver Mary Jane if you wished. Remember, shoes are part of the vibe. To lean classic, go with a rounded or almond toe. For visual length, a pointed toe. And for modernity, a slightly squared off toe. Pictured: Aeyde
Alternatives: Unison | Madewell | Studio Nicholson | Sezane | Stuart Weitzman | Tony Bianco
#10 | Walkable low heeled boots: Comfort is king. I recommend seeking out a boot that ends above the ankle as it gives you a bit of extra coverage, in addition to looking seamless when worn with a full length pant or skirt. Pictured: Bared
Alternatives: Anine Bing | Deadly Ponies | VIVAIA | AERE Label | Chaussure Lapin
the outfits
the details
A final word on the “details”.
For jewellery, I tend to have a predisposition towards going bigger and bolder during the cooler months. Thinking about the concept of balance, there’s a clear correlation. Louder, statement jewellery piece feel in sync with slouchier, chunkier, more dramatic silhouettes. Basically, when we wear bigger shapes, we can effortlessly mimic this with our accessories. Also, I love any sort of signet ring with a coloured stone. This is such a simple way to add in some colour (mine are Mejuri - 10% off with this link). And chunky earrings are fun, too. Mine are Timeless Pearly.
When you’re conceptualising the colour palette, bring your potential accessories options into play too. I knew from the get go that I’d be reaching for this burgundy crossbody from Saben (15% off with JAMIELOVESSABEN15); the rich hue feels very winter apropos, and it’s much more versatile than you’d think. But also the lesson here is that if you play around, you’ll come across unexpected colour combinations that you love. Also, hardware. This adds in that extra touch of adornment - bold is better!
Probably the piece I was most excited to include in this capsule, is this scarf from COS. On my A/W wishlist for the year, I loved the check print combined with the fuzzy, mohair texture. Which, side note, this struck me as an excellent (more affordable) alternative to the Acne Studios scarf (I personally was eying up the green…). Such a great way to add in that visual tactile quality from the print & mohair, but also, shape too.
Finally, belts & sunglasses. A belt is a sure-fire way to lift an outfit, create a strong visual break/define your waist, add in texture etc etc. For belts in particular, I’ll always say: buy once, buy well. My favourites are from Andersons - a nice width, and they have a range of different styles, and for the quality I think are really good prices. And to end on sunglasses, which feels a little odd to include in a winter capsule, but depending on where you live these might be a must. I like to keep a pair in my car as our winters can be quite dry and sunny, so they serve a really practical element (but why not make them chic, too?). The ones I’m wearing throughout this capsule are from Vieux (in olive), which do limited runs of each style.
