A capsule wardrobe is a small set of clothes that are easy to combine, so a handful of pieces makes many outfits. Below are ten everyday pieces to start with. You don't need to buy all of them – just fill the gaps in your own wardrobe.
Rules that make choosing easier
Pick two or three base colours, such as navy, grey and white or cream, plus one stronger colour. Go for simple cuts and add patterns one at a time. A good rule of thumb: every new piece should go with at least three things you already own.
Ten pieces to start with
This is a suggestion, not a formula – adapt it to how you dress and what you already wear.
- A white T-shirt – a base under a shirt or cardigan, or on its own.
- A long-sleeved top – for cooler days, under a jumper or on its own.
- A light shirt – white or pale blue, for jeans and for chinos.
- A navy or patterned shirt – a different character for the same outfit.
- A navy jumper – works with both light and dark trousers.
- A grey jumper or cardigan – a calm second layer; a cardigan can go over a dress.
- Jeans – for a T-shirt, a shirt or knitwear.
- Chinos – in beige, grey or navy, a little more subdued than jeans.
- A light jacket or coat – the men's collection includes jackets and coats.
- A dress or a polo shirt – a dress with a simple line in the women's collection, a polo in the men's.
How to combine them
Three simple formulas are enough. For every day: a T-shirt, jeans and a cardigan. For work: a shirt, chinos and a navy jumper. For a cooler day: a shirt under a jumper with a coat on top. Swapping a single piece – say, the grey jumper for the navy one – changes the whole outfit without buying anything else.
Start with two or three missing pieces, see how many outfits they make with what you own, and build the wardrobe step by step. For every model you can look at photos from several angles and check the available colours and sizes.
