It’s been a while since I’ve talked about capsule wardrobes and I’m excited to get back into it, so today I’m sharing 4 clothing items/accessories that are absolute staples in my wardrobe. When it comes to editing your wardrobe down, one of the obvious benefits is avoiding the overwhelm that comes when you have a wardrobe bursting with clothes, but another benefit is that it really helps you to hone in on your personal style, what you truly love, feel good in and what works for your lifestyle!
Having a few “hero pieces” that can be mixed & matched and styled in a myriad of different ways gives you so many options to play with, without the crazy excess that the fashion world sometimes comes with!
Remember, it’s not about me telling you the pieces you “have to have”. These are just suggestions for categories that I know work well for so many different people and styles. Having a more minimal wardrobe doesn’t have to be boring or generic, you can totally tailor it to your style and adapt these suggestions to make them unique to you!
1) The Little White Dress
Most people talk about “the little black dress”, and while it’s a classic staple, for me there is nothing I love more than a beautiful white dress. I find it so much more versatile, easier to dress down for the daytime and can simply be paired with heels for more fancy occasions. This is a new one that I’ve recently added to my wardrobe, but you can see how I’ve styled my older white dress over the years in this post, this post, this post as well as on instagram. (That dress is one of my absolute favourite pieces and I still have so many different ideas for fun ways to style it. Definitely one of my best ever buys (from Zara!)
The great thing about a white dress is that you can totally personalise it to your own style. For example - if your style is more streamlined and sophisticated, you could go with a more fitted, tailored white dress, more classic and feminine? - go for something with a beautiful full skirt, more bohemian? choose something floaty and free-flowing!
There are so many different options within the category of “white dress!”
2) The Leather Jacket
A leather jacket is such a classic piece that can easily transform any outfit. For the longest time I didn’t think I was a “leather jacket person” because I felt like it was much too “biker’ and masculine for my style, but I love the contrast that comes when you pair it with more feminine pieces to add just a slightly tougher edge to an outfit.
If a black leather jacket isn’t for you, you could totally consider going for a different colour like a brown or even a muted baby pink which would be much softer and easier to style with things like dresses (sometimes the black can be a little too much of a harsh contrast!)
Things to consider when searching for your perfect leather jacket would be the colour of the zips - are you a silver or gold person? - I loved mine because they’re black so go with everything. Does it have any other embellishments? - if that’s your style, go for it, but for most people, something with minimal details will be most versatile. Also consider how comfortable it is because some leather jackets aren’t the most comfy! (This one is super soft which was so important for me!)
Finding the perfect leather jacket can be tricky, but it’s one of those pieces you’ll have for years so don’t be afraid to splurge a little if you find the perfect one. I’ve had this leather jacket for over 10 years. We were on a family holiday in Hong Kong and my parents bought it for me as a gift. It was one of the most expensive pieces I’d ever owned but the cost-per-wear is tiny now and I still appreciate it every time I put it on. I also still remember the day we bought it so it has some really great memories attached to it too!
If you’re considerate with your purchases and really choose pieces that will fit in with your style, splurging a little more on quality will always pay off long term. I’ve worn this jacket countless times now - you can see it styled in this post, this post, this post and this post just to give a few examples from over the years!
3) Converse (Black/White/Grey) or Another “Simple sneaker”
Trusty converse! What can I say about them? They’re a classic for a reason! They work with just about everything. Obviously they can be worn with jeans and shorts, but they’re a great way to dress down other outfits too (like this white dress in the photos!)
I still have an older pair of grey converse that I’ve worn for about 14 years (I remember when I bought them at the end of year 9 - in David Jones in the City with my friends Niki and Fion, we had that “end of year freedom feeling” that you get! Such good memories!)
Those ones served me very well over the years - see this post and this post (and I do still wear them) but they’re looking a bit worse for wear now, so I decided it was time to add a new pair to my collection - this time I chose black and they have been such a great purchase
(as I knew they would be!)
These black ones are the more “streamlined style” so they’re a little more feminine than the regular converse and I find they‘re easier to pair with dresses (they don’t look quite so bulky!)
If you’re not a fan of converse there are so many other simple sneakers out there to choose from these days, so find one that works for you!
4) Your Signature Jewellery
Having a few signature jewellery pieces can instantly finish off an outfit. While in the past I’ve loved experimenting with bolder, statement pieces, over time I’ve finally come to realise that delicate, understated pieces are more my style (most of the time!) As you would have picked up by now, I favour items that you can wear over and over again, that you don’t get sick of and that can be worn for years to come. “Effortless, classic and with a playful twist” is how I’d describe my style, so when it comes to jewellery that’s the look I tend to gravitate towards too!
The necklaces I’m wearing are from a brand called YCL Jewels. I discovered them about a year ago and immediately fell in love with their pieces. I’ve received so many compliments on these necklaces and they have gotten so much wear because they go with everything, from super casual weekend outfits to totally dressed up at a wedding! I’m actually planning on doing a full post on this jewellery brand so keep your eyes peeled for that!)
I currently have 2 staple pairs of earrings - these ones that I’m wearing in the photos from Swarovski (that I actually wore for our wedding - I chose them because the emerald cut kind of matches my engagement ring!) and a pair of gold hoops from my Italian grandparents when I little.
I’d actually really love to have a few more statement earrings as I feel like they are so fun and can totally transform your look, but I’m yet to find ones I really love (and because of my silly sensitive ears, I need to wear gold, so I haven’t splurged on anything more statement yet!)
Whatever style you prefer, it’s nice to have a few “go-to” pieces that you know you can throw on to elevate and finish off any look!
So that brings me to the end of this post! I hope it’s been helpful and given you some inspiration!
It’s all about carefully choosing staple pieces that are versatile, reflect your style and can be mixed and matched to give you a tonne of variety and outfit options for any situation!
Come say hi on Instagram @laurennatalia29 or leave me a comment below and tell me what your number one staple is in your wardrobe!
Lots of Love
Lauren
xxx
Wearing
Dress - Zimmerman (from the outlet store so no longer available)
Leather Jacket - old from Hong Kong, unsure of the brand!
Shoes - Converse
Necklaces - YCL Jewels Ascended Necklace, YCL Jewels Infinite Choker
Earrings - Swarovski
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