HOW TO BUILD A FEMININE CAPSULE WARDROBE

ESSENTIAL PIECES FOR EFFORTLESS, CHIC STYLE

Are you struggling with your current wardrobe? Do you have so many things hanging in your closet but you never have anything to wear? We have all been there. In this post, I’m going to teach you how to simplify your style and build a beautiful, feminine capsule wardrobe.

By building yourself a chic and simple closet, you’ll have a great set of looks that you can throw on in a rush while looking effortless and put together! Read on for all the capsule wardrobe tips you need to know.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

HOW TO STYLE ELEGANT WINTER OUTFITS ON A BUDGET
THE BEST TROUSERS FOR SPRING AND HOW TO STYLE THEM
HOW TO STYLE A MIDI SKIRT

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, if you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. Some of my clothes have been gifted, but with no obligation to share them here. All opinions are honest.

how to Build a feminine capsule wardrobe

WHAT IS A CAPSULE WARDROBE?

Traditionally, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of key (usually classic, neutral) pieces that complement each other. These pieces can be mixed and matched to style multiple outfits.

In this post, I’m going to be sharing classic capsule wardrobe essentials and how you can easily substitute them to create your own chic, feminine version of a casual wardrobe.

THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A CAPSULE WARDROBE

There are many benefits to building a timeless and chic wardrobe, these include:

Reducing Overwhelm – by having go-to outfits, you reduce the confusion of always wondering what to wear.
Less Clutter – I live in London, so I don’t have as much closet space as I would like, sticking to key pieces I love is really helpful for space saving.
Time-Saving – were all short on time, being able to put together a stylish outfit quickly is one less thing to worry about
More Sustainable – not buying as much is better for our planet (and also our bank balances!)

Styling a midi skirt for a feminine capsule wardrobe

MIDI SKIRT FOR SUMMER AND WINTER

HOW TO BUILD YOUR FEMININE CAPSULE WARDROBE

Here is my capsule wardrobe checklist for feminine style. Get yourself a cup of tea (or glass of wine) and allow yourself some time to plan your feminine wardrobe basics. Here I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to make building your new feminine wardrobe easy!

GET INSPIRATION

Firstly, style is very personal to each individual. You want to take some time to feel inspired and discover what you like.

Pinterest is a great tool for this. Start by searching keywords such as feminine outfit ideas, when you see an image you like, click on it, save it to a board and then scroll down to see similar looks Pinterest thinks you’ll like. You can also filter by body shape here.

Save as many as you want then look at your virtual pin board. Most likely, you’ll notice similarities between the images you’ve saved. Certain shapes, colours, patterns etc. Take note of these!

I used to wear black all the time, it was an easy and safe option but my pinboard was full of light, girly outfits. That’s when I knew I had to change my look!

Another great tool is the LTK app. Most fashion influencers will share their outfit links through LTK, making the products they recommend very easy to shop. I prefer following fashion creators on LTK rather than Instagram now!

CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR PALETTE

It’s best to stick to a colour palette, this way all of your key pieces will complement each other. Hopefully from your inspirational research, you’ll see a trend in which colours you like.

Neutral colours are usually more chic. Personally, I like to stick to cream and brown shades. However, you could replace the brown tones with either grey or navy. Black is not so feminine but it is still possible.

You then want to add a bit of colour, pale or pastel colours will work best to give a chic, feminine look. Here, I stick mainly to pale pink (not bright Barbie pink!) Sometimes I like a pastel shade of sage green or lilac. You can really use whatever colour you like here, just stick to pale shades!

Chic feminine capsule wardrobe colour palettes

GO THROUGH YOUR CURRENT WARDROBE

You may already have some great pieces in your current wardrobe. Sometimes you’ll find you have a great top but need to find something to go with it.

Start by having a clear-out and putting anything that could work for your capsule wardrobe to one side. you can then see what pieces you need to add.

TRY THINGS ON

It’s so important that you feel comfortable and confident in your clothing.

Hopefully, Pinterest will have given you some clues but, if you’re not sure what will work for you, go and try some new things on! The more you experiment, the more confident you’ll become in knowing what will work for you!

Make sure the garments you choose fit you well. You are better to size up than wear something that is too tight!

DON’T FORGET ABOUT ACCESSORIES

The right accessories can make or break an outfit. A classic bag and shoes will instantly elevate your look! I always feel it is worth investing in a quality bag that will stand the test of time.

Heels are very feminine, however, if that’s not comfortable for you, a pointed-toe shoe will elongate the leg.

Simple accessories will finish off your outfit perfectly. Think pearls, small diamond earrings and a pretty headband or bow.

I also love this Hermes belt dupe from Amazon.

KEY PIECES TO INCLUDE FOR FEMININE OUTFITS

In this section, I’m going to share what items a traditional capsule wardrobe will include and how to substitute them for a more feminine alternative. Simplifying your closet with feminine basics will be the foundation for your new wardrobe!

a trench coat
a tailored black blazer
a wool coat
a white shirt
plain t-shirts
a Bretton striped t-shirt
a midi-wrap dress
a little black dress
jeans
a pencil skirt

TRENCH COAT

A trench coat is the one piece from a classic capsule wardrobe that I would not change! It’s effortlessly chic and one of my most worn pieces during spring and autumn (fall).

If you do want to make it extra girly, opt for a pink or cream colour rather than the traditional beige.

fall outfit inspiration - feminine capsule wardrobe

CLASSIC WOOL COAT | TWEED BLAZER

A BLAZER

SWITCH: a tailored black blazer for a tweed blazer.

While a tailored black blazer can look very chic, but it is also very masculine. Try substituting it for a neutral colour tweed. Tweed is a very elegant, feminine fabric that can look luxurious as well. I wear this blazer so much in the spring as it goes over so many outfits.

Also, avoid huge shoulder pads.

WOOL COAT

A wool coat is another winter wardrobe essential. Opt for a brown, camel or neutral colour when picking your coat. Avoid black! Also, look for something with a fur trim or a feminine detail such as gold buttons.

I always think a fitted or belted design is the most chic as it creates a waist, even with bulky layers.

WHITE BLOUSE

SWITCH: a crisp white shirt for a soft chiffon blouse.

A crisp, white cotton shirt is very formal and gives corporate office vibes. Opt for a silk or chiffon blouse. To make it even more girly, look for pretty buttons a collar or a pussy-bow design.

PLAIN / STRIPED T-SHIRTS

SWITCH: A plain T-shirt for an extra blouse and striped T-shirts for soft floral blouses.

I very rarely wear a jersey t-shirt, I don’t find stripes to be very feminine. I’d opt for an extra blouse here, either in a plain colour or in a print such as a dainty floral.

For winter, look for a fine-knit sweater. These make ideal layering pieces.

PLEATED SKIRT | STYLING A PRETTY BLOUSE UNDER A DRESS

LITTLE DRESS

SWITCH: A little black dress for a little white dress.

My LBD is reserved for funerals. A little white dress is much more feminine. If you dont feel comfortable in a short dress, a midi or even a maxi dress can work well here as well! It also doesn’t have to be plain white. Again, a floral or other subtle print can work just as well!

MIDI WRAP DRESS

Dresses can be extremely elegant and feminine. It doesn’t have to be a midi wrap dress, pick a style and length that you feel happy and comfortable with.

You will want a few dresses in your casual wardrobe. Look for silky fabrics such as chiffon or cotton for the summer and thicker, wool fabrics for winter.

JEANS

SWITCH: jeans for tailored trousers.

Trousers are not as feminine as a dress or skirt. While jeans can look feminine, I’m not a huge fan. If you’re looking for jeans, opt for white or a light denim colour. Avoid any styles with rips or holes in them.

I would substitute jeans for tailored trousers. Full length for winter and ankle grazers for warmer months. Style tailored trousers with a pretty blouse for an easy feminine chic outfit.

I do prefer skirts and dresses but trousers can be more practical, especially for toddler mum life!

PENCIL SKIRT

SWITCH: A stiff pencil skirt for a pleated midi or a floaty tulle skirt.

Stiff pencil skirts give me office vibes, I would switch a pencil skirt for a pleated skirt. A pleated midi skirt is amazing as it can easily be styled for any season.

If you want to be extra feminine, or if you’re dressing more formally, a tulle skirt is perfect!

I do have a knitted pencil midi skirt, I wear a lot in winter. Styling with a pretty blouse and cardigan with cute buttons can make it very feminine and chic.

Conservatory Gardens - Instagrammable places in new york

PLEATED MIDI SKIRT AND WOOL COAT | WHITE MIDI DRESS AND CLASSIC ACCESSORIES

DO I NEED TO STICK TO JUST THESE PIECES?

Absolutely not! While some people will say all you need is your capsule wardrobe, there are no hard rules here. I believe you can and should add pieces to your capsule wardrobe as needed!

You can also mix in some trend items and experiment with new styles and shapes!

HOW MANY PIECES DOES YOUR FEMININE CAPSULE WARDROBE NEED?

Again, there is no hard rule here. Typically, a traditional capsule wardrobe will contain about 30-40 items, however, you can do whatever works for you. I’ve listed a rough guideline below: