My picks of the season: what to buy right now #capsulewardrobe
Hands up who is sick of their summer wardrobe ?!
So over it . Can’t wait to get into some chic winter clothes ( but keep the sunshine coming !).
If you have built a wardrobe of key winter pieces like me than you don’t need a whole lot of new things right?
Just a few things to inject a bit of joosh and excitement.
So here are my picks and what I am thinking which will instantly update your old winter favourites.
I am not saying to buy everything here but think of this as your winter checklist !
A Suede jacket:
It’s the jacket of the season and will definitely go into next season. Love it in choc brown. Love it in tan. It’s an instant wardrobe updater. Read more here and here . I’d go for a blazer or a shorter style like this. It’s so chic with any colour jeans. But white looks so chic. Love over a white knit or grey tee. Chic with black pleather pants. Love this one from JAG , and this is a fabulous one from Reiss.
A Barn jacket:
A mix between a peacoat , utility jacket, parka and a Barbour. And it’s the coolest piece in your new season wardrobe. It’s not a blazer but just as versatile, it’s not a parka but just as casual. It feels new, looks low key. And it’s totally practical too. I’m a sucker for anything utility, anything with pockets. Anything that you can just toss on. And instantly look farshun ! I grabbed this fabulous men’s jacket at Uniqlo. It is called a ‘utility blouson’ and you need to get the colour “brown” ( surprise!) and I’ve got it in a size large. Yes, men’s large. Because you need an exaggerated shape so it looks fashiony. So you don’t look like the Queen at Balmoral. Or you’re handing out prizes for best cakes at the local show. (Nothing wrong with either but my aim here is to help you look fabulously chic and cool). See I am wearing it here. Also buy similar here and here.
A long coat:
I now have so many long coats you’d think I lived in The Arctic. haha. That’s because outerwear is so important and PIVOTAL to your wardrobe.Throw it over anything from your closet (or anything you find hanging on a chair !) and you will look totally chic. Make sure it is super long with serious shoulders like this one I have in choc brown. Love a long coat on grey or camel too. See below.
A peacoat:
And because I have so many long coats guess what I am hankering after right now ? A grey peacoat. It’s really a shorter coat which is actually probably better suited to this mild winter weather. I bought this fabulous grey one from Arket. You wear with a pencil skirts, slouchy jeans and tailored pants. The thing I love about a peacoat is that it works casually and also for going out. Is a little more trans-seasonal than a big coat. Good for traveling too.
A cape.
I absolutely love a cape. And they are a huge trend and back next season …big time. Invest early in the trend and gets years of wear. (I have a fabulous long camel cape which I LOVE from toteme and wear it all through winter.) What’s to love about a cape? It’s not as heavy as a big coat. And you can wear it ANYWHERE. Out to dinner with heels. Everyday with jeans. Country weekends away. Traveling ..with sneakers . The best thing is that a cape it is hands free. You can keep warm, but still have the freedom to move. I tried this gorgeous grey one at COS. So chic, it’s much better on , you should try it as it has NO hanger appeal. Just turn up the collar, What a great price too.
A Blouse .
I am pulling out my white and blue shirts as they are great for this mild Autumn weather. And a blouse feels so right too for winter as it’s a prettier softer version of a cotton shirt. A bit more dramatic. This one is fabulous. The collar sits just right. Probably doesn’t need ironing. YASSS. It’s chic. Perfect for smart casual dinner. Wear tucked in or out. Under blazer. Under a knit too, just pull out the collar and cuffs . BTW loving a denim shirt right now as it lightens up all the choc brown.
Knits.
If you want to invest in a new knit then go for a brown or grey and of course I am living in cream knits, bought this one from COS. It’s a bit dramatic in the sleeves and it’s neat and shorter which I like . ( I have so many long long knits!)
This is great, I will wear swimming in winter ( don’t want to wreck my good knits). And I am nabbing one from mens Uniqlo. In cream. Better cut than the women’s. It’s like your winter tee. I will wear under all my neutral jackets and trenchcoats. Don’t default to a black knit unless it’s under a black coat or black jacket. Or try black knit and black pants and THEN a coat or jacket in a neutral on the top to lighten it up.
Leather pants.
You need leather (or pleather) ( Faux leather) in your wardrobe. Adds texture and a cool fashion edge to your wardrobe (where boring black wool pants can be a snoozefest) And they don’t need ironing ( the main reason I grab them every single day, ha)( I even wore on the plane to London). They don’t have to be black though they are the most flattering and versatile. I bought these in choc brown , LOVE, also have in a khaki brown. Make sure they’re slouchy with room to move. I actually prefer pleather because they are more trans seasonal. Not as hot as leather as probably more comfortable and softer where leather can be more restrictive.
A midi skirt:
I have now invested in quite a few pleather skirts. For the same reason that I love pleather pants: Adds edge, looks cool, no need for ironing. You just throw on and out the door. I have an A line black leather skirt , just ordered this one from Net a-porter in brown. They look great with knee high boots and a big slouchy knit. Also with loafers. Did you nab an A line leather skirt last year as instructed ? If not : don’t cry you can buy here.
New shape jeans:
If you update one single thing this season make sure it’s your jeans. New shape jeans are everything. Instant wardrobe updaters. Toss any old sweater or top and suddenly they look good if you are wearing wide leg or barrel jeans. I am loving barrel jeans at the moment and bought these in grey, white and blue. Love these in brown. Just bought these in size 42 as I wanted a wide leg but a little low rise. ( they are called high waist : god knows why). They are so long I will scissor off myself. Soft denim, neat in the hip department but skims over thighs and wide in the leg.
Accessories.
You need a tan or brown bag to joosh up your black or grey. And it works so well tone on tone with browns, camels and neutrals. It’s the best way to add a third colour too. Loving this one ( thank you Stand bags). It’s such a great buy. Can fit lots in. Gives Loewe vibes, in real leather, detachable straps and a zip. Also love a brown suede bag. Did you get the Arket slouchy bag when I told you last year?! Love it soo much. Wore last winter , all summer and now again this winter. Lots here on my LTK. A big suede brown tote is also very fashion at the moment and also is so practical ( what will they think of next?!! Haha).
Shoes:
You want a white/cream pointy slingback : I have these and love as the heel is so walkable. And these: soo good. I also live in my white loafers from last winter. Buy similar here and here . If you can’t do a white go for choc brown. FYI weirdly beige shoes can look a bit nowheresville as they tend to disappear on the foot. You want your shoes to give attitude. Make a statement. Which is why I love white. Ballet flats are de rigueur and these at Country Road are great. ( I’ll cut the bows off) .Also love this strappy heel on sale. And if you get cold then try loafers and ballet flats with socks under wide leg pants; it’s a happening thang in fashion this season. Socks with sneakers and a skirt is also something you could ty a la Miu Miu but it can be hard to pull off.
Sneakers :
I love a sneaker but sometimes in summer I feel like I am looking too jaunty – Like I am off to play bowls or something. But in winter I am loving myself stupid wearing sneakers with an extra long oversized coat. It works. I have these brown adidas and they look great with brown pleather pants and white jeans. And I have just ordered these as they are white with a stripe. The retro sneaker is the one to get like this. How to wear? I like sneakers with wide leg jeans or chinos that sit over the shoe.
Boots:
It’s about investing in knee high boots right now. A kitten heel. Pointy toe. You can wear with skirts AND with jeans. Goodbye ye olde world ankle boots ( they only worked with skinny jeans). If you live in the country, go to school sport or live somewhere where it’s really cold then I’d go for flat knee high boots with a round toe that you can wear under wide leg jeans.
If you read it all the way here, well done! Hope it was helpful , Get shopping !
Have a great weekend x
