Have you jumped on the capsule wardrobe bandwagon?! It’s been several years since I first became curious about capsule wardrobes. And today I wanted to share a sneak peek at what a modern quilter’s autumn capsule wardrobe includes in 2024!
Here’s what’s covered in today’s post:
- What is a capsule wardrobe?
- How do you create a capsule wardrobe?
- My capsule wardrobe philosophy.
- Autumn 2024 capsule wardrobe.
- See it in action
Let’s dive in!
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What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is essentially a series of curated pieces that can be mixed and matched to create several outfits. The garments typically have a classic and timeless feel to them, so they don’t feel dated or off-trend.
How do you create a capsule wardrobe?
There are lots of different approaches to creating a capsule wardrobe, and sometimes you can get bogged down in deciding just exactly how many pieces should be included in your capsule wardrobe.
I’ve seen recommendations anywhere from 30 to 50 pieces. I personally don’t think the number of items matters, so much as whether those pieces actually get used. The whole point of the capsule wardrobe is to reduce the number of pieces so that you focus on maximizing the wear of each item.
It sounds counterintuitive that reducing the content of your wardrobe leads to more choice and better use. But, alas, sometimes when you streamline you realize just how efficiently your pieces work together. It keeps the overwhelm at bay and helps you focus on your core pieces.
My capsule wardrobe philosophy
In many ways, I already had a capsule wardrobe without even realizing that’s what I was curating. Turns out my basic principles align nicely with those of a capsule wardrobe:
Quality over quantity – after a Le Chateau experience with one of my favourite dresses that just disintegrated after the first wash, it didn’t take me long to re-evaluate the benefits of investing in quality pieces.
This approach has served me well, as I have clothing and accessories that I invested in over 30 years ago that I still reach for today. That’s the kind of staying power that I look for in my closet.
Cohesion – while I joke that my closet went 50 shades of grey after we got Pips (our ragdoll cat, who sheds like crazy), there’s truth that I like to stick with a streamlined colour palette. The benefit of this is that it makes it easy to mix and match pieces. Super helpful when travelling as well if you like to travel light 😉
Classics – I tend to like and focus on classic styles. They never go out of style; they’re usually understated and often have clean lines. What’s not to love – ha! This also brings me back to my initial point of investing in fewer but quality options. The reason why I can use something that I picked up over 30 years ago is that I still love it.
My philosophy in a nutshell
- Buy what you love.
- Buy what is well made.
- Buy only what you need.
Ok, that’s more or less my philosophy in a nutshell.
These are the things that I keep in mind when I’m buying and adding to my collection.
Autumn 2024 Capsule Wardrobe
Here’s what I was envisioning for my Fall 2024 capsule wardrobe.
The colours I’m loving this season
I’m really loving gray, black, blue, light blue, beige, and burgundy at the moment, with a little pop of pink added in for good measure!
The feel I’m after
At the forefront of how I want my Fall capsule to feel can be summed up in one word – cozy! I always want to feel cozy and warm as the temperature starts to dip and extra layers are needed.
Outerwear
Ever since I made my first quilted coat, a quilted jacket is a must on my Fall capsule wardrobe.
This year, I’ve pulled out my burgundy wovens and green chambray ones for this season. I love both of these for the deep tones they add to my wardrobe.
I’m also excited to introduce this new piece as I created this adorable capelet. It’s surprisingly warm and perfect for tossing over your shoulders without it getting in the way.
Tops
My tops are broken down into several categories:
- Tank tops
- T-shirts
- Long sleeve shirts
- Button downs
- Sweaters/Cardigans
Most of these pieces are in white, black, or grey. Although, I do have some more colourful sweaters that I like to pull out to add a little pop of colour.
Bottoms
In the Fall/Winter, I tend to stick with slacks as I like to have my legs covered up from the cold! My main go-to’s are:
- Jeans: blue, black, and a casual pair
- Pants: beige and wool.
Shoes
I’m a shoe lover, did I ever tell you that? I have the closet to prove it too – ha!
Sadly, I don’t wear them nearly as much as I used to. Not shocking as high heels are not exactly appropriate quilting footwear 😉
But my shoe closet does come in handy with the plethora of ballet flats I’ve collected over the years. Super handy for travel and generally wanting an understated, classy, and comfortable look.
This season, I’ve pulled out my blue/brown and black/black combos. They’ll pair nicely with both of my quilted coats
I’ve also got my white running shoes for day-to-day running errands, and my black riding boots when I need extra warmth.
Accessories
This is a fun area that I’ve been refining over the last several years. My main accessories include:
- Sunglasses
- Scarves
- Handbags
Casual Wardrobe
I also have a perpetual casual wardrobe of leggings, hoodies, etc. so that I can lounge in comfort. This includes my workout wear.
See it in Action
Here’s how the pieces look in action!
For more inspiration, check out:
Just like I encourage you to mix and match and play with your fabric, the same concept applies to your clothes. Have fun with what you have, if your closet isn’t getting you fired up to get dressed in the morning, then something’s missing. A capsule wardrobe might just do the trick!
I hope this has given you lots of ideas on how to style your own handmade quilted coats. And if you haven’t made one yet, what are you waiting for?! They’re beyond cozy, super stylish, one-of-a-kind, and a conversation starter – ha!
To make the same style as me, grab your Hovea or Hovea Curves pattern and then download your Etched Diamond Quilt x Hovea Coat Pattern Extension (covers all sizes in Hovea and Hovea Curves patterns) to add that quilty flare!
And if you’re feeling intimidated about combining quilting and garment sewing in one, then I encourage you to take the Quilted Coat Course. It walks you through the entire patchwork and quilted coat-making adventure, and I share lots of tips along the way to help you avoid common pitfalls!
Are any questions popping up that I haven’t covered? Ask away in the comments below and I’ll do my best to help you out.
Happy capsule wardrobe planning!
xo
Shannon
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