How to Build a Fall & Winter Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
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Embrace the cold-weather coastal grandmother aesthetic with a capsule wardrobe that combines warmth, classic style, and simplicity.
Table of Contents:
- What Is a Fall & Winter Capsule Wardrobe?
- Benefits of Having a Fall & Winter Capsule Wardrobe
- Colors for a Fall & Winter Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Key Pieces for a Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Tops
- Jeans, Pants, and Leggings
- Dresses & Skirts
- Accessories
- Footwear
- Outerwear
- Loungewear & Pajamas
- How to Start A Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Maintaining Your Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Save These Coastal Capsule Wardrobe Ideas
What Is a Fall & Winter Capsule Wardrobe?
A fall and winter capsule wardrobe is a thoughtfully curated collection of clothing pieces that will keep you warm, comfortable, and stylish during colder weather. It focuses on high-quality, timeless, and versatile items that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits while meeting the practical demands of the fall and winter seasons, such as layering and staying protected from the elements.
A coastal capsule wardrobe differs from a traditional capsule wardrobe by incorporating relaxed pieces inspired by coastal living, even in colder seasons. It focuses on comfort, classic northeast style, and a neutral, beach-inspired color palette.
Benefits of Having a Fall & Winter Capsule Wardrobe
- Focus on quality over quantity: A capsule wardrobe focuses on quality over quantity by prioritizing well-made, durable pieces that will stand the test of time, also ensuring each item is functional and fits well, reducing the need for constant replacements.
- Maximize versatility in colder weather: You can create multiple warm and stylish outfits with a limited number of fall and winter pieces by choosing versatile items that layer well, such as neutral sweaters, tailored coats, and classic basics. By mixing these items with accessories, like scarves, a watch, and cute winter hats, you can add variety and personality to each outfit. Sticking to a cohesive color palette means every piece can easily be combined, maximizing your outfit options without needing an overflowing closet.
- Simplify putting together outfits: This minimalist approach not only simplifies getting dressed but also saves time by eliminating the overwhelm of sifting through excess clothing. With a streamlined selection of pieces that you love, you can quickly and easily put together stylish outfits.
- Every item serves a purpose: Curating a coastal capsule wardrobe ensures that every item in your wardrobe serves a purpose — you have a reason to wear these items, they aren’t sitting in your closet collecting dust — and aligns with your personal style, making you feel comfortable and good about yourself while wearing them.
- Better for the environment: Capsule wardrobes can have a positive impact on the environment, as it reduces the demand for fast fashion by focusing on fewer, high-quality pieces that last longer. In this way, you’ll minimize waste and support a more sustainable approach to fashion.
Colors for a Fall & Winter Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
By sticking to a color palette, it’s easy to mix and match pieces to create many different outfits. By combining neutrals with coordinating colors you can create many clothing combinations. Here are my recommended colors for a coastal wardrobe:
- Camel, tan, sand
- Gray
- Navy
- Black
- White, cream, winter white
- Shades of blue like French blue, sky blue, glacier blue, periwinkle, etc.
- Optional: add few statement colors like green (which can still feel coastal depending on the shade), or burgundy, which is a great fall and winter color
Key Pieces for a Fall & Winter Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
Streamline your closet with these essential pieces that will keep you warm and coastal chic through fall and winter. The items in this winter and fall capsule wardrobe are classic and timeless, prioritizing enduring style over fleeting trends. These classic pieces are available year after year, making it simple to add or replace items as needed. While the specific examples provided here serve as a guide, you’ll find stores offer many similar options that can achieve the same purpose and seamlessly fit into your wardrobe.
Tops for a Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Striped long sleeve t-shirt
- Button down shirts in white or a shade of blue
- Flannel shirt
- Sweater blazer
- Cashmere sweater
- Fisherman’s sweater
- Cable knit sweater
- Cozy cardigan
- Long sleeve basic shirts to wear under sweaters
- Turtleneck shirt
Jeans, Pants, & Leggings for a Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Denim jeans in a dark wash
- Black jeans
- Black leggings
- Dress pants, if you wear these to work or want to have a pair on hand for special events
Dresses & Skirts for a Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- A sheath or shift dress
- Wool skirt
- Black opaque tights
- Gray tights
Accessories for a Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Watch
- A goes-with-everything necklace
- Cable knit hat
- Cashmere or leather gloves
- Cashmere scarf
Footwear for a Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
You might want some or all of these items, depending on where you live. If you live in a city where you walk a lot, or in a location that gets a lot of snow, it’s helpful to have more footwear options in your wardrobe.
- Bean boots or other waterproof snow boots
- Wool socks
- Black flats
- Leather or suede booties
- Rain booties or tall rain boots
- Ugg boots or similar comfy warm boots
- Black pumps, for work or special events
- Comfortable sneakers
Outerwear for a Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
I feel that you can never have too many outerwear styles, especially if you live somewhere like New England where you never know if you’re going to have a 60° day or a 20° day.
- Barn jacket or utility-style jacket, for casual fall days
- Quilted jacket, for fall days when you want to look a little nicer
- Rain jacket, for rainy fall days
- Long puffy coat, for everyday cold winter days
- Long wool coat, for nicer occasions on cold winter days
Loungewear & Pajamas for a Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Flannel set
- Cozy sweatsuit set
- Cozy hoodie or tunic sweatshirt
- Comfortable long sleeve t-shirt
- Leggings
Related: Create Your Perfect Fall Bucket List With These 32 Awesome Ideas
How to Start A Fall & Winter Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
Decluttering, Evaluating, & Editing Your Current Wardrobe
- Edit and declutter your current wardrobe: Sort the pieces you already own into keep, donate, and discard piles.
- Identify overlaps and gaps: Using the “Key Pieces for a Fall & Winter Coastal Capsule Wardrobe” section above as a guide, evaluate which fall and winter essentials you already have and what’s missing.
- Consider your lifestyle and needs: Adjust your fall and winter capsule wardrobe to work with your regular activities — work, casual outings, and special events.
- Choose your color palette: Select a cohesive coastal color scheme that complements your winter style, such as warm neutrals, medium and dark blues, shades of gray, winter white, and any other winter-friendly colors that you’re drawn to, like pine green or burgundy.
Building Your Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Start with basics: Timeless basics like a quality coat, cozy sweaters, and durable boots are essential for staying warm and stylish throughout this time of year. These foundational pieces not only offer practicality and comfort, but also serve as staples that never go out of style, meaning you can invest in quality pieces and wear them year after year.
- Layering essentials: Layering with pieces like long-sleeve shirts, cardigan sweaters, flannel shirts, and turtlenecks are crucial for staying warm and comfortable while adding depth to your cold-weather outfits.
- Add versatile statement pieces: Include a few standout items like a bold coat, a stylish scarf, or a fair isle sweater that add personality and can be paired with classic basics.
- Focus on warmth and quality: Invest in high-quality, warm clothing made from materials like wool, cashmere, and down.
Maintaining Your Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
- Regular edits: Regularly reviewing your wardrobe helps ensure your fall and winter items are in good condition, fit well, and align with your current style and needs.
- Proper clothing care: Proper care for fall and winter garments involves following washing instructions carefully to avoid damage, storing items like wool coats and cashmere sweaters in breathable garment bags to prevent moth damage, and regularly cleaning and conditioning boots to protect them from salt and moisture. Routine maintenance, such as de-pilling sweaters and checking for wear, helps extend the life of your fall and winter wardrobe and keeps items looking like new.
- Mindful shopping: Focus on mindful shopping habits — only adding or replacing pieces when necessary.
Save These Coastal Capsule Wardrobe Ideas
Pin this graphic on Pinterest, or bookmark this page, so you can continue to refer back to this list of fall and winter coastal capsule wardrobe pieces. And don’t forget to follow Stars & Anchor on Pinterest and on Instagram for more coastal lifestyle and beach inspiration.
How to Build a Fall & Winter Coastal Capsule Wardrobe
A fall and winter capsule wardrobe offers the perfect balance of warmth, style, and simplicity, meaning you’ll stay comfortable while looking effortlessly coastal chic throughout the colder months. By focusing on high-quality, versatile pieces, you’ll eliminate the stress of decision-making and have a clutter-free closet.
Start building your own fall and winter capsule wardrobe and experience the simplicity and ease it brings to your daily routine. With thoughtfully chosen pieces, you can create endless stylish outfits while staying warm and comfortable throughout the fall and winter seasons. With a coastal capsule wardrobe you can have a closet filled with clothing you love, and be able to embrace your best coastal style.
What’s most appealing about creating a coastal capsule wardrobe to fit your lifestyle? Share your thoughts in the comments.
