What's In My Fall Capsule Wardrobe

Believe it or not, I have never created a capsule wardrobe. I know, I know... capsule wardrobes are basically a must for anyone who claims to be a minimalist. But it’s never too late to jump on this trend!

And there’s no better season to test out my capsule wardrobe making skills than the fall — the time of year we are all eager to whip out all the sweaters, chunky turtlenecks and wool coats (but let’s be real — I’ve been pretending like it’s fall for about a month now).

Without further ado, I present to you my fall capsule wardrobe. The creation process took a surprisingly short amount of time, probably because my closet errs on the side of neutrals and pieces that are easy to mix and match. When all was said and done, I ended up with a lineup that is very satisfying, for one reason in particular: I have two of every type of clothing (and just one for the less-worn types). Let me explain.

I have two of each in the following categories: long-sleeve button-ups, long-sleeve turtlenecks, sweaters, and pants. And I have one of each in the following categories: long skirts, dresses, jumpsuits, and coats. I paired all of this with three pairs of shoes, which are all very different from each other and serve entirely different purposes. And that’s it! It’s a total of 12 items of clothing (including my “new” wool coat I recently thrifted) and three pairs of shoes.

Let’s discuss a few rules before we proceed (well, they’re more like non-rules, actually). I’m not limiting myself to this wardrobe all fall long. My plan for the time being is to start out dressing exclusively from this rack, but I will allow myself to wear something outside of this for special occasions, like the wedding we are going to in October. Plus, this wardrobe does not include both loungewear or workout clothes — plus any accessories, like tights, a scarf, undershirts, etc. But for the most part, I will pull from this rack for the majority of outfits I’ll put together during the week when I go to my co-working space. And if I’m a few weeks in and realize I have not been loving a certain item, I will simply replace it with something else I’m drawn to (or remove it without a replacement). I won’t fully know how this holds up until I’ve actually limited myself to these items only.

Alright! Let’s walk through each of the items so I can explain why they were worthy of inclusion in this small autumn-y collection.

(2) Long-Sleeve Button-Ups

This sheer off-white button-up has been on a heavy rotation as we’ve transitioned from summer to fall. It’s light and airy. It has an excellent collar and shoulder pads I don’t plan on removing. And it immediately makes me feel professional and put-together.

I almost forgot I have this silk olive green button-up, which has an interesting low neckline situation. I’m usually more drawn to shirts that button all the way up to the neck, but I was intrigued by this shape, especially the shape of the collar! Plus, I had to add *some* color to my wardrobe.

(2) Turtlenecks/Mock Necks

We love a good turtleneck — especially a black one. I call this my Steve Jobs turtleneck, especially when paired with my ABLE jeans (more on those later). This turtleneck is thick and warm, and fits me just right.

This off-white mock neck sweater is one of my most recent thrift finds. It has a subtle striped pattern and is very high-quality (I believe it’s vintage!). I’ve been pairing it with a crew neck sweatshirt for the ultimate ‘90s look.

(2) Sweaters

Sweaters are the staple of every fall outfit. That’s why I selected two of my favorites, including my white Lily pullover sweater from ABLE. PS Get 20% off all full-priced ABLE with code HOLLY20.

I also included this chunky baby blue sweater I recently thrifted. It has a super high neck and is in perfect condition. Again, I have to have *some* color.

(2) Pairs of Pants/Jeans

Choosing pants was an important decision. That’s why I included my Atamy high-rise straight jeans from ABLE, which I wear at least 2-3 times a week. Again, HOLLY20 gets you 20% off!

I also chose my wide-leg khaki pants I got at Goodwill, because they go with just about everything (and they’re super loose and comfortable!). I’ve worn them with all the tops mentioned above and they work perfectly each and every time.

(1) Long Skirt

Nothing screams fall more than this camel brown maxi skirt. I love the tiny polka dots and the buttons that go all the way from top to bottom. I can’t wait to pair this with the white mock neck, black tights and those tall black boots.

(1) Dress

I honestly wonder if this dress was handmade. It just feels like it wasn’t mass-produced and it doesn’t have a tag — a sure sign that someone’s grandma made this by hand. But I guess I’ll never know, because of course, I got this at Goodwill! I could see this with a turtleneck or the white button-up underneath — and tights, of course. I mean, just look at those pockets…

(1) Jumpsuit

This jumpsuit from ABLE works in just about every season — it’s all about how it’s layered (or not layered, in the warmer months). It’s extremely soft and comfortable, so I always say I feel like a baby when I wear it, especially because of the cuffed ankles. It looks like ABLE doesn’t have this jumpsuit in black anymore, but here it is in chambray! And while we’re gathered, here’s a cute utility jumpsuit (I love it in white).

(1) Coat

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how excited I was about this recent Goodwill find. It’s a camel wool coat originally from J. Crew that fits me like a glove. I believe it is this coat, which was originally $238 — but I got it for $15! I love the high neck and how long it is.

(3) Pairs of Shoes

*Left: Thrifted from Goodwill, Middle + Right: Gifted from ABLE*

Surprisingly, choosing shoes was the easiest part of this whole capsule creation process! It was a no-brainer to include these brown leather shoes with a tiny heel, because I wear them basically all year long. I could see myself wearing cute old-school white socks (like these!) to make them warmer during the fall and winter.

Next, my brand-new black leather boots — you guessed it, from ABLE. I love the pointed toe and the tall heel. I needed a good heel in the mix, but I knew I would never wear actual high-heels during the fall and winter because I love chunky wool socks too much (and hardly ever wear anything that exposes my toes, summer or winter!).

And finally, these leather white/cognac sneakers from ABLE can easily dress down everything on this list. I just threw them in the wash because I’ve worn them non-stop this summer and they needed a little love. I especially love wearing these with the brown skirt and my ABLE jeans!

Why Create a Capsule Wardrobe?

There are many reasons to consider creating a capsule wardrobe. I’ll delve into this in more detail some day, but for the time being: it makes getting dressed in the morning more simple. It forces you to be more creative with more parameters set. It helps you narrow down what you actually enjoy wearing. I could go on and on… But for now, those reasons (especially making life more simple) are enough for me.

What About You?

Have you ever created a capsule wardrobe? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments below!

Holly RagsdaleSeptember 21, 2021Comment