Autumn Capsule Wardrobe Update

I’m a good month and a half into my autumn capsule wardrobe now, and so I thought it was time to give a little update on how it’s been going. I’ve finally rounded out my capsule to a total of 30 pieces, favouring the classics over anything particularly trend-driven. Combining a capsule wardrobe with the 5PFW Challenge means that there isn’t quite as many new pieces – or standouts – coming into my wardrobe, which is both a blessing and a curse at the same time. I’d say for the last six months or so, I’ve been feeling a certain restlessness with what I currently have, and I’m definitely ready to branch out and have a bit more fun with my wardrobe.

As much as I loathe circling back to the weather, it’s been a pretty mild autumn so far. Temperatures have ranged between 24-34 degrees celsius on any given day, dipping down to the mid-teens at night, which has meant that I haven’t needed to reach for opaque stockings, and my cosy sweaters have only been coming out about twice a week.

In terms of my colour scheme, it’s been working well, and I’ve been loving the admission of a few blush-toned hues as they’ve really helped to brighten up the occasional dreary day. I’ve aimed to complement what I’d already selected with my new additions, focusing mainly on grey, navy, and pink to keep things consistent.

Without getting too in-depth, or too analytical, one thing I’ve noticed is that I’ve started to skew towards a more relaxed wardrobe, which I think is in part due to the creative and relaxed working environment that I’m in. Plus most days, I’m wearing a pair of flats (walking 1.5 hours a day isn’t ideal in a pair of heels, nor is it good for your back!), which while I’m of the opinion that they can make a lot of outfits look a little flat, they’ve become such a practical daily companion for me that I couldn’t imagine swapping them out for heels on a daily basis.

But moving on to what I’ve actually added to my capsule… and needless to say, stripes may have been involved…

ADDED TO MY AUTUMN CAPSULE
Everlane silk cami in dove grey | Everlane’s silk tanks and cami’s have featured in every one of my capsule wardrobes so far, and it only made sense to include one for autumn, given how unseasonably warm it has been. This looks great worn with jeans for a more undone look, or tucked into a skirt for something a little more dressy.

T by Alexander Wang striped top | I’m a huge fan of the nautical stripe and I just couldn’t resist the urge to throw in a couple more options, this sheer long sleeved stripe top being one of them. This works well as a layering piece and can be worn both with my pencil skirt for the office, or a pair of jeans for the weekend.

Everlane charcoal cashmere sweater | This is a favourite of mine year round, and after coming to the conclusion that just one black jersey wasn’t going to cut it, throwing this into the mix was a no-brainer. I can’t recall exactly when I purchased this, but I want to say about two years ago, and it is still going strong.

J Crew beige fuzzy sweater | The heaviest of the three ‘sweaters’ I added in, this is super soft and warm, and great for those icy morning commutes (or when it’s just a bit cold). I haven’t had as many opportunities to wear this one yet – it’s been too warm – but I think that in May it’ll be a solid go-to for me.

C/meo Collective navy longline cardigan | Taking a step back and looking at my colour palette for the season, navy has played a huge part in the make-up; not surprising given that as far as I’m concerned, navy is the new black. What I love about this oversized (and snuggly) cardigan is that it isn’t the most typical shade of navy; it adds a bit of much needed vibrancy and pairs perfectly with my RUBY off the shoulder dress in pink (which I’ll talk about a little more down below).

Christina Chiti black wool fringed cape | I brought this home with me following my trip back home in February; it’s one of the pieces in my mum’s wardrobe that I had always loved, and I really like that I can look pulled together, yet essentially be wearing a blanket while sitting at my desk at work.

RUBY grey wrap skirt | It’s been a while since I’ve added anything to my wardrobe from Kiwi-label RUBY, but I’ve been absolutely loving their current A/W collection and I couldn’t resist nabbing a couple things for myself. I’ve worn this quite a bit recently with a sweater tucked in and I think it’ll look nice come the cooler weather with a pair of tights too.

Lover the Label navy drifter mini skirt | I tend to pick something up from Lover every season, usually opting for a bit of lace but I decided to be a bit more pragmatic this time around. This skirt fits in perfectly with my wardrobe as a whole, and given that it’s navy, will work well even with tights on those days when it’s really chilly. I’m a huge fan of the a-line style, and I love the rivet detailing on the waist.

RUBY off the shoulder pink dress | This really is one of the more wildcard pieces in my capsule, but also one of my absolute favourites. I’ve been on the hunt for an off the shoulder piece for months now, and this dress from RUBY really ticked all the boxes for me, not to mention it’s such a playful style. I’m fortunate enough that I can get away with wearing this dress to work, and it also pairs well with a long cardigan for when I need to cover up a little more. As I mentioned earlier, the weather has been pretty mild lately so this has turned out to be a great transeasonal piece.

T by Alexander Wang striped mini dress | You’ve probably noticed that I seldom tend to wear anything fitted, preferring voluminous and floaty silhouettes over anything form fitting. But, I’ve been wanting this dress for a couple of years now, so when I saw it pop up on The Real Real in pristine condition, I just had to pull the trigger. It’s a little shorter than I’m used to, but it looks great worn with a longline cardigan, or as a ‘mock’ top underneath my Lover navy drifter skirt.

LAST MINUTE CHANGES
Last minute, I decided to swap out my Equipment silk shirt and white Lover mini skirt for a couple of options that were a little more versatile – in my opinion at least. To make up the shirt component, I decided to opt for my Dries van Noten white cotton shirt, which is easier to care for (meaning I don’t need to be quite so precious when wearing it) and a little more structured in fit.

I swapped out the white Lover mini skirt for a Lover midi skirt; it seemed more appropriate given that we are in the thick of autumn, and felt like a more appropriate choice for the office – it’s just one of the pieces that looks great with a pair of flats or some low pointed toe heels.

So there you have it; the ins and outs of my capsule wardrobe (in perhaps a little too much detail). Have you built a capsule wardrobe this season; and if so, how’s it going? x