If I Rebuilt My Capsule Wardrobe On a Budget I'd Start With These 13 Smart Buys

If you take a look at the fashion landscape right now, there’s been a distinct quietening of fashion. A great shirt is just as celebrated as a heavy embellished dress, and sharp tailored trousers are as eye-catching as bold shades.

Of course, playful trends and pops of individuality will always appear through the minimalist veneer, but even these can be bolstered by simple, hard-working pieces. Naturally, this means our capsule wardrobes are being relied on more than ever to support our understated, anti-trend looks.

For many of us, a capsule wardrobe is a term we hear over and over again, but figuring out what this actually means and which pieces are worth adding to your wardrobe is something you may want some guidance on. That’s why I’m here, with almost a decade of experience in the industry and a minimalist aesthetic to help you create the foundations of a truly great wardrobe.

The capsule wardrobe consists of timeless staples that can not only be mixed and matched for classic looks but also work as a starting point for building more interesting looks. When considering pieces that we will rely on for years to come, this does offer a chance to invest in high-quality, enduring pieces that will go the distance. But if your budget doesn’t extend to the hundreds if not thousands of pounds this may require, I’m here to celebrate the high-end-looking pieces without the accompanying price tag.

Keep scrolling to explore the 13 smart buys I’d start with to build a capsule wardrobe.

1. The Oversized Blazer

Style Notes: As soon as tailoring was democratised into the every day, blazers soon became a key part of all great wardrobes. A piece that pairs with dresses, skirts, tailoring, jeans, satin trousers and so much more, instant polish is unavoidable when adding a great oversized blazer into the mix.

Shop oversized blazers:

M&S Collection

Relaxed Single Breasted Blazer

New Look

Brown Double Breasted Blazer

ZARA

Oversized Double-Breasted Blazer

2. The Straight-Leg Jeans

Woman wears brown suede jacket, blue jeans and black boots

Style Notes: Over the past decades, various denim cuts have grown in popularity from wide-leg silhouettes to the current barrel-leg shape, but straight-leg jeans have stood firm against moving trends and maintained their enduring appeal. Classic, chic and consistently on trend, having a great pair of jeans will aid in outfits for all occasions, from office looks to evenings out.