Womenswear has a wider range of silhouettes, fabrics and formality levels than menswear, which makes a capsule harder to build and more valuable once built.
Dresses are efficiency, not indulgence
A dress is a complete outfit in one garment. Two good dresses do the work of four separates and take a fraction of the decision-making.
Silhouette consistency beats colour consistency
A capsule of matching colours in wildly different shapes still will not combine. Pick a rough proportion — fitted top with loose bottom, or the reverse — and stay near it.
One layer that works over everything
The piece that does most work is usually a fine knit or blazer that goes over dresses and separates alike.
An 18-piece women’s capsule
An 18-piece women’s capsule
- 4 tops in base neutrals
- 1 white shirt
- 2 fine knits
- 2 dresses
- 2 pairs of trousers
- 1 skirt
- 1 pair of jeans
- 1 blazer or structured layer
- 1 coat
- 1 pair of flats
- 1 pair of boots
- 1 pair of trainers