Casual vs. Smart Casual
You probably already know how much I love autumn – it's my favorite time of the year, and a big reason for that is the cozy, neutral-toned fashion.
I usually start planning my fall wardrobe around mid-September, just as the weather begins to shift where I live. And because I already shared the final overview of my current capsule on Instagram, I wanted to do something different here on the blog and talk about versatility.
Regarding the capsule wardrobe concept, I always say that your closet should reflect your needs and aesthetics, favorite colors/patterns, and, most importantly, your lifestyle. But it's also essential to prioritize versatility. Choosing pieces that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits is the secret. It not only maximizes the potential of your closet but also simplifies your daily outfit choice, reducing decision fatigue and helping you plan future purchases.
This year, I've been focused on comfort and practicality as I built my autumn closet. Since I don't have a specific dress code at work, you won't see dresses, suits, fancy tops, or high heels in my capsule. Instead, I've opted for cozy sweaters, wool blazers, classic trousers and jeans, comfy shoes, and timeless outerwear. Again, I focused on versatility and curated a collection of clothing that allows me to easily adapt my look from a relaxed, casual vibe to a more polished, smart-casual aesthetic.
Below, I'm sharing more details about each category - I hope it will inspire you to embrace the power of simple, versatile clothing and give you a peek at the fall outfits I'll be rocking for the next couple of months.
Basic t-shirt
A basic tee is a must-have in my spring and summer wardrobe. During colder months, I don't reach for them as often, but still, I like to include at least two colors (white and black) in my autumn capsule. The white t-shirt looks great layered under the sweater - such small detail makes even the simplest outfit more polite and fresh. And when it comes to the black one, I love to wear it under the blazers while creating smart-casual workwear outfits. When choosing a basic t-shirt, I always look at three essential details:
- breathable natural fabric
- the proper cut and sleeve length (I prefer the boxy fit)
- the quality of the seams
My favorite model that you usually see in my graphics is from Uniqlo. But, in autumn, I often reach for those made of thicker cotton (here or here)
White shirt
A white cotton shirt is another staple in my closet, which you can often see in my daily outfit inspirations. And because it's something I wear on a daily basis, I have included two options in my autumn capsule: the oversized poplin shirt from sustainable brand Outland Denim (currently out of stock) and the classic cotton shirt from the old H&M collection, which is great layered under a sweater or cardigan. If you really love to wear a specific clothing item, it's worth having it in a few different textures, styles, or colors.
Lightweight sweater
Another item I love to have in a few different colors! The grey sweater is from Everlane (here), and the taupe I bought at Uniqlo (here) a few years ago. During autumn, I usually wear them over a white tee, and then I like to add another cozy layer - a wool blazer, trench, or coat. When choosing a classic crew neck, I always look for something neutral, slightly oversized, and made of cotton, cashmere, or merino wool.
Cozy jumpers
Again, while buying such jumpers, invest in something made of natural fabric (organic cotton, wool, cashmere, alpaca blend). It doesn't have to be super pricey - just avoid materials such as polyester and acrylic. Something that always disappoints me in shopping hauls on social media is when a blogger recommends an autumn/winter sweater (fully made of synthetic material) and describes it as 'incredibly soft and cozy.' Unfortunately - soft and cozy doesn't mean warm and sustainable. When buying a sweater made of 100% polyacrylic, you need to be aware that you will be cold in it. Also, it pills easily and is not biodegradable - acrylic fabrics take hundreds of years to decompose.
Sweatshirt/Hoodie
I bought this cashmere hoodie on the LilySilk (here) website a year ago, and I love it! I would never have thought such a casual clothing piece would be so easy to dress up or down. I can pair it with leggings, a trench coat, and running shoes, and I am ready to run some errands. I will also share how you can style it for more -smart-casual outfits this season.
Roll-neck sweater
For now, I only included one rollneck sweater in my capsule, but I will add two more colors during winter when the weather gets colder and windier. Again, I think a cream or white rollneck (or mock-neck) is something that makes every outfit look more clean and fresh. I bought my sweater at Uniqlo (here) two years ago, but now I see a lot of more sustainable options at stores like Asket, Tricot, or The Curated.
Striped sweater
Who said that the stripes are reserved only for the spring-summer season? A long, oversized striped jumper from my graphic is from the H&M 2021 premium collection - I know it's fast fashion, but I got it secondhand (Vinted), and it's wool and cashmere-bled. I will definitely invest in a more sustainable brand in the future - but for now, I focus on using what I already have in my wardrobe. And when it comes to a striped jumper - I love to wear it tied around the shoulders (over a white shirt) or as a tunic with jeans, rain boots, and a coat.
Wool blazer
You might think - who needs three blazers in a capsule wardrobe? But I truly love blazers and wear them almost every day in the fall! In the past, I used to buy affordable blazers from stores like H&M and Zara. While I was happy with the cut and fit, they were made mainly of viscose and polyester. A lot changed when I bought my first wool blazer with tencel lining - I immediately felt the difference, and I promised myself that from now on, I would buy less often, but I would start investing in quality. My favorite brands regarding quality blazers are Everlane, Arket, and The Curated.
Casual jacket
It can be a leather biker jacket, suede jacket, raincoat, light parka, quilted jacket, or oversized wool over-shirt. I got this teddy 'shacket' at Mango last year - it's not the most sustainable item in my wardrobe, but I want to use it as long as possible. Again, it's something I like to wear with leggings and rain boots, but this season, I want to style it with my shirts, jeans, and ankle boots as well. I often see such outfit combinations on the Sezane website, and I like them a lot!
Trench coat
A classic trench is a versatile clothing item that always adds that effortless Parisian vibe to an outfit. The coat you always see in my graphics and daily inspirations is from Arket - it looks almost identical to the one I have from the 'Sanna NY' 2018/19 collection. Finding the right trench is not easy. Especially if you are looking for a quality coat that will last for years. The most disappointing thing for me is that most coats have a polyester lining these days. Still, I found a great option at Sezane that I can recommend because it's timeless and made of sustainable fabric.
Wool coat
My wool/cashmere camel coat from The Curated was the biggest investment in my wardrobe. I ordered it in 2020, and since then, it has been one of my favorite pieces I have ever owned! As much as I think a woolen coat is very useful in an autumn closet - when it comes to color, try to choose something that goes well with the rest of your clothes. Personally, I like to include shades such as camel, taupe, cream, and black, but if such colors make you look pale, maybe consider navy, grey, or something more saturated.
Black trousers
The model you see in my visuals is from J. Crew (Cameron), but I also have a wool alternative for colder months because I wear black pants a lot this time of the year. Finding classic, well-made workwear trousers is a challenge, but again, I recommend checking out a few premium brands like Arket, COS, Sezane, or Comptoir des Cotonniers.
Jeans
Jeans are one of my closet's favorite and most worn clothing categories. I often get questions about what cut/brand is best to choose and how many pairs of denim should be in the capsule wardrobe. There is no one good answer here because when trying to find the perfect pair of jeans, you should look at what you feel best and most comfortable in. When building my capsules, I usually opt for classic Levi's 501 and brands like Arket, & Other Stories, or Outland Denim:
- high-waisted skinny jeans in black
- a straight-leg model in light blue, mid-blue, and off-white
- wide-leg jeans in mid-blue
This year, you can only see the straight-leg model in my autumn capsule because this style looks best with the shoes I mostly wear during the fall months. However, I will surely add my favorite pair of skinny jeans to my winter capsule - it's a classic that always looks great with oversized sweaters, snow boots, and Hunter wellies.
Leggings
Black leggings may not be the most beautiful item in my wardrobe, but I love them for their comfort and practicality. I usually choose a classic thick and high-waisted model for more casual outfits. But I also bought stirrup leggings last year, and I love them! I know that this style is not everyone's cup of tea. However, if your style is simple, but at the same time, you are a bit bored of wearing classic tailored pants or black jeans, I highly recommend checking out stirrup leggings. In my opinion, Mango has the best options to choose from - they are affordable, made of viscose blend, but not see-through, so you can easily style them for more elevated outfits with a white shirt, blazer, and loafers.
Shoes & Bags
I used to love buying handbags and shoes! However, over the last year, I've noticed that I only really use a few of my favorite models that I've had in my wardrobe for years. In recent months, my collection of handbags and shoes has decreased significantly, and in my autumn capsule, I have included only such options that I would buy again.
Small accessories
The last category in my wardrobe is small accessories that always add a touch of character to the outfit. Dainty earrings (Mejuri), classic watches (Anne Klein), leather belts (Ann Taylor), wool hats (H&M), and oversized scarves (Hallhuber) are a great and timeless addition to any autumn wardrobe.
I hope you enjoyed today's post and that describing each category of my fall capsule closet is something you find helpful. Thank you for visiting my blog, and have a lovely week!
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