The Best Clothing Brands To Build A Capsule Wardrobe
I’m sharing my favorite capsule wardrobe brands for women. With my 15+ years of styling women of all ages and sizes, this post brings you my trusted personal styling client favorite clothing staples for building a capsule wardrobe.
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These are my tried and true favorite items from specific brands that I feel every woman would love. Now while I don’t think you should buy an item just because of the brand. I also don’t feel like one brand has the perfect items for everything but, I find that there are some brands that make a great t-shirt or other brands that make the best jeans, and still other brands that make good silk blouses. What I’m going to share here are my favorite items from brands.
Ps. I’m not sponsored by these brands
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The Best Brands For Your Capsule Wardrobe Video
Best Capsule Wardrobe Brands
1. rag & bone T-shirts
These are my go-to t-shirts. They are available in crew-neck or v-neck. One of the reasons I love them so much is that they’re a little thicker than your normal t-shirt. I also love that they have a seam down the back which gives it a little bit more of an elevated feel.
People ask me what I mean by an elevated t-shirt. Rag & bone makes the perfect elevated t-shirt. What that means is that you can dress it up or down. You can wear it with a pencil skirt, a pair of heels, and a little jacket. But, you can also wear it casually with a pair of jeans and sneakers. It’s really versatile which makes it an ideal Capsule Wardrobe piece.
2. The rag & bone Tank
My favorite tank is also by rag & bone. It has that same interesting seam in the back like the t-shirt. It fits really well, it’s not sheer and it’s elevated. An elevated tank isn’t always the easiest thing to find unless you’re looking at silk options. But this one by rag & bone is cotton and you can still dress it up or down.
3. Equipment And L’Agence Silk Blouses
The next wardrobe essential that I think is a must-have for a capsule wardrobe is a silk blouse. Some of my favorite silk blouses are from Equipment. Another favorite brand for silk blouses is L’Agence. A silk blouse is something that I think is worth the investment. If you take good care of it and have it dry-cleaned every 2nd or 3rd time you wear it, it will last you for years. Make sure to invest in one that is in a neutral solid color in a classic style.
4. rag & bone Simone Pant
My next clothing staple for a capsule wardrobe is another one from rag & bone, the Simone pant. I have made a whole video just on these pants because they are the best black pants I’ve found. All of my clients love them. What makes them such a great capsule wardrobe staple is that they are high-waisted with some stretch. They are more structured than a legging but fit like a legging. The Simone pant is ankle length, but if you’re on the shorter side like me (I’m 5’4) they come a little longer which is nice. They are slim-leg classic pants and also come in navy. The rag & bone Simone pant is my favorite all-time dress pant. I’ve worn them with elevated t-shirts, silk blouses, and sweaters. They’re super versatile and definitely worth the price tag.
5. Frame Jeans
Next up is my favorite jean brand, Frame. After years of trying so many different denim brands, Frame is my favorite. I have never had a client not love Frame jeans as much as I do. I have converted all of my clients over many years, over many ages to Frame jeans. If you have not tried on a pair of Frame jeans and are looking for a perfect pair of jeans, I encourage you to try on your favorite silhouette in Frame denim. They have a bit of stretch that makes them more comfortable than most jeans, yet they still have an amazing structure that helps define your legs in the most flattering way.
6. AGOLDE Parker Long Shorts
These denim shorts from AGOLDE are so good that I got them in 3 shades. They are the only shorts I wear all summer long. I love that they’re a little bit longer. They’re not as stretchy as Frame denim but I still love the way they fit. The Parker shorts also have a button fly which takes a minute to get used to if you’re more into zippers, but they are so good that it doesn’t matter. I recommend sizing up because they are meant to be a more cool and relaxed fit. Most of my styling clients that have had a hard time finding great-fitting denim shorts that are “mom-appropriate” and still cool, love these from AGOLDE.
7. Veronica Beard Dresses
If you’ve been following me for some time, you have heard me talk about Veronica Beard‘s silk floral dresses. I have five or six and I wear them a lot. They’re so easy and effortless and worth the price tag. Not only is the quality amazing, but their styles are flattering on a lot of different body types. They are my most recommended dress that easily transforms from day to night.
8. Vince Cashmere Sweaters
The next brand I love is Vince for their sweaters. They make some of the most beautiful cardigans and pullover cashmere sweaters. Vince cashmere sweaters seem to pill less and last longer. Sometimes you can find them on major sale at Nordstrom Rack.
9. 525 Cotton Sweaters
One of my favorite budget-friendly sweater brands for a capsule wardrobe are from the 525. They are usually 100% cotton which makes them easier to care for. You can wash them in a mesh bag and hang them to dry. I find that they tend to run big, so think about sizing down.
10. LaMarque Leather Jacket
The next item on my capsule wardrobe brands list is the leather moto jacket from LaMarque. It’s a great dupe for the Iro Asheville jacket but half the price. I’ve had mine for a few years and love it so much that I also got it in blush. The leather is great quality and the fit is amazing.
11. Theory Wool Coats
When it comes to a classic wool coat, one of my favorite brands is Theory. Theory has made some of the best classic wool or wool blend coats for years. To find one that will last, look for a classic silhouette in a neutral color. Preferably lined with pockets.
12. Natori’s T-shirt Bra
Your undergarments are the foundation of your wardrobe. It’s important to find bras that fit well and are seamless under your clothing. My all-time favorite bra is from Natori. It’s their t-shirt bra and I get a new one every year in nude and black. The Natori bra is definitely worth the price tag. It will help everything fit better.
13. Golden Goose Or Veja Sneakers
It took me so long to find sneakers that didn’t make me look too boyish. So I didn’t wear sneakers for many years. But now I wear my sneakers more than any other shoes I own. There are two brands that I love and recommend. The first is Golden Goose.
About eight years ago when a stylish friend of mine was wearing a pair of Golden Goose sneakers I thought to myself, why are you wearing dirty shoes? When she told me how expensive they were, I couldn’t understand why. It took me years to like them, and now I love them. I had the same experience when skinny jeans first came out.
I wear my Golden Goose sneakers with dresses, and I love that they’re distressed. It makes my dresses have a more casual and fun vibe. Now if you’re still not into Golden Goose sneakers, I recommend Vejas. Not only do they come in a lot of different styles, but they are also environmentally conscious and have a more affordable price tag. I probably wear these just as much as I wear my Golden Goose.
14. TKEES Flip Flops
Otherwise known as an elevated flip-flop. And before you ask, yes there is such a thing as an elevated flip-flop. So much so, that I wore a nude pair of TKEES for the second half of my wedding reception. They’re only about fifty dollars and come in a lot of neutral shades to match your skin tone. Not only do they make your legs look longer, but they are also made of leather in a clean simple design. They are very versatile and easy to style. If you don’t want to wear a sandal, you could wear TKEES instead.
15. Brixton Straw Hats
Because I live in Los Angeles, I wear my Brixton straw hat all year round. It’s an affordable brand and comes in a few different shades. I wear a size small and I would say my head’s average. A Brixton straw hat is definitely a budget-friendly favorite brand for a straw hat.
16. Ray-Bans And Tom Ford Sunglasses
Another must-have capsule wardrobe item is a pair of chic sunglasses. I like to have two pairs of sunglasses from my favorite brands, Ray-Bans and Tom Ford. The Aviator style from Ray-Bans with a gold rim is the classic Aviator that’s been around for years. They’re super flattering and work with most face shapes. They are also more affordable than my Tom Ford.
But, Tom Ford sunglasses are so chic and elevated and are worth the price tag. Their sunglasses tend to work with a lot of different face sizes and shapes.
These are my favorite clothing brands and items that I think every woman should have to get dressed easily and always look stylish. To learn more about all the capsule wardrobe brands I recommend, grab your free brand guide for lux and budget-friendly picks for my favorite items for women, men, and teens.
The Best Brands For Your Capsule Wardrobe Video
Capsule Wardrobe Brands FAQs & Expert Tips
How many items should be in a capsule wardrobe?
While the number of clothes a woman should own is a personal choice, I think it’s more important to address how many pieces in a woman’s closet she’s actually wearing. Having the 16 capsule wardrobe pieces featured in this article is a great foundation for any closet.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is to have a well-curated collection of fewer clothing staples that are versatile. The end goal of a capsule wardrobe is to always feel like you have something great to wear no matter the occasion or the weather, and that every item hanging in your closet is something that you love and feel great in.
Related: The Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe Checklist For Women
Are capsule wardrobes sustainable?
The simple answer is yes. Focusing on creating a capsule wardrobe of high-quality clothing staples is a sustainable way to build your wardrobe. Capsule wardrobes focus on having classic, timeless, quality pieces that are versatile. They avoid fast fashion and trends that come in and out of style. When you have a capsule wardrobe, you have fewer pieces that have been carefully curated and consciously chosen to add to your closet. So you end up wearing them more and shopping less.
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