For all of you minimalist dressers out there, today I’m sharing essentials for a Madewell capsule wardrobe! All of my friends know that whatever I’m wearing on any given day, it’s probably Madewell. Suffice to say I’ve built a capsule wardrobe of almost entirely Madewell essentials. Many of my pieces have lasted years and styles stay in stock year after year because they’re classics! Madewell makes it so easy to mix and match staple items that never go out of style.
I’ve been a devotee of the laid-back, classic brand since they opened their first Atlanta store in 2007. Back then, they didn’t have a shoppable website! I’d scour their look books for outfit ideas and hit up the store as often as possible. Eventually, I got a job as a stylist in the Charleston, South Carolina store on King Street (best job ever!). I worked closely with customers on the sales floor to put together outfits, suggest styles, and help with sizing. I had so much fun working in the store and connecting with other customers that loved the brand like me. Plus, discount!
As the Madewell brand transformed and grew over the years, so has my wardrobe. I loved wearing their perfect-fitting jeans and t-shirts to my college classes, and now I love mixing more grown-up pieces with my favorite relaxed tees and accessories. Madewell’s key styles and materials fit my lifestyle as a photographer and creative so well. I can run to a coffee meeting in the morning, do a photoshoot, and work in my home office all in the same outfit. That’s a win in my book!
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Your guide to building a closet of essentials
To start building a capsule wardrobe, save this checklist of wardrobe essentials. You’ll want to choose classic items that will never go out of style, are well-made (hello, it’s called Made-well!), and in classic shapes and patterns. Think about establishing a color scheme of neutrals and a few fun pops of color as well. You’ll then mix and match these essentials with other fun seasonal pieces to keep your wardrobe fresh. Once you build your capsule wardrobe, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to get dressed in the morning!
Madewell’s styles make it so easy to build this capsule collection for yourself. You can use this checklist to create a capsule wardrobe with Madewell or any of your favorite brands. I’ve included some of my favorite items below to get you started!
P.S. Some capsule collections suggest you should have a certain number of each piece of clothing. Personally, I make sure I have the essentials and don’t worry if I have the “perfect” number. It’s more important to focus on your lifestyle, the climate you live in, and your closet space!
Outerwear
Raincoat or light jacket
Heavier outwear coat (if you live in a colder climate, you may want 2!)
Leather jacket
Denim jacket
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Denim
High-waisted dark skinny denim
Black denim
Light, cropped denim
Fun denim (overalls, boyfriend, flares, whatever suits your style!)
Denim shorts
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Tees & Tanks
Solid tees in black, white, grey, and solids
Patterned tees (ALL the stripes!)
Long-sleeve tees in solids and stripes
Tops
Button-up shirts in white, chambray, or black
Blouses in solid colors and interesting materials like silk or linen
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Dresses
Special occasion dress
Casual dresses for work or weekends
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Bags
Everyday leather bag
Fun bag for evening or dressier occasions
Wallet that holds all of your daily essentials
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Shoes
Flats or mules
Comfy sneakers
Sandals
Heels
Boots or booties
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Jewelry
Delicate, gold earrings
Layered gold necklaces
Gold bangle
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Sweaters
2-3 sweaters in varying weight
Cardigan
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