Work-friendly Creative Minimalism Capsule Wardrobe: How I Made It and How to Expand It

Previously, I shared a work-friendly capsule wardrobe for the creative minimalist. It is a collection of three bottoms, two jackets, four tops, two pairs of shoes, two bags, a belt, and glasses that can make a month's worth of looks not just for the office but everyday.

green blazer | green trousers | ivory jacket | ivory jeans | dark jeans | striped sweater | green sweater | purple sweater | ivory shirt | loafers | sneakers | tote | crossbody | belt | glasses

This creative minimalist capsule wardrobe is a base of ivory with black accessories and pops of greens and lavender. It is low-frills, focusing on fit instead of jewelry, shoes, dresses, or makeup for variety. It is designed to work from fall to spring, and have colors and pieces that with capsule additions, could be a four-season wardrobe.

The only way to achieve such versatility and longevity with a capsule wardrobe is to have it be personal. We don't all like the same colors or silhouettes or styles. We have different bodies, are different ages, with different lifestyles.

How I Made This Capsule Wardrobe

Below, I share how I decided on the color and concept of this capsule wardrobe, the thought behind the accessories, and some classic pieces that can extend the capsule's versatility. I hope this expansion of the “why” of this capsule wardrobe will help you with building and expanding your own closets without constantly rebuying. My hope with these capsules are to show you ways to achieve more style with fewer pieces hanging in your closet.

Starting with a Concept

As I mentioned in the original capsule wardrobe post, I was inspired by the dark green color of the Flex Suiting collection at M.M.LaFleur. It's not a typical color for suits but the shade with the design makes it quite versatile. I wanted to create a capsule that is minimalistic, free of jewelry and frills, and a bit more gender-neutral while using fashion retailers that design for the curves of a woman's body.

Choosing Color for the Capsule Wardrobe

Instead of using black as the primary color for my capsule wardrobe, I used dark green and ivory. I wanted to show that you don't need to resort to black to be versatile. Black is fab, but black isn't for all, can feel too harsh at times, and heck, there's likely already black in your closet. Let's expand upon it and elevate the whole wardrobe.

Speaking of which, every black piece in this capsule can be switched out with brown. Just have that brown polished and professional; that's the key to versatility in a work capsule.

Ivory is a favorite neutral of mine because it can look elevated, even if it's a simple t-shirt and jeans. The ivory pieces I added are relatively seasonless; you can wear them in January or June with the chunky black loafers or a pair of summery Birkenstocks. And yes, you can pair ivory with cream and white; the combo is quite chic. Don't sleep on ivory, it's an easy way to elevate your closet and add versatility.

I chose pops of color that would add interest to green while still looking smart with dark wash denim and ivory. However, they may not be to your taste. If so, I have options:

• Go bolder with unexpected colors like chartreuse, saffron, cyan, shocking pink, pumpkin, and vermillion. If it feels it won't go, it likely will for 2024/2025 when unexpected pairings feel fresh. Just keep the colors saturated and strong.
• Go softer with heather gray, black, brown, or navy. I like the idea of heathered gray and charcoal; it feels classic and elevated and works with the capsule's aesthetic.
• If the dark green isn't your jam, the suit can be switched to another color. Navy, black, gray, or a deep plum would all be great alternatives.

About the Accessories

The laptop bag and the crossbody are free of hardware, making them very neutral and modern yet classic. The belt is clean and classic and can work with wool trousers at work or vintage jeans on the weekend.

And the glasses… I say if you have to wear them, add some personality. Now that I am again a glasses wearer, I am all about frames that add to my style while also dressing my face without the need for cosmetics (or a good night's sleep). I do have some of the really cheap fun frames, but we grown-ass folk should have one pair above all others that fits well, looks chic, and expresses our personality. I know it's not always possible for every prescription or need, but updating your glasses is a quick way to update your entire look and wardrobe. New year, new you, new frames?

Shop the Collage:
Column One: one | two | three | four | five | six | seven
Column Two: one | two | three | four | five | six | seven

The Warby Parker try-on at home program is a great way to try a range of frames of different shapes and sizes before buying. Take notes; did that style need a different size nose bridge? What is the width of the frames and the height of the lenses? Does your head work with medium frames, or do you need narrow or wider? This will help you shop at any online glasses retailer. Some of my other favorites:

• Eyebobs makes badass, high quality readers and prescription frames.
• Persol has a subtle but cool vibe fitting this capsule; I find the best price on GlassesUSA.com.
• EzContacts is also a great place to get Persol and other designer frames for less.
• I own CADDIS frames and find them cool-looking and high-quality; I like the idea of this frame color with the capsule wardrobe.
• I've been crushing on Krewe frames and
• Zenni has great prices, great customer service, with collaborations and collections from folks like Marc Jacobs, Iris Apfel, and Cynthia Rowley

Sleek retro classic sneakers and polished black loafers with a bit of heft aren't boring but are subtle enough to go with so much. If you wish to have a bit more personality in the shoe department, may I suggest The Office of Angela Scott or Marc Nolan?

Recommended Pieces to Expand the Capsule Wardrobe

Clearly, this isn't enough clothing to last a season and all that may come your way in life. Below, I share a few garments that would easily extend the versatility of your capsule wardrobe and will remain cool-looking for years to come. The shopping carousels are pieces handpicked by me offering the best quality or style I could find at a range of reasonable pricepoints.

A denim jacket

I love me a well-worn and passionately loved denim jacket that is slouchy and distressed… but that's not what I am talking about for this capsule wardrobe. You're looking for polish and fit.

A classic jean jacket is perennially chic. If you go classic, go dark wash and tailored. It is not baggy but not tight, and the hem is between just below your waistband and the hip. But check out the range of denim jackets currently out there. Blazers, wrap jackets, collarless, statement sleeves, and more can be both practical and artistic additions.

When things are unique but well-designed, they can be a closet favorite for decades, working with various trends. Basic isn't always best for a long-lasting and pared-down closet. If you're buying less, you can buy better and can take the time to find better. For jean jackets, watch the resale sites and dig through thrift stores.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having your jean jacket tailored into a new silhouette and fit that works with your frame. I highly recommend it; it will elevate your style and make it more enjoyable to wear.

A black tee

Not just any black t-shirt, but we're talking one that you treat as nicely as your sweaters and suits. One that is made of a heavier fabric, a more refined finish, one that may end up having a pricetag closer to one of your sweaters.

This can be a classic short-sleeve pocket tee, but it should be richly saturated black, a neckline that sits flat and doesn't restrict, and sleeves that aren't too long or loose. Again, it's an investment even to have t-shirts tailored to fit your frame and have the best sleeve length.

If you are into architecture, you can have some fun with this black t-shirt. It can have padded shoulders, or be made out of leather, or have dolman sleeves. Just remember this capsule is creative minimalist, not quirky art teacher so keep the black rich, the lines clean, and the draping and slouching to a minimum.

Care for it well, and a black t-shirt can live in your closet for years. A bit of white vinegar or color-safe bleach can keep blacks dark longer. Woolite Darks gets great reviews too, as does this detergent from The Laundress.

A white button-front shirt

Again, you want to go with well-tailored and crisp, opaque white. This item is worth spending money on now that you're a grown-ass person. You won't be as likely to destroy it with sloshed red wine or coffee, and you are more willing to whip out the old toothbrush and DIY stain remover to care for any stains.

Buy to fit your bustline, neck, and shoulders, and then go to a tailor (or the alterations department of Nordstrom and other higher-end department stores) and get the rest adjusted to work with your frame. Companies like Indochino and Mens Wearhouse, which are known for custom tailoring, will do so for all bodies and have been trained to do so.

If you like architecture in your clothes, have fun with unexpected sleeve lengths or shapes or a unique collar. If the shirt fits well, it will look cool even if the current trend isn't unique collars or statement sleeves.

A soft jacket or jacket alternative

You're looking for a top layer that isn't as stiff and structured as a denim jacket or blazer. This could be a shacket, a lady jacket, a sweater blazer… something made of a substantial but soft fabric that will add softness to the collection and dress it down without losing polish.

Here you can incorporate a print or an interesting a texture or even a pop of color. Chunky sweater knit, plaid or houndstooth, marled yarns, quilting, boucle… texture and pattern will add depth to the capsule and show your personality.

A fisherman or cable-knit sweater

A classic ivory cableknit sweater would look very cool with this collection. boatneck, bateau, buttons on the shoulder, quarter zip, or a classic crewneck is best. I'd have the sweater hit bottom of waistband to mid-hip with a classic banded bottom and cuffs.

Don't worry about it fitting under the jackets; this is something that can work with all the bottoms, and if you need more warmth, it can be the top layer over a white shirt or a fitted turtleneck (black stripe, black, and ivory are my suggestions).

I have this cotton sweater from L.L.Bean. For plus sizes, I recommend the men's version which doesn't change the style but offers more space.

A Breton stripe or graphic t-shirt

Come on, you didn't think I'd close a capsule wardrobe without a Breton top? It's classic, versatile, comes in every size, gender, and price point, and it adds interest without looking over the top or trendy.

A short-sleeved crewneck tee is classic, as is a heavier-weight bateau, crewneck Mariner, or a long-sleeved crew. Pick what you enjoy wearing and care for it so it doesn't get all faded and pilled. For this capsule, I'd go with a traditional color combination (black or navy with white or ivory), it will more easily transcend trends.

If stripes aren't your thing, graphic t-shirts can achieve a similar effect… if they fit, and they aren't corny, and your workplace is accepting. I am not against a corny message on a t-shirt, but they have their place and time and unless you work in that sort of office, they are more weekend than workday.

I love to see a band t-shirt, a social message, or an artistic design peeking out from a blazer or tucked into otherwise conservative trousers. The shirt should be your clothing size; this is not the look to wear oversized or have your belly on display. Same fit as your black t-shirt, and wear it tucked in completely (no Millennial tuck or creative TikTok hack for knotting or twisting or bra-tucking).

Using this Capsule Wardrobe Advice with Your Closet

Capsule wardrobes are like gardening, or home decor, or perfecting a recipe. It's playing around, pulling back, experiencing it with a fresh outlook, and playing a bit more. It's sitting with the concept, and possibly changing it the next day or the next season. It's knowing it's a marathon, not a sprint, and you can't follow a manual and get the exact results you see on the page. You need to tweak until it just feels right.

I have 20 years of writing about fashion, and almost a decade more of working in apparel and styling. Even so, I still struggle to see my wardrobe from an outside perspective or try something unexpected. It's building a muscle to try and fail; the more you try the more you know.

I hope seeing a bit of how I create capsule wardrobes and expand upon them will show you how it's a process, not a perfect formula. It's okay to make a mistake, mistakes are how we learn. And breaking rules, trying unexpected combinations, and playing with color and proportion is how we achieve personal style.

Now go lock yourself in your bedroom and give yourself an hour to play with what you own. Put together the wackiest combinations, try a style hack you saw on social media, pair unexpected colors, and see not just how it looks but how you feel. This act of the play and getting to know your closet better will help you build a smaller yet harder-working closet full of comfort and joy!