How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe: 8 Items to Elevate Outfits

At Who What Wear, we’re specialists in scouring the runways to bring you all of the trends you need to know for the upcoming season, and while spring/summer 2023 is full of must-see moments and looks we want to add to our wardrobes now (for me it’s the pencil skirt), we also think ahead to the pieces that will stand the test of time. 

We know the runways tend to present an exaggerated interpretation of trends, and if you’re considering how to realistically work them into your daily outfits, there is an easy solution to styling that will change the way you dress forever, and this is where my capsule wardrobe comes in.

After years of working in fashion, I’ve realised that the key to shopping timelessly is a mix of core neutrals, seasonal fabrications and nods to trends. In short, a well-balanced wardrobe will contain versatile basics—say, cosy knits for winter and cooling cottons for summer—and of course, the buzzy, trending pieces that we see on the runways and in street style. So if you manage to buy a handful of great items from each category that can be easily mixed and matched, you’re already well on your way to a stylish season ahead. 

Below, I’ve pinpointed the eight pieces you’ll wear on rotation year in, year out (only needing to swap out one or two to accommodate changes in weather). But yes, you read that right—you only really need eight pieces to translate 2023’s covetable aesthetic for the many more seasons to come, as  these items are guaranteed to be huge for the foreseeable.

So keep scrolling to discover what you need in your 2023 capsule wardrobe and to shop my favourite finds for each category.