This is the perfect 11-piece sustainable capsule wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe saves you time, money and effort – and it’s never been easier to build one sustainably. So, we’ve put together the recipe for the perfect eco-friendly wardrobe, just for you

Robyn Schaffer

20 May 2022

Get inside the brains of our fashion experts with our insider pieces that’ll provide heaps of niche style advice, arming you with fashion knowledge to make shopping smart and getting dressed that bit easier.

I hate having a cluttered wardrobe. I’m all about the less is more mentality when it comes to my clothes, and one way of abiding by this is by creating a capsule wardrobe.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

It means having a limited number of clothes that complement each other well and can be mixed and matched. No more buying those rogue items that get worn once and thrown into the back at the cupboard never to be seen again. This is also a great way of shopping more sustainably.

How can I build a capsule wardrobe without spending a fortune?

Even if you’re on a budget that means you stick to high street brands, you can still do your bit by buying less and buying better where possible.

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How many items do I need to build a capsule wardrobe?

To help you get started I’ve put together a list of 11 pieces that create the perfect capsule wardrobe and are sustainably made, too.

What should be in my capsule wardrobe?

1. Blue Jeans

Did you know that denim is one of the least sustainable materials to produce? It takes approximately 1,8000 gallons of water to make just one pair of jeans. That’s why it’s important to try and buy from brands that have sustainability at their heart, and luckily there are plenty out there right now.

Head to nu-in first. Its jeans are made from 100% organic cotton, and every part of the manufacturing process is circular, meaning they were designed and produced with the intention to be ‘further easily recycled and not go to waste’.

2. Tailored trousers

While we’re in that department, every capsule wardrobe needs a pair of tailored trousers. They can take you from day to night, whether you’re at the office or heading to a party. It’s best to get them in a fairly classic shape so they can be moulded to most outfits.

COS is a great starting point. It nails super-flattering high-waist styles, and often does pleats which give them that smart tailored look.

3. Smart blazer

You always need a blazer to go with your tailored trousers. Arket’s styles are a personal favourite, and this oversized one is a cult buy for a reason. The slightly oversized fit is massively on trend right now and it would look great with anything from black trousers to jeans or over a party dress.

It’s a little pricier at £149 but well worth it when you know what goes into it. It’s made from wool certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), which ensures that wool from certified farms is ‘properly identified and tracked through all processing stages’. RWS’s goal is to protect the sheep that supply the wool and the land they graze on – sounds good, right?

4. The basic white T-shirt

The basic of all basics: the plain white T-shirt. Your capsule wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without one. You can wear yours with jeans in the daytime, lounging around the house, or with something snazzier like leather trousers on a night out.

Aligne is an amazing sustainable fashion brand and its T-shirts are perfect. Regular cotton is one of the most heavily polluting crops, but this T-shirt is 96% organic cotton which is made using natural processes and fertilisers that don’t harm land, wildlife or people. All their packaging is 100% recyclable too. What’s not to like?

5. The classic shirt

Enter the smarter version of the plain T-shirt: the classic white shirt. Though more formal, a shirt can still be worn for almost any occasion, so you’d be mad not to have one in your capsule wardrobe. It will never let you down. There’s a whole bunch of different spins on this but for me it’s got to be Uniqlo’s iteration.

It’s super simple so you can dress it up with some fun accessories or keep it relaxed with your black tailored trousers or jeans. Made from organic cotton which is cultivated and harvested from non-genetically modified plants, there are no nasties in sight.

6. The day dress

Trousers are great but we all need a versatile day dress to switch things up from time to time. For the spring and summer months I’d go for something in a smock or oversized shape by Monsoon. You can wear them with trainers and a denim jacket for a more chilled look or dress it up with wedges or heeled sandals.

By 2023 Monsoon promises over 95% of all its cotton will be organic or recycled. What I respect about Monsoon is they acknowledge that they don’t have all the answers but are continuously making small steps to integrate sustainability across their business.

7. The going-out dress

A staple evening dress should be a feature of every capsule wardrobe. Sure, you want it to feel special, but it’s undeniably useful to have something that’s versatile and can be worn time and time again. Omnes has a chic selection of dresses that encapsulate all of the above.

My first recommendation would be to opt for black, but they make the slip dress style in various other colours, lengths and patterns if you want to branch out. The simplicity of its design means you can create a whole range of different outfits with it – it’ll be the best £55 you ever spend. Omnes is transparent about all aspects of their production process – this dress is made with 100% recycled satin polyester certified by the Global Recycle Standard, the labels are made from recycled plastic bottles, and it was made at a fully-audited factory in India.

8. Trench coat

It can be hard to find outerwear layers that are really versatile and worth the money. But a trench coat is always a great option; it’s timeless and can be worn throughout the seasons and to any kind of event.

I love vintage shopping because you can find truly unique pieces while also buying more sustainably, which is why I love these vintage beige trench coats, £59 from Urban Outfitters’ Urban Renewal range. Each one is unique and at under £60, they’re far cheaper than many other options on the market right now. Who needs Burberry anyway…?

9. Trainers

‘Nice’ leather trainers are one of the most versatile footwear options as they can be made more casual or more dressy, but leather is admittedly not the most sustainable or eco-friendly material to produce. One brand that does try to make this process more sustainable though is Veja.

The designs are minimal, so they act as a neutral option for all kinds of outfits, whether you pair with a summer dress, a suit in the office or jeans and a T-shirt. Veja’s leather comes from farms in Uruguay, which is known for the quality of its leather and special attention is paid to water usage during the tanning process.

10. Heeled sandals

Trainers are great for the daytime, but your capsule wardrobe should also have something for the evening. I love a pair of heeled sandals – they’re especially great if you’re headed on holiday too.

Alohas is one of my latest obsessions. Its shoes have sweet details that are unique and unusual, however the simplicity of the designs in general means they’re still able to be mixed and matched with lots of different colours and patterns (so you’ll get plenty of wear out of them).

Alohas is a forward-thinking brand which uses an ‘on-demand’ process. This means they give customers a set amount of time to pre-order their products and once they know how many orders they have, they then start production so as little waste as possible is created.

11. The day-to-night handbag

Accessories are the capsule wardrobe’s secret weapon as they are the easiest way to elevate a simple outfit. We all need a good handbag that’s functional and can carry all our essentials, but it’s even better if it works with almost everything you wear.

Matt & Nat is perfect for just that. Its styles all comes in a range of beautiful colours so you can pick whichever suits the rest of your wardrobe best. The brand is completely vegan and cruelty-free; the outer body and lining of this bag are made from recycled materials while the inner lining is made from 100% recycled bottles. Who would’ve known?