When it comes to building a women’s capsule wardrobe, boots are sure to feature. How you compile your footwear collection will depend on your personal style, where you live and how much space you have. That said, there are some shoes that make an essential addition to every staple wardrobe. Boots, for instance, are non-negotiable.
We’re big advocates of accumulating a capsule shoe wardrobe of sorts, a concise collection of capsule wardrobe shoes that can interchangeably go with just about everything.
Here, we list the key styles to consider adding to your capsule wardrobe list, but first, let’s discuss some capsule wardrobe basics.
A capsule wardrobe is a set number of clothes, shoes, and accessories that you can mix and match to create a variety of different outfits. We know ‘set number’ is a little vague, but here is so much variety in women’s capsule wardrobe it’s hard to give an exact item limit. They usually contain a small number of clothing items, but maximalists can also enjoy the wonders of a capsule wardrobe.
The key to a capsule wardrobe is that the items of clothing should coordinate well in terms of colour and style to make putting an outfit together that much easier. Many women chose to stick to the ‘smart casual capsule wardrobe’, which allows for more variety in the formality of your outfit choices.
It’s usually easier to keep your capsule wardrobe a little minimalist to start, it can be expanded upon over time to create multiple ‘capsule capsule wardrobes’
For your basic tops, bottoms and one-pieces, neutral tones like white, beige, grey are your friend. Keeping most of your wardrobe neutral allows for your key colours to stand out.
Black, navy and brown are often called ‘base colours’ when it comes to a capsule wardrobe. It’s important to pick one of these base colours to be the grounding force of your capsule wardrobe. Consider which accent colours you will be adding to help your decision-making process.
To keep your capsule wardrobe simple and streamlined, choose one, two or three accent colours and add a few carefully picked items in these colours.
Handbags and scarves also have their place in a capsule wardrobe, although the quantity depends on your personal style. We love a matching shoe and handbag combo, so our accessory choices have to match our favourite pairs of boots perfectly.
Last but by no means least, it’s time to choose your shoes. You’ll want a range of shoes in your capsule wardrobe, which allows you to transition from season to season, and hit a range of formality levels with your outfits. The exact number of shoes you decide to add depends on your lifestyle, but we personally recommend incorporating these four boot styles alongside your other footwear staples.
Perhaps one of the most versatile footwear styles out there, flat ankle boots go with everything from tailoring to floaty dresses.
Crafted from smooth leather, our Balla brogue-inspired boots will work for both smart and casual occasions. Their timeless appeal makes them a capsule wardrobe must-have.
Perfect for year-round wear, a pair of heeled ankle boots will serve you season after season. In fact, finding the right pair will even open up a whole host of outfit possibilities.
Look to Gwen, our Western-inspired boot for versatility and longevity. Available in tan or black suede, this style will work with everything from maxi dresses to jeans.
No casual capsule wardrobe would be complete without a pair of flat knee-high boots. Choose between classic riding-inspired designs, buckle-detailed silhouettes, and sleek lace-up styles.
Whichever you go for, wear them with dresses and skirts for a look that will take you from day to evening with ease. We also love knee-high boots with a pair of slim-fit jeans tucked in. The new Jeane Boots tick all the boxes.
A high-heeled knee-high boot spells sophistication. The height and type of heel – stiletto, block etc. – you opt for will depend on your lifestyle and personal preferences. You might even find space for multiple pairs of heeled knee-high boots.
Take the Belmore Boots – ideal office attire, they will also work well for evenings and weekends. In fact, we’d suggest that they are a vital component to a smart casual capsule wardrobe.
Our conclusion? You can’t really go wrong with a comfortable, durable pair of ankle or knee-high boots. As boot lovers ourselves, we would personally choose all four styles discussed above, but if you’re aiming for a very minimalist capsule wardrobe, really consider how the rest of your wardrobe will work with the style you choose.
