Holiday Capsule Wardrobe

It’s crazy to think about how the holidays have evolved and start earlier every year.

I used to hold off on decorating until after Thanksgiving, but I spent yesterday pulling boxes down from the attic and made a good dent on the inside of the house.

The plan is to have everything ready, inside and out, to light up on Friday so we can enjoy the season. 

I’m also pulling everyone’s outfits together, so getting dressed and out of the house for Santa Brunch or a tree lighting isn’t total chaos (I’ll be happy with just a little chaos).

Inspired by that, I thought I’d also share a Holiday Edit with you today.

These are the pieces you could use to help extend your current wardrobe. I’ve featured most of these over the last few weeks, but I thought it would be helpful to highlight them again, and corral them in one place, with a few new options to keep it fresh.

The Well Dressed Life Holiday Capsule 2022

Within this Holiday Capsule Wardrobe you have so many outfit combinations. 

And, listen, this is not a you-need-all-these-pieces kind of thing. In fact, you probably have many of these already. 

But you might scroll through and think, “oh, I could use that!” 

So let’s jump in. 

Bottoms

Slim Coated Jeans, $32 | Skinny Jeans, $29 more options below

We featured a lot of bottoms over the last few weeks, but if I had to pick two staples to work off, it would be a pair of coated jeans in black and a dark wash jeans in a slim or boot cut. 

Slim Coated Jeans, $32: This is the slim cut version in regular, tall, and petite. I have these in the tall length (I’m 5’10), and the hem sits over a pair of sock booties. I wore them with this pair from Amazon’s The Drop. 

Curvy Coated Jeans, $32: I also have this pair in their curvy cut. Here I sized down. Note: these are ankle-length, so I paired them with simple slingbacks. You could also wear a kitten-heeled pump. 

Both pairs stretch out a bit. 

If you don’t like coated jeans, have your favorite black trouser pressed and ready to go.

Next, have dark wash jeans on hand, in a slim cut. That could be a skinny, straight, or bootcut. The dark wash makes it easy to mix and match, is slimming, and is the most “dressed up” option.

Skinny Jeans, $69: On sale for under $70 are these skinnies from Good American.

They have a ton of stretch and hug your curves. I like this pair because they are full length when so many skinny bottoms tend to hit above your ankle.

These should hit right at your ankle, so they can tuck into an ankle boot and not look too short with a heel. 

Slim Straight Jean, $35: Try a slim-straight cut for an update on the skinny jeans. This is a reader-favorite pair from Old Navy, available in all sizes, including petite and tall, with short, regular, and long inseams, from 00 – 30. 

Here is the high-waisted option, and here is the mid-rise. 

Itty-Bitty Bootcut, $88: A bootcut is another flattering cut that elongates your leg and works with different shoes. And this pair from Wit & Wisdom is a reader favorite, available in regular and petite. They remind me of the old “trouser jeans” we wore in the early 2010s. 

Tops

Tops:

Rib Knit Turtleneck Sweater, $25 | One Button Blazer, $120 | Fair Isle Sweater, $50 | Off-the-shoulder sweater, $25 more options below

I could have featured a dozen tops, but here are the ones you’ll get the most wear out of. 

Rib Knit Turtleneck Sweater, $25: This sweater is as soft as a blanket but still polished. I wore it here,  dressed up with the coated jeans above, but it works with dark wash jeans and a more casual boot. Available in five colors. 

One Button Blazer, $120: You can’t go wrong with a velvet blazer. Pair with jeans, black pants, or a skirt. This one from J.Crew Factory is a fantastic option, available in green or black, in 00 – 24 with petite options. 

Fair Isle Sweater, $50: Take an extra 35% off today on this sweet Fair Isle Sweater, and we’ll feature it in our How to Wear it post this Wednesday 🙂 

Off-the-shoulder sweater, $25: I love an off-the-shoulder sweater this time of year. It’s cozy and chic.

I like this with either coated jeans or a pair of faux leather leggings. Nothing beats the original from Spanx, in XS – 3X with petite and tall options. 

A couple of quick mentions. 

This satin blouse from Banana Republic Factory was on our best-seller list last week. You can wear it on or off the shoulder, available in black, white, or green, XXS – XXL, for only $22. It will dress up any bottom you have. 

And if you need something extra, this Sequin Wrap Top from Ann Taylor has been a huge hit. It’s on sale today for 40% off, in XXS – L in regular and petite. 

We featured it in our Outfit Formula a few weeks ago, and then one of our lovely Facebook Group members shared her Outfit in Real Life using it, and it looked gorgeous. 

Shoes

The Starling Loafer, $98 | Hiking Boots, $84 |  Suede Pumps, $140 

You could use three or four pairs of shoes to get through the season, depending on your style and the events on your calendar. 

The Starling Loafer, $98: The Birdies Starling Loafer is hands down my favorite holiday shoe, especially if you host. We did a full review of styling options last week. 

Hiking Boots, $84: Not that I’m hiking anywhere anytime soon, but for watching a parade, getting the tree, or strolling a festive lights display, a warm pair of boots is a must. We featured a similar pair from J.Crew at the end of last season.

And these, from J.Crew Factory, are practically identical, in black or chestnut. 

Suede Pumps, $140: If you don’t have a classic pump, you can’t go wrong with the Vienna from Sam Edelman. You can wear these with everything from jeans to a dress. 

And if you want a knee-high boot, we love the Vince Camuto Arendie Boot in black or tan at DSW for $149.

Coat

Faux Fur Coat, $130 |  Tie Waist Coat, $80 

A coat can really elevate an outfit this time of year.

If you want something fun, I like this Faux Fur Coat, $130, from Amazon’s The Drop, available in XXS – 5X.

For a classic, a classic style, this Tie Waist Coat, $80 from Banana Republic Factory, is a Reader Favorite for under $100 in regular, tall, and petite. 

And if you need a warm coat to wear with your fur-lined boots, I put my stamp of approval on this best-selling parka by Orolay on Amazon. It’ll keep you stylish and toasty warm. Available in XS – 5X. 

Dress

 Dress, $145 

You have a million dress options, but I felt compelled to highlight this Ralph Lauren style. Available in green or black, in sizes 2 – 16. Would look stunning with suede pumps or knee high boots. 

Accessories

 

Wrap, $75  | Leather Gloves, $98 | Bow Drop Earrings, $30 | Hoop Earrings, $14

Finally, some cold weather accessories. 

First, a plaid wrap. I like this one from Barbour at Tuckernuck. You can wear it under your coat, as a wrap over the green dress, or with the red turtleneck and jeans. 

Then, leather gloves. I always forget to make sure I have gloves, and I like ones with enough length to cover my wrists and tuck them into my coat sleeves. 

This pair from Bloomingdales comes in four colors, is cashmere lined, and is $100. It would also make a wonderful gift. 

I love these bow earrings from Talbots. They are a sweet little accent that looks great with the off-the-shoulder sweater, red turtleneck, or dress. 

And I couldn’t do an edit without sharing our favorite hoops from Amazon for only $15.