New collection
Fall capsule wardrobe: 14 autumn basics, styled
A capsule wardrobe is a short list of pieces that all work together. Here is a fall version — the basics, the color formula, and fourteen outfits built from them that you can color before you buy anything.
The idea is simple: own fewer clothes, and make sure every one of them goes with most of the others. A fall capsule usually has 25 to 35 pieces including shoes and bags, but it starts with a dozen basics. Everything below comes from Autumn Basics, the largest collection in Color the Look, which was drawn around exactly this kind of wardrobe.
The 12 basics to start with
- A trench coat in beige or stone
- A long wool coat in charcoal or camel
- A leather jacket
- A utility parka in olive
- Two knits: one neutral, one in a color you love
- A white shirt
- A plain tee, white or grey
- Straight or wide-leg jeans in a light wash
- Black tailored trousers
- A midi or maxi skirt
- Ballet flats or loafers
- Ankle boots
The color formula
Pick two neutrals (for example charcoal and beige), one denim, and one or two accent colors that you will wear only in knits and accessories. Everything neutral goes with everything; the accent is what makes it look like you. Violet, berry and olive are all good autumn accents.
Violet and claret
- Plum
- Burgundy
- Ink
- Gold
A saturated knit over a deep red skirt.
Trench and denim
- Cream
- Denim
- Ink
- Taupe
Beige, washed blue and black leather.
Olive and leopard
- Olive
- Charcoal
- Coffee
- Espresso
An olive parka, a dark base, one print.
Knits that do the work
A sweater is the cheapest way to change a fall outfit. Keep everything else neutral and let the knit carry the color.
Coats and jackets
Outerwear is what people actually see in autumn. One good coat and one casual jacket cover most days.
Try the capsule before you buy it
The expensive mistake with a capsule wardrobe is buying an accent color you then never wear. Color the Look is a fashion coloring app for iPhone and iPad with 250+ outfit pages in 29 collections. Color the same outfit with the accent you are considering, then with the one you already own, and keep the version you would actually put on.
Free printable
Prefer paper? Download this page as a free PDF and color it with pencils or markers. All free printables →
Frequently asked
What is a fall capsule wardrobe?
A fall capsule wardrobe is a small set of autumn clothes — often 25 to 35 pieces including shoes and bags — chosen so that almost every top, bottom and coat can be worn together.
What are the basics for a fall capsule wardrobe?
A trench coat, a long wool coat, a leather jacket or parka, two or three knits, a white shirt, a plain tee, light-wash jeans, black trousers, a midi or maxi skirt, flats or loafers, and ankle boots.
What colors should a fall capsule wardrobe be?
Two neutrals such as charcoal and beige, denim, and one or two accent colors such as violet, berry, olive or burgundy, kept mostly to knits and accessories.
Are there coloring pages of everyday autumn outfits?
Yes. Autumn Basics in the Color the Look app has 14 everyday autumn outfit coloring pages — knits, trenches, parkas, long coats and denim — for iPhone and iPad.
