The holidays bring opportunities for gatherings, parties, and special memory-makers. And while that can be loads of fun, the thought of putting together holiday outfits can be a bit daunting, especially when we’re women in midlife.
The clothes hanging in the closet might not fit as well as they did in the past (cue the belly fat), and it’s no fun to learn just how not-well-fitting they are as you’re preparing to head to a Christmas party.
A Christmas capsule wardrobe can come to the rescue, my friend, particularly when it’s created ahead of time, before the hustle and bustle, with some attention to detail, an eye on the budget, and essential try-on sessions.
How do I define a capsule wardrobe created for the holiday season?
For me, it’s a practical combination of some classic pieces we probably already own, combined with a handful of holiday-specific separates. Mix and match a small number of separates, perhaps a favorite LBD (little black dress), remember the shoes and accessories, and you’re stress-free when it comes to your Christmas wardrobe.
A Christmas capsule wardrobe can be a wonderful thing!
Let’s take a closer look. By the way, if you click on a link and then make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
And, if you love the look of the outfit in the image above, here’s more info:
A Christmas Capsule Wardrobe for Women Over 50
The goal of this holiday capsule wardrobe is to make your life simpler and easier, my friend. The holidays inevitably bring stress with them, and discovering ways to keep that stress under control can be priceless.
If the budget is a concern, there are creative ways to work with what you have, add a few strategic pieces, and create a handful of outfits that you can mix and match.
Let’s look at some examples!
Identify the Classic Separates that are Already in Your Closet
It’s not necessary to create a whole new wardrobe for the holiday season. Build upon what you already own. In this example, we’ve got some basic white or ivory tops and sweaters, a mid-calf length black pencil skirt, a black dress, black dress slacks, black jeans, classic blue jeans, a pair of basic black pumps, and low-heeled black booties.
You may have some similar pieces in your closet, adjusting for your particular style preferences, of course!
We can take these foundation pieces and use them in our Christmas Capsule Wardrobe.
Holiday Separates for Our Christmas Capsule Wardrobe
So, let’s put together a small collection of potential holiday separates to choose from. You’re probably not going to go out and purchase ALL of these pieces, unless you have lots of holiday gatherings and need that much variety!
I’m showing them to you as examples, and then we’ll take a select few to create a couple of Holiday Capsule Wardrobe examples.
We have a variety of colorful and classic selections, including:
- Red satin skirt
- Black wide-leg pants
- Red blazer
- Green cardigan
- Black metallic jacket
- Red cashmere sweater
- Red sequin tunic top
- Black cut -out pumps
- Red and black two-tone pumps
These pieces will help create the vibrant, holiday statement in our festive outfits.
Holiday Collection #1
In our first example of a Christmas holiday wardrobe we’ve selected several pieces (including shoes) from our existing pieces: the black pencil skirt, white cap sleeve top, ivory cardigan, dress jeans, black pumps, and black booties.
The holiday pieces we added to create the capsule wardrobe are: black wide-leg pants, red sequin top, green cardigan, and black metallic jacket.
There are many combinations that can be created from these pieces!
Here are four inspiration outfits that I created:
Holiday Collection #2
Similar to our first example, we’ve selected some of our foundation pieces from the year-round wardrobe: black pants, a black dress, an ivory button down blouse, and black booties.
The holiday separates we chose include: red cashmere sweater, red satin skirt, black metallic jacket, red blazer, red/black pumps, black cut out pumps.
Let’s see some outfit examples…just a few of so many potential combinations!
There are so many more holiday outfit combinations I could create, but I think you get the idea! It’s really a matter of taking the time to evaluate what’s in your closet right now, identify those foundation pieces that you can work with, then deciding what you want to bring into the wardrobe for the holidays.
As you can see, the goal is to find separates that are seasonally colorful (or…black!), can work well with more than one foundation piece, and fit your budget.
We didn’t discuss accessories, like jewelry, handbags, scarves, watches, etc., and those are definitely the jewels that can make your holiday outfit shine!
My Personal Christmas Capsule Wardrobe
For this holiday season, my personal capsule wardrobe is shown above. It’s quite simple, but I don’t have a lot of events to attend so the mix and match of outfits I can create with these 6 pieces will work just fine for me.
I purchased the red cardigan and black sequin tank; the other separates came out of my closet. The jewelry pieces are existing, as well as the black pumps and black booties (not shown in the image above).
Here are the shopping resources if you’re interested. The cardigan is really cute and has a ruffle down the front as well as in the back. I don’t like anything too heavy, so the lightweight fabric and 3/4 sleeves are perfect for me.
Conclusion: Christmas Capsule Wardrobe
It really is possible to create style without the stress, especially during a time of year that typically is quite stressful. Maybe you’ll decide to take the ‘capsule’ approach to your holiday style this year!
Shared on Nancy’s Fashion Style blog
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Wonderful info re using what you may already have with a few new pieces that are either on trend or something you can add to you “classic closet”. Thx so much !
Hi Penny, thanks so much for your comments. I am finding this philosophy very helpful for the upcoming holiday season. It is budget friendly and fun to find a few special pieces that will help create a variety of outfits!
Thank you for a wonderful example of a Holiday Wardrobe!!! I learned a lesson though!! I decided to buy a red sequined tank in the warmer months on clearance. I didn’t take in consideration that I’m heavier during the Christmas months. So unfortunately it doesn’t fit now for the Holidays!!! Same thing with coats buy a size or two bigger in summer to account for weight gain in Winter & a sweater or blazer you would like to wear under your coat!!! Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!!!
Thank you for sharing your experiences with purchasing for one season while in another, Natalie!
In a capsule wardrobe, the inclusion of jewelry is essential. Thoughtfully selected pieces can effortlessly elevate any outfit, adding a touch of elegance and individuality while maximizing the versatility and longevity of the overall wardrobe.