All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something.
If we had to sartorially summarize 2022, we would describe it as the year where wardrobe essentials reigned supreme. Thanks to a solid roster of brands—The Frankie Shop, The Row, COS, and Totême, all of which are responsible for redefining simple closet basics—we’re reaching for classic white tees and notable knitwear over trendier pieces we may have once gravitated toward in the past. The year 2022 was also when Hailey Bieber launched her eight-piece capsule collection with Wardrobe.NYC, consisting of timeless tailoring, outstanding outerwear, model-approved minidresses, and more—and sparking the allure of a capsule wardrobe everywhere. This pared-back but never-boring approach to dressing is especially appealing in the dawn of a new year, whether you’re looking to refine and polish your closet altogether or to simply minimize one step of your routine.
To help you get started, we’ve tapped nine Vogue editors and asked them to define their own versions of a capsule wardrobe—the everyday essentials they rely on to arrive chicly at each and every occasion. From tried-and-true classics like a skintight turtleneck or menswear-inspired loafer to more trendy pieces (it is fashion we’re obsessed with, after all), each Vogue editor’s capsule wardrobe is created with longevity in mind—meaning items that are meant to last years, not just seasons.
Below, take a peek inside nine Vogue editors’ capsule wardrobes to inspire your own shopping list this new year and beyond.
Nicole Phelps, global director, Vogue Runway and Vogue Business
I’m a big fan of these Courrèges turtlenecks. The dense rib knit never loses its shape or gets saggy, and the neck never slides down—a winter essential. I live in Bassike’s pants. The boyish cuts work for my body. When I wear prints, which isn’t often, they’re usually Dries Van Noten. My friend and former Style.com colleague Marina Larroude makes great boots. I’ve put a lot of mileage on these.
.jpg)
Virginia Smith, global head of fashion network
My uniform is mainly made up of pants and sweaters with Dries Van Noten occupying a lot of space in my closet. I keep replenishing my Saint Laurent boots and love loafers from The Row. My go-to pants for traveling or just hanging out on the weekends are Paskho—they’re incredibly comfortable yet functional—usually paired with an Organic Basics tank.
Chioma Nnadi, editor of Vogue.com
I love jeans that fit more like trousers. It always feels more pulled together, something I can dress up and down again and again. An oversized men’s shirt will always be in rotation in my wardrobe, and Martine Rose’s are hands downs my favorite. To me, the classic retro track pant will never go out of style. Plus, it’s so much more polished than regular sweats. I rarely wear heels, but I can always be persuaded to get back into my Manolos when the dress code calls for it. This classic buckled kitten heel works just as well with a pair of evening pants, a slip, or a cocktail dress. And it’s also super comfortable.
Julie Tong, commerce director
My capsule wardrobe consists of a series of classics, starting with a midi knit dress from my favorite label, Proenza Schouler. (I own at least five knit dresses from the brand.) My colleagues like to dub me the bag lady because I’m always showing up at the office with a new work tote. My latest obsession? The Row’s Margaux inside-out tote is just sizable enough to stow everything I need for the office (and then some). My wardrobe is never complete with my classic Cartier Tank Solo watch around my wrist and a pair of chunky gold earrings. (My favorite set is by Missoma.) And finally, I like to make sure I’m comfortable walking around NYC streets, so I always finish off my look with a pair of lug-sole Chelsea boots.
Lilah Ramzi, shopping and parties editor
I’m about as classic as it gets. As trends come and go, I will probably not budge from my uniform. I love crisp white shirts; this one from Cara Cara is currently my favorite given it nips in the waist. And as baggy, loose-fitting, oversized boxy pants steal our hearts, I’m opting out and sticking with my beloved slim-fit cropped pants. I have a variety from The Row and Rag & Bone. I prefer a pant that hits right above the ankle; in the winter, they’ll look great with ankle boots, and when I’m not dressing for warmth, it’s all about a ballet flat! This leads me to my go-to simple black flats. These from Repetto are about as good as it gets, but I will also wear Chanel’s classic CC flats. Sure they are quite an investment, but I once had a pair that lasted nearly eight years (with yearly trips to the cobbler). And with handbags, I’m a top-handle-box-bag kind of girl—this lizard Hunting Season bag is incredibly chic and what I’ve been carrying around this winter. Lastly, my look is not complete without a red lip—Gucci’s Odalie 500, to be exact. I feel naked without it!
Naomi Elizée, market editor
It’s so hard to narrow down my capsule wardrobe to just six picks, but the pieces I have selected are all ones I wear a lot. The Éterne set is hands down my new favorite lounge set to travel in! It is so incredibly soft and easy to move around in, which helps travel days feel less stressful. The Frankie Shop coat is a coat I wear every day. It has the perfect oversized shape that can easily fit over your winter wardrobe. For my commute, I tend to gravitate toward my Telfar Medium tote because it fits my laptop easily and isn’t too heavy on the shoulders. When it comes to jewelry, I never leave the house without my ring from Mateo New York, as it always makes me feel so luxurious. And for the days I don’t know what to wear, I can always turn to one of my Christopher John Rogers knit dresses! You just throw it on, and instantly you’re in a look!
.jpg)
Madeline Fass, market editor
I often stick to buying the same kinds of silhouettes in many iterations, materials, colors, etc. Good trousers and jeans and foundational tops like structured T-shirts and menswear button-ups—in multiple iterations—make up my buildable capsule wardrobe, as do accessories like a good leather belt, comfortable loafers, and earrings that feel a little more special than hoops but are understated enough to wear all the time. Here’s my current rotation!
Laura Jackson, commerce writer
My approach to dressing is one where timeless tailoring typically triumphs. To me, there’s nothing chicer than throwing on a sleek trouser, like this one from Favorite Daughter, with a cozy piece of knitwear in the winter or a crop top in the summer. That’s not to say I don’t also reach for more feminine pieces, like this embellished midiskirt from UK–based designer Wales Bonner. Loulou Studio is a brand I’ve recently discovered (and fallen in love with). This cashmere-blend jacket is perfect to style over baggy jeans or my aforementioned midiskirt. For accessories, I return to my minimalist aesthetic and always go back to these two-tone loafers from Weejuns and Prada’s Cleo handbag.
Alexis Bennett, commerce writer
My definition of a capsule wardrobe thrives off elevated essentials that lean a bit more on the glamorous side of the spectrum. For example, I love the dramatic effect of a maxiskirt paired with a body-hugging turtleneck. (I’ll give it bonus points if it’s a tad bit sheer because I love a reveal-and-conceal moment.) For accessories, I’m traditionally all about gold, but this season I’m trading my go-tos for sparkling silvery pieces that feel especially magical right now.
For all the latest fasion News Click Here
