It’s time to start planning for summer 2023. Maybe you have a fun trip coming up? Or you just need a general strategy for packing for different trips and occasions. Creating a summer capsule wardrobe when you are over 50 is both fun and practical.
A successful capsule wardrobe is all about keeping it functional, while at the same time staying stylish. Let’s take a look at how it’s done.
When the seasons shift
If fall is around the corner and you have started thinking about your fall wardrobe, make sure you read my article Fall capsule wardrobe for women over 50, Fall 2023.
6 easy steps to create a summer capsule wardrobe for a woman over 50
1. Decide on a color palette
The easiest way to keep your capsule wardrobe cohesive is to decide on two neutral colors and one accent color.
This way you ensure that all the different clothes match each other.
If you have more than 8 pieces of clothes, you can choose 4 colors. Of course, you could do a great summer capsule wardrobe with just one or two colors.
The scope of the color scheme depends on how big you want your capsule wardrobe to be, and your personal preferences.
2. Decide on two or three “star pieces”
You want to look elegant.
Having a capsule wardrobe should not feel drab or restricting.
To not fall into the trap of creating something that is too boring, make sure you add enough “star pieces.”
Star pieces are those types of clothes that have the ability to lift a whole outfit.
It’s the clothes you always get compliments on when you wear them. Often, they are colorful, but they can be in neutral colors, or they can include a print.
I like to start out building a capsule wardrobe by deciding on the star pieces and then picking everything else to highlight and support them.
3. Make sure you have enough basic pieces to properly support your star pieces
Star pieces can often be hard to use. At the end of a trip, they still lay unused in the bottom of your suitcase.
It’s when it comes to this common problem a capsule wardrobe really shines. When you create a capsule wardrobe, you make sure you have enough basic to easily wear those star pieces.
Of course, your basic clothes can be worn on their own and those kinds of outfits are what you often will wear. Your basic should be clothes you love and feel both comfortable and stylish wearing.
4. Check so that your accessories match and highlight the clothes you have chosen.
Accessories are particularly important to make your basic clothes sing. The right accessories can make a “plain” outfit into something tremendously chic.
Make sure that your accessories match both your basic clothes and your star pieces.
5. Lay everything out and start creating and trying outfits
When you are a woman over 50, creating that perfect elusive summer capsule wardrobe is all about trying the clothes on.
You will not know if a particular top works with the skirt you had in mind until you put the two of them together on your body.
I know many people skip this step. But you will be surprised at how many gems of an outfit you find by being hands-on.
A capsule wardrobe will force you to try and wear everything with everything. That’s why they are so great.
6. Shop for the missing pieces
As you do this exercise you will (hopefully) realize exactly what’s missing from your closet.
Is it more basic clothes or one or maybe two “star pieces”?
Ask yourself what you need to buy to make your capsule wardrobe versatile. Make a shopping list and go searching for those missing pieces to the puzzle.
A capsule wardrobe is like a puzzle
Also, you might realize you already own everything you need.
Sometimes a wardrobe full of clothes stops us from seeing that we actually already have a perfect capsule wardrobe once we pick out the right clothes.
Trendy clothes
When you are over 50, it’s easy to start shying away from trends. But I recommend choosing one or two trends that you want to include in your summer capsule wardrobe.
You are never too old to be keeping up with fashion. This neat trick will make your wardrobe interesting and fresh.
I mean trends in the broadest sense of the word, for example, a leather jacket or a military-style jacket. (Trends that have been around for a decade by now 😉 )
Choose your number
In this article, I have chosen to create a capsule wardrobe with 8 pieces of clothes.
If you need a bigger capsule wardrobe, you just keep adding clothes following the same principles. If you choose 12 pieces, I recommend 3-4 star pieces and so on.
I recommend deciding on a number before you start the exercise.
Create many different outfits from just 8 pieces of clothes
As you look at my five creations, I want you to focus on how many outfits you could possibly make with these 8 pieces. Also, think a bit about where you would wear those outfits.
That is the strength of making a capsule wardrobe: you get a lot of options.
Different destinations for your summer adventure
To have a bit of fun, I decided to create these capsule wardrobes with a destination in mind. Many of us struggle with what to pack for a trip, so I wanted to help.
But of course, these different wardrobes are suitable for many different trips and even for just staying home and enjoying the place where you live.
A trip to Italy
Color scheme: Cream. Navy. Turquoise.
Star pieces: Turquoise flowy dress. Cream linen blazer. Turquoise cotton shorts.
Basic pieces: Crinkled cream pants. Cream t-shirt. Cream tank top. Navy silk top. Navy pleated skirt.
Accessories: Turquoise earrings. Turquoise bracelet. Brown Birkenstocks. Brown bag.
Let’s go to Italy. Wander around the alleyways of Rome. Be blown away by the architecture of the Pantheon. Eat gelato. Eat homemade gnocchi.
If we get enough of the big city, we take the train to Tuscany and visit a winery.
All while looking effortlessly chic.
Why does this summer capsule wardrobe work for a woman over 50?
Cream is one of the trendiest colors this summer, navy and turquoise look intriguing together. Having a cream-colored relaxed suit will make getting dressed a breeze. Shorts with elastic waistbands are perfect for those beach days. When you want to stand out, wear the turquoise dress with the cream blazer.
A getaway in Mallorca
Color scheme: Black. White. Orange.
Star pieces: Orange pattern dress. Blood orange skirt.
Basic pieces: Black shirtdress. Black tanktop. Black asymmetric skirt. White shirt. Black tweed jacket. With polo top.
Accessories: Black espadrilles. Straw bag. Orange headband. Sunglasses.
There is something special about island life. You are surrounded by water. The sunshine is intense, and the colors are crisp.
You want to keep your wardrobe easy and simple. At the same time, the beauty of the island have you craving making an impact.
That’s why I chose this dress. I combined it with breezy neutral pieces so that you have a well-balanced wardrobe for your next island getaway.
Why does this summer capsule wardrobe work for a woman over 50?
For sure, most days you want to look chic while keeping things practical. But when you feel a bit more extravagant, you can use the skirt, or even the dress.
The formula laid out in this collage works very well for creating your own functional summer capsule wardrobe.
Just change the neutral pieces to the neutral color of your choice and pick star pieces in your favorite color. Since the dress and skirt will never be worn together, they don’t have to match.
A cottage in the countryside
Color scheme: Dark brown. Blue denim. Green.
Star pieces: Green shirt dress. Brown linen pants.
Basic pieces: Brown chunky cardigan. Blue loose jeans. Brown linen shorts. Green tanktop. Denim jacket. Green t-shirt.
Accessories: Green wellies. Straw bag.
I have to admit, there are no star pieces in this wardrobe. Or you could say that all pieces are stars.
But more realistically, you would say that this is a very functional wardrobe, perfect for a week in the countryside, stylish and fuss-free.
Why does this summer capsule wardrobe work for a woman over 50?
There are a lot of low-key pieces in this wardrobe. Those kinds of pieces you always reach for.
The color choice makes the clothes interesting. After all; brown and green is the colors of nature. Blue denim compliments those colors perfectly and makes this a very down-to-earth and age-appropriate wardrobe.
A lesson for your own capsule wardrobe is that the tops don’t need to be in the same shade of green, since you will never wear them together.
Big Sur, California
Color scheme: Camel. Grey. Merlot.
Star pieces: Merlot dress, Merlot skirt. Merlot shirt.
Basic pieces: Camel tank top. Camel pants. Camel shorts. Grey tank top. Grey top.
Accessories: Grey cap, grey sunglasses.
Apparently, this is one of the most scenic roads in the whole world.
So, you want to dress comfy for sitting in the car. You also want to be able to put on some stylish clothes when it’s time to visit a celebrated restaurant.
Apparently, the food scene is very good in Big Sur. Fresh seafood anyone?
Why does this summer capsule wardrobe work for a woman over 50?
Combining camel and grey will give you that understated chic look we all strive towards, especially as we get older.
Merlot looks great with both camel and grey. It’s a fun and surprisingly easy color to wear.
I choose merlot pieces with a bit of structure, a smart move to create amazing outfits since structure adds visual interest. I would also add a merlot-colored scarf to this capsule wardrobe to tie the pieces together even more.
Do check out my article What makes a great outfit? To learn all the tricks on how to look stylish.
Staying home
Color scheme: White. Military green. Denim.
Star pieces: Denim shirt dress. White poet blouse.
Basic pieces: White tank top. Military green jacket. Denim skirt. Striped top. Denim shorts. Military green draped top.
Accessories: Brown sandals. Brown belt. Brown bag.
For this wardrobe, I didn’t pick any specific star pieces.
This is what most of us will end up wearing and there is nothing wrong with these clothes. On the contrary.
They are all staples and combined like this, in one laid-back wardrobe, it is easy to see a bunch of cute outfits.
Personally, I love a good “poet blouse,” which can be worn two ways depending on whether you tie the scarf or not.
Why does this summer capsule wardrobe work for a woman over 50?
The choices I made here are popular with 20-year-olds and 50-year-olds alike. The reason is that they are easy to wear. Perfect for picnics and relaxing with a good book.
Fashion is for everyone, regardless of age, so do check out my article Summer capsule wardrobe for women over 40, for even more inspiration.
A Final Note
Every time we pack, we are forced to create a capsule wardrobe.
You might as well get good at it.
Since most of us do a bit of travel in the summertime, the need for a good capsule wardrobe for a woman over 50 becomes even more apparent.
I hope I took you for a nice ride and taught you some neat tricks along the way.
Moa Ailert is the founder and editor-in-chief of Her Brilliant Friend.
She has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and plenty of insight into human psychology from traveling and living in different places around the world.
Moa is currently based in Portugal where she has a guesthouse; Villa dos Irmaos.
She has various websites, among others Ericeira Insider, but Her brilliant friend is her true passion project.
