I live in a northern climate so I spend a lot of time in cool- and downright cold-weather clothes. But I don’t want to spend 6 months of the year in unflattering or frumpy clothing, so I take care to find cool-weather pieces that are warm and stylish. I’m a work-at-home mom too, and my lifestyle allows me to wear comfortable, relaxed clothing most of the time. However, I still love getting a little dressed up for night out or lunch date with a friend. My style is classic and casual with a slight bit of retro character. When the weather turns cool in your neck of the woods, I hope you’ll look to my list of neutral cool-weather fashion essentials for inspiration.
My list of favourites is a curated selection of just 17 items that I would consider to comprise a capsule wardrobe. Each item could be worn with other items in this wardrobe, making outfit selection effortless. The colour palette here is a mix of neutrals- cream, camel, brown, burgundy, navy, grey and black. I’ve featured some of my favourite designers and stores here, including Madewell, Calvin Klein, Nordstrom, H&M, American Eagle Outfitters, and Hunter.
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Cool-Weather Outerwear
You can’t go wrong with a classic camel coat. In a neutral-toned capsule wardrobe, it goes with everything and evokes warmth and class. It’s a little bit equestrian and a little bit preppy.
Suede boots are a classic cool-weather staple and look good with dresses or pants. The heel on these beauties is fairly low, making them perfect for everyday use.
I wear my Hunter boots from October to December whenever we have rainy days or wet weather. The narrow fit adds a little style to these functional rain boots. I love the matte finish, but they are also available in a glossy finish and they come in other colours too.
Cool-Weather Tops
As a work-at-home-mom, finding tops that are comfortable and stylish can be a challenge. It’s easy to resort to basic cotton long-sleeved T-shirts, but the tops featured here are anything but basic.
The sleeveless velvet top has a luxe feel and retro 70’s styling. I would wear this with flared jeans and a cozy cardigan or with a flowy patterned skirt and denim jacket.
The navy patterned top is a classic blouse that is very comfortable. The V-neck is flattering for most people and the navy tone works beautifully with other neutrals. This top pairs extremely well with jeans.
My closet holds a host of cream tops and this lace-top blouse is artsy and feminine. To keep it from looking too sweet, I would pair it with jeans, cords, or faux leather pants.
Pants and Denim
I pretty much live in jeans and comfy pants, so that’s what I’m showcasing here. A pair of black skinny pants is an essential in any of my capsule wardrobes though I didn’t include a photo here. My favourite skinny pants are the Natalie jeggings from RW&Co.
The burgundy pants look tidy and polished, but they are actually stretch joggers. The refined cut and seaming details make them look dressier than they are. Hello comfy pants!
Since I live in jeans, I have featured two pairs- one fitted and one flared. The seamed flare jeans have a retro 70’s feel and would pair perfectly with each and every top included in this blog post.
The dark-wash skinny jeans will go with just about everything. They can be dressed up or down and the button fly top adds a unique detail.
Sweaters
Comfy, cozy sweaters are an absolute necessity when you live in a northern climate. I love that time of year when you can wear sweaters without jackets, but most of the time I pair sweaters with a jacket.
The cardigan is probably one of the most common articles of clothing in your wardrobe, so I wanted to choose one that was a little unique but still neutral toned. This cream and camel sweater is the perfect length and could be worn over a dress or blouse.
No cool-weather wardrobe is complete without a cable knit sweater. I’ve chosen an off-white heathered sweater in a slightly oversized fit. This would look great with jeans, patterned pants, or a skirt. I like the tucked in look shown in the photo.
The chunky knit cardigan has a cropped cut and would pair well with high-waisted pants or jeans. It has an oversized fit that makes it especially cozy with a modern edge.
Cool-Weather Dresses and Pantsuits
The brown polka-dot dress has retro 40’s styling and reminds me a bit of the polo-match dress Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman. The length is classy and suitable for cooler weather. This dress would look cute with a cardigan or blazer and booties or tall boots.
The black pantsuit is something every modern woman could use in her wardrobe. It can be dressed up or down and with one piece of clothing, you can instantly look pulled together. I have one like this in cream that I wore in the summer; This would be the perfect cool-weather equivalent.
Cool-Weather Accessories
I’m really into satchel purses right now and I think it’s because they are spacious enough for all the stuff I like to tote around, yet they are polished looking and elevate any outfit. Classic black goes with everything in this neutral cool-weather fashion essentials list.
The classic cable pom-pom hat is a staple in my winter wardrobe. I love the soft grey tone of this one, but I would also purchase it in tan and cream. I was happy to find a pom-pom hat that was free of animal fur.
And finally, the plaid blanket scarf is still going strong and it’s easy to see why. The classic plaid pattern (updated here with colour speckles) and cozy warmth evokes all the good things about cool-weather months. It makes me think of apple picking, going to the pumpkin patch, and sitting by a cozy fire.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing my neutral cool-weather fashion essentials and seeing a little bit of my style. If you love neutrals, perhaps you would enjoy my post Best Neutral Fall Decor Ideas for Your Home.
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