Style School Lesson 1: How to Build a Core Wardrobe With Neutrals - A Beginner's Guide
Feeling lost in your closet? Our first Style School lesson teaches you how to create a foundation wardrobe with neutrals for effortless, chic outfits every day.
Welcome to Style School! I created this space because I wish it had it myself when I embarked on my fashion journey two years ago. I had a closet stuffed with clothes, and yet no idea what to wear. I knew when OTHER people looked good, but I didn’t know why. I spent hundreds of hours learning the elements of style, and as a 20+ year high school educator, I decided I wanted to teach this to others.
Here’s the first thing I learned - I don’t need to necessarily buy a million things to start looking stylish. I just needed the basics to get rolling. It sounds counterintuitive - do less? Really? Yes, really.
Why Build a Core Wardrobe?
I had a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear, felt overwhelmed by trends, and struggled to put outfits together. Enter the glory of the capsule.
A core wardrobe was the antidote to my frustrations because it serves so many purposes. It provides a foundation, simplifies dressing, saves time, and reduces decision fatigue. You don’t need to craft earth-shattering looks, either. Start slow with things that WORK and move from there. We’re not reinventing the wheel, here. We are learning…growth mindset is critical at this stage.
Important note! Having a capsule or core wardrobe is NOT about being boring or sacrificing personal style, but rather about building a versatile base. You can add so much color, flavor, and personality to your outfits, so don’t think you’re going to be looking like a generic mannequin. Unless that’s your thing.
Is mannequin-core a thing?
Understanding the Core Wardrobe Concept
A core or capsule wardrobe is a collection of versatile, foundational pieces that can be mixed and matched endlessly. Imagine you’re going on a vacation - you pick items that pair well together in different combos, right? Start there. There are sooo many benefits!
Fewer pieces but more outfits because you’re layering and combining.
Less stress about what to wear daily. I’ve got four kids and two jobs…anything to simplify my life!
Invest in quality over quantity = mindful consumption is a good thing!
You always have something to wear if you fall back on these outfit formulas. Always. Pinky-promise.
The Power of Neutrals: Your Style Superpower
What are Neutrals? The most common neutral colors include (but are not limited to) black, white, gray, navy, beige/camel, olive green, cream, and brown. I also think burgundy has recently become a neutral, as well as a generic medium denim color.
Why are neutrals essential? They literally go with everything…including each other. (Whoever said you can’t wear black and brown is wrong, folks.) Neutrals will never go out of style, and they are the backbone to a cohesive wardrobe. They’re a nice canvas for pops of color, in layers, or can be worn alone. Finally, neutrals are synonymous with chic.
Step-by-Step: Building Your Core Wardrobe
Assess Your Current Wardrobe (The Closet Cleanse for Beginners):
Empty Everything Out: I know the sound of this may make you completely nauseous, but take EVERYTHING out of your closet. All of it. Blank slate.
The "Keep, Donate/Sell, Toss" Piles: Go through each item and ask yourself this: Is it in good condition? If no, throw in the “toss” bag. If it’s in too rough condition for you to wear, then nobody will. Next, ask yourself how often you’ve worn a piece? I’m guessing if that’s a “not much”, there’s a reason. You can either toss this in Donate or Sell. Finally, you should be left with a Keep pile. This is stuff you know works for your body, and that you’ve selected time and again for good reason.
Go through your Keep pile again: This time, really scrutinize it. Ask yourself questions like "Does it fit?" "Does wearing it make me happy or confident?" “Is this timeless, current, or dated?” "Does it align with my desired style?" (You may not know your desired style yet. It’s ok to skip this one. Let’s talk about this in a later lesson.) Note: you can always keep things but put them in a storage container out of sight for further assessment. I do this all the time to simplify what’s in front of me without literally throwing my whole closet out.
Identify Lifestyle Needs: What do you actually do in your daily life? Get practical. If you’ve been holding onto a dress because it’s perfect for salsa lessons, either book the class or get rid of the dress.
Identify Your Core Neutral Palette:
Ok, hang all that stuff back up, but pay attention to the NEUTRALS you’ve got left. Put all colors and bold patterns aside. Now, pick which neutral resonates with you the most. Are you a grey gal? Is black your go-to? Pick your favorite neutral, and a backup. Mine are black and white, but grey comes in a close third. You may be a taupe and olive kinda gal. Not gonna stop you. Just start to think about what works best for you and why.
Take your coloring into consideration. Now, I’m not telling you that you need to rush out and get a color analysis done, but I know that my skin tone works best with contrasting bright tones like black and white and I look washed out in many beiges. Just take a peek at how neutrals work with your skin color and maybe winnow down what you’ve got left.
Essential Core Wardrobe Pieces:
Now, look at what’s left and let’s start to categorize it. You should probably have 1-2 of each of these to really have a closet you can Jenga with.
Tops:
Classic White T-shirt (crewneck, V-neck) This is THE hardest worker in your closet. I don’t even think you need to spend a lot of money, either. White gets dirty and dingy quick, so I literally buy XL boys tees in a 6 pack.
Classic Black T-shirt - These are more durable, so maybe splurge a bit more and get a softer or nicer quality than the white.
Quality Long-Sleeve Tops (black, white, gray) I love bodysuits for these. They’re nice and smooth under your bottoms and tuck away nicely.
Button-Down Shirt (white or light blue) DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. My button-downs are the HEROS of my closet, year-round. I say get a white one and a blue stripe shirt, personally.
Neutral Sweater or Cardigan - A cream sweater makes everything look classier. I love a black (or navy) white striped cardigan moment. You’ll likely have your faves here.
Bottoms:
Well-fitting Jeans (dark wash, straight leg ideally) Listen, this is controversial, but denim styles come and go, except for a nice dark straight leg. Right now, people are wearing a lot of barrel-leg and wide leg and most shun the skinny, but I don’t see anyone talking smack about the tried and true straight-leg any time soon. It’s safe.
Black Trousers/Pants (tailored or wide-leg, depending on preference) See above. I like straight, but you do you. Your body shape is really what drives this decision. I’m petite and straight sized, so I typically don’t love how wide-leg shortens me, but that’s just my own observation.
Neutral Skirt (pencil or A-line, depending on preference) Again, body type dictates this. You know what shapes look good on you, so just go with your gut on this one. Personally, I like A-line shorter skirts on my frame, but lately people are going wild for maxi-length denim.
Outerwear:
Classic Neutral Blazer - My literal style magic combo is match a cool blazer to a boot. That’s it. That’s the trick. I love my black blazer, but grey is also great and in the warmer months I like a white one. Currently, people are wearing blazers with a nipped-in silhouette but you can easily fake this with a wide blazer and a belt over it.
Lightweight Jacket - TRENCH! Cropped blazer! Satin bomber! The options are endless.
Dresses/Jumpsuits (Optional but Recommended):
Little Black Dress - If you don’t have one, grab one. It can be dressed down with a button-down shirt (see above) or one of your pieces of outerwear. You’ll be surprised how versatile this can be, almost like another bottom in your wardrobe.
Simple neutral dress or jumpsuit - Something linen for warmer weather? Or a breezy cotton sundress?
Shoes:
Comfortable Neutral Sneakers - Right now, the most stylish sneakers out there are slim, narrow, and retro. Think Adidas.
Classic Neutral Flats/Loafers - Year round, fashion-approved.
Neutral Heels/ Boots - Ideally kitten-heel for this upcoming trend cycle.
Mixing & Matching with Neutrals: Outfit Formulas
"The Neutral Base" Strategy - Start with a neutral base, add an optional pop of color OR get funky with a pattern or texture. But just ONE for now. I’m going to refer to color/texture/pattern as your FUN piece. Every one of these formulas could stand alone OR with a fun piece like a handbag, belt, scarf, jacket, etc.
Simple Outfit Formulas:
White Tee + Jeans + Neutral Blazer
Black Top + Neutral Skirt + Neutral Heels
Neutral Sweater + Black Trousers + Loafers
Now, as it stands, those outfits sound boring, right? Depends. If it’s perfectly tailored and accessorized, nope, they’re chic. If you add a fun element to your core base - you’ve elevated it. Play it safe with the formulas, and tweak as needed. When I was first learning to dress stylishly, you wouldn’t believe how many compliments I got when I played it simple but polished.
Beyond the Basics: Building on Your Core
Accessories are Key: Accessories (jewelry, scarves, bags, belts) can completely transform a neutral outfit and express personality. You can go the fun route (pattern/texture/color) or just simple and chic, but this is the layer of your outfit that adds POLISH. This was one of the first real lessons I learned - styling means adding to your base. Trust me on this - throw on that belt and thank me later.
Personal Style Integration: Reminder: your new core wardrobe is a starting point for your unique style. Start slow and experiment! Feel comfortable and confident and then try getting playful!
Homework Time!
Go through your closet and identify 5-7 core neutral pieces you already own. Create three outfits from this base that you would wear for different purposes and please share here! I will comment on each and give ideas and encouragement! You got this!
Office hours: I’m open to any Q and A you may have on this topic! Post your questions below.
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