The start of a new season brings an opportunity to refresh your wardrobe; it’s the perfect time to review the existing pieces you own and identify any gaps in your collection. While winter dressing can prove to be the most challenging – often dictated by navigating the elements – it also allows for experimentation with texture, colour and layering.  

The key to curating a core wardrobe is through building on the cuts, silhouettes and styles you find yourself returning to. Once you’ve established the essential foundations and the key trends that align with your style, you can begin to invest in the hero pieces of the new season. 

Discover the key staples to build a winter capsule wardrobe and master the art of uniform dressing for everyday ease. 

HOW TO BUILD A CAPSULE WARDROBE 

Naturally, there are staple pieces you’ll wear year-round – think T-shirts, jeans and classic white shirts, which will often serve as the foundations of your wardrobe throughout any season. When it comes to capsule dressing as the season shifts, you can build on these fundamental pieces with more specific items that cater to the time of year. 

For winter style, practicality will play a significant role when creating your capsule – quality fabrics, insulating knitwear and easy layering are all key themes. With this in mind, a considered colour palette will make each piece go even further, ensuring every item can be worn together for maximum styling mileage.  

THE HERO COAT  

The coat is the most important investment you’ll make for the season, so it’s wise to ensure it ticks all the boxes before committing. A classic black coat is the epitome of enduring style – whether A-line, tailored or unstructured, it will always remain a seasonal constant.  

A hero piece in the COS outerwear collection, the funnel-neck coat embraces enveloping elegance with sculpted lines and heightened proportions. It’s crafted from a recycled-wool blend and tailored in an oversized, double-breasted shape with a standing collar that can be worn open or buttoned up on colder days – a thoughtful detail that lends versatility.

EVERYDAY LAYERS 

A tightly edited collection of knitwear is key for the winter wardrobe, signalling a shift from lighter transitional styles to warmer, weightier pieces. Look for styles that work for the office and off-duty – pieces you can style with smart tailored trousers or denim jeans for a casual winter outfit. For days when you need something more substantial, a turtleneck jumper spun from merino wool offers simple sophistication and natural insulation in equal measure. 

SIGNATURE SHIRTING 

A COS wardrobe icon: the white shirt transcends seasons and trends. This season’s iteration is tailored in a menswear-inspired shape and has subtle design details that make it feel fresh – note the extended cuffs and slightly oversized cut. Its styling power is indisputable: it looks equally polished when buttoned up, layered over a turtleneck or worn as part of a suit. 

TEXTURAL KNITWEAR  

While autumn’s knitwear tends to be on the lighter side for the transition from summer, the winter collection brings a richness in tactility and touch. This is the season to embrace substantial shapes and weightier yarns that will bring a comforting warmth to your wardrobe.  

The COS design team experimented with texture and tone to create the hero jumpers of the season, spotlighting crafted details and artful accents. An invitingly chunky crew-neck jumper showcases a mélange of seasonal hues with flecks of bright colour, while a black wool style is animated with dimensional fringing.  

TIMELESS TAILORING 

Tailoring remains the most timeless element of any wardrobe. While shapes may adapt and evolve with the seasons, the foundations rarely stray from the classics. As well as a simple black blazer, impeccably tailored trousers belong in every winter capsule thanks to their endless versatility.  

The turn-up trousers from the COS winter collection are designed with nods to workwear, tailored in a straight-leg silhouette and finished with exaggerated folded cuffs. Made from an RWS wool blend with sharp front pleats and a tonal belt, they'll seamlessly transition from work to evening with a simple white shirt. 

KEY ACCESSORIES 

No capsule wardrobe is complete without the right accessories – the key pieces should transform your wardrobe rather than just complement. The tasselled framed clutch does exactly that thanks to its exaggerated shape and dynamic texture. It's crafted from premium butter-soft leather and adorned with rows of tonal tassels to give your outfit instant movement.  

Debuting for Autumn Winter 2024, the Studio bowling bag is a refined interpretation of a noughties sportswear classic. Crafted from premium suede in a rich espresso tone, it has a curved silhouette with bonded edges for longevity and is pragmatically sized to hold everything you need for a day in the city – a truly hardworking piece.