As much as I love summer dressing, there’s NOTHING that get’s me more excited than planning my Autumn/Winter wardrobe. Living in Ireland, our summers are disappointing at the best of times, so we get so much more purchase out of our winter wardrobes. 

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If you’ve followed my blog for a while now, you’ll know how much I love creating a capsule wardrobe, which basically means putting together a list of key pieces that make up the foundation of a wardrobe. I made the decision over a year ago to drastically downsize my wardrobe, and try to only buy pieces with longevity, and pieces that I really love.  Sure, everyone’s personal style and wardrobe needs are different, but your capsule wardrobe should consist of well-made pieces that will stand the test of time, and that you can easily style into multiple outfits.

So this week I’ve been doing a little brainstorming about my own capsule A/W wardrobe, (which led to a little shopping) and I’m ready to share some of my purchases with you. Again, everyone’s idea of a capsule wardrobe is a little different, but maybe it will give you a little inspiration if and when you’re planning yours.

What I’ve bought already:

1: Green Suede Biker Jacket

I’ve wanted a real suede biker for the longest time, and I’m so happy to have found this style by Blank Denim which is real suede, great quality, and a decent price too. I was initially planning on getting a tan one, but I figured if I was getting real suede (which can stain) then a darker green would be a better option, plus I adore this deep olive shade, it looks beautiful in person. If you’re not keen on spending over the hundred euro mark, there’s a more affordable option here.

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2: Black Midi Slip Dress

The black slip dress is set to be an AW style staple, and one of the few coming trends that I’ll happily buy into. It’s classic, versatile,  inexpensive, and most importantly, it suits my personal style. I picked up this one from River Island recently, and I’m obsessed.

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3: Black Tailored Chinos

A purchase which may seem boring to the naked eye, but a good pair of black chinos are a wardrobe staple, whatever the season. Find a pair that flatters your figure and pair them with casual separates like sweaters and tees to ditch the slight office-vibe they can give. They’re also great for pairing with dressy tops for a chic, tailored take on occasionwear. I just love anything tailored for going out!

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4: Celine New Audrey Sunglasses

These don’t need much explaining, do they? I’ve wanted a pair of classic Celine sunglasses for the longest time, and was agonising over which style to choose. In the end, I went for the “New Audrey” shape, which is a slightly squared take on the classic cat eye, and they are just PERFECT on. If you are looking to invest in a pair, I recommend getting them from Smart Buy Glasses, as they sell them at a slightly cheaper price than most department stores – happy days!

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5: ACNE Grey Canada Scarf

A good scarf is a purchase that I hopefully wont be needing for another month or two, but an essential winter buy nonetheless. We all know how quickly that cold snap comes in! (I’m such a granny, I know) The ACNE Canada Scarf has long been hailed as a winter essential by fashionistas and bloggers alike, and so I finally decided to bite the bullet and invest, with the intention of being wrapped up in it all winter. It’s high quality, (100% pure virgin lambswool) and if taken care of properly, is supposed to last you years and years. The luxe grey colour goes with absolutely everything, and I have a feeling this will turn out to be one of my favourite purchases of the season.

6: YSL “Blogger” Crossbody Bag

You guys would have seen that I bought the YSL “Blogger” crossbody bag for my birthday during the summer, and I am so excited to work it into my AW wardrobe! It should tie in seamlessly with everything I already have, and It will add an element of luxe to just about any outfit. If you’re tempted yourself, and you want to know how I nabbed it on a major discount, I’ve explained it all in my initial post.

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7: Cashmere Beanie (in grey & black)

A purchase that seems so boring, you’ll wonder why I included it in this round up, but hear me out guys. Beanies are one of my favourite things to wear in winter. They keep my head warm, they hide a bad hair day, and if you pick the right slouched style, they give you that effortless off-duty vibe that I adore. I had planned on picking up two cashmere beanie styles from COS (they’re about €40 each) but I spotted similar cashmere styles on sale on Shopbop, so I snapped them up! For more #BeanieGoals inspo, see Nicole, Danielle, and Cara.

8: Black Pointed ankle boots

Every year, I pick up one pair of good black ankle boots in around the €100 mark, and then proceed to wear them to death for the next 12 months. The pair I chose this year have the pointed toe and chunky cuban heel that I love so much, fingers crossed they’re somewhat comfy!

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9: Kenzo Black Espadrilles

You probably spotted these Kenzo Espadrilles in my Thailand packing post, but this little purchase was not intended for summer only, I’ll be wearing these all through autumn and into winter also, watch this space.

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What’s on my Shopping-list:

Like most gals, I’m on a limited budget, so I obviously can’t buy everything I need all at once (the dream!) so here are some pieces I have not yet picked up, but are firmly on my shopping list. Seeing the list laid out here like this is giving me even more of a push to avoid buying anything I don’t need, and instead focusing on these. Take a look:

1: Saint Laurent Soft Leather Tote Bag

You might think I’m crazy having just bought a YSL bag only a few months ago, but this Saint Laurent leather shopping tote is one of my capsule pieces for AW. I don’t actually own a tote bag, and I often find myself wishing I had a good carry-all for those days when I need everything-but-the-kitchen-sink with me (we all have them!) So, rather than buying a cheaper quality bag that I don’t love (and won’t last me) I’d rather invest a bit more and have this one for life. It’s the perfect size and shape, plus it comes with an internal pouch for handy storage, and the handles are long enough to sling over your shoulder for comfort on the go.

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2: Topshop Jamie Ripped Jeans

I bought my first pair of  Topshop grey Jamies over the summer, and I honestly don’t know how I lasted this long without them. The fit, the COMFORT! I’m coming back for a black ripped-knee pair asap, which will probably get worn oh, about 1,356,258 times in the coming months.

3: Opening Ceremony Leather Bomber Jacket

It’s no secret that bomber jackets have been HUGE this spring summer, and the good news is they’re here to stay. I must admit though, I’m getting a little bored of all the shiny, neutral toned versions I’m seeing everywhere (maybe they’ve just become too popular!?) and I’m on the hunt for a heavy duty, varsity jacket for the winter months. This Opening Ceremony Leather Bomber ticks all my boxes, and it’s actually not as expensive as I had feared. I’m always preaching about investing in good quality bags and accessories, so it seems only right that I should start doing this with my outerwear too. The VEDA biker jacket I bought a few months ago has been a staple in my wardrobe ever since, and I expect that this one would be, too.

4: B-Low the Belt Western Belt

I have one belt from American Apparel that I have used relentlessly for the past three years, and understandably, it’s falling to pieces now, so I need to pick up a new one soon. I love the western style belts that are floating around all over the highstreet, but I want something that’s great quality and will last me years. I stumbled across a brand B-low the Belt (love the name) who have some gorgeous styles, all around the €100 mark. I will be investing in this gold hardware one soon!

5: White sneakers

A cute pair of white sneakers are something you shouldn’t have to invest too much in (they just get destroyed, let’s face it) but you should pick a pair that’s comfortable and doesn’t pinch you anywhere. I’m on the lookout for a nice pair white Stan Smiths or a classic Superga pair instead. I’ll be pairing them with everything and anything, dresses, jeans, shorts, you name it!

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I hope you enjoyed my AW capsule wardrobe breakdown, and I’d love to know, what are your capsule wardrobe essentials for AW? Have I missed anything important? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Shopping, 

Love,