Winter Capsule Wardrobe 2026: January

The first capsule wardrobe of 2026! You’ll see this winter capsule wardrobe is for the month of January. This year, I’m planning to do monthly capsule wardrobes here on the blog. There will be plenty of overlap with my seasonal favorites appearing across multiple capsules, but I really like the option to switch up a few pieces after about thirty days. For my January capsule wardrobe, I pulled twenty-five cold weather pieces from my wardrobe including ten tops, six bottoms, three pieces of outerwear, and six pairs of shoes. I’m also sharing the accessories I plan to add down below as well. As always, I included plenty of outfit ideas in this post using the pieces in this capsule. I’ll also be wearing the capsule the entire month of January and sharing my outfits in my Style Weekly posts on Substack.

Winter is my least favorite season, and I tend get some seasonal melancholy (I’m sure many of you do, too.) One thing that helps me get through this season is getting dressed most days of the week. I swear it does wonders for my mood. And creating a capsule wardrobe makes the whole process of getting dressed much easier – less decision fatigue!

January Capsule Wardrobe

Ten Tops

I’m including more than enough tops for the month, mainly because I like to layer them over each other, wear an extra over my shoulders for warmth and dimension, or, my new obsession, tie one around my waist. I also have my two base layer tops from Uniqlo on stand-by for extra cold days (shop them here and here.)

Half-Zip Sweater // This half-zip sweater from Everlane has a collar that is pretty on trend even though it’s a few years old. I like to layer a button down underneath sometimes.

White Button Down // This button down from Sézane is nice for colder months because it’s thicker than the ones I have from Gap which are a cotton poplin. I recommend taking your normal size.

Cardigan // This button front cardigan from Reformation has been on my wishlist for months, and I finally purchased it for the winter. I’ll mostly being wearing it buttoned, but I also like having the option of wearing it open as well. Comes in a ton colors! I got my true size. Here is a more affordable option.

Denim Button Down // Confession – I actually just purchased this denim patchwork button down shirt like an hour ago after browsing Sézane’s new New York inspired collection (I’ve never bought something so fast.) I’ll be switching this plain denim shirt out for the patchwork one once it arrives (the plain denim one is also from Sézane!)

Striped Tee // I love having a super relaxed long sleeve tee I can grab for those days I want to be comfortable. This one has a very oversized fit at true size.

Gray Sweatshirt // Another comfortable winter top, I’m sure I’ll be wearing this one every weekend. I want to try layering it over my button downs for a slightly more elevated look.

Black Cashmere Sweater // A winter staple for me, this sweater has an easy, relaxed fit that can be layered with a tee for extra warmth.

White Tee // I included this white tee for layering underneath my sweaters. This one came highly recommended, but I also like these ones.

Navy Fitted Sweater // I like to include sweaters with different fits in my capsule wardrobe so I can have a little more variety. This one has a more fitted look.

Gray Cotton Sweater // I just rediscovered this sweater from Everlane in my closet. The fit and color are just perfect. I plan to wear this one on it’s own (layered over a tee or base layer) but also tied over my shoulders or around my waist.

Six Bottoms

Silk Pants // These pants add a bit of elegance to your winter outfits. Mine are from Reformation (a bit pricey but the quality is excellent.) Here is a more affordable option. I plan to layer a pair of Uniqlo HEATTECH leggings underneath for warmth.

Light Wash Jeans // These jeans have a super relaxed and easy fit, and I like that you can uncuff them once to wear them with heels.

Indigo Jeans // I purchased these about a month ago and have worn them at least eight times. I love this indigo color (it’s very on trend) and the slight barrel leg.

Black Jeans // I liked these jeans so much, I bought them in a black wash for winter. They have a very comfortable mid-rise and classic straight leg. I take my smaller size in these.

Brown Knit Pants // These knit pants from Donni are incredibiliy comfortable but also kind of chic, too (I’m not sure how they do it!) They can be dressed up or down. I got my true size.

Ecru Denim // I like wearing off white denim in the winter even more so than in spring. You can create a monochrome look by pairing them with lighter colors or a high contrast look by pairing them with black. I’ll be doing both. Mine are from Everlane and have limited stock, but this pair is really similar.

Three Pieces of Outerwear

I chose to not include too many outerwear pieces in this capsule since many of my other coats are just not warm enough for a Chicago winter.

Black Puffer Coat // This coat came highly recommend by people who know cold. I’ve had it for about three weeks and can confirm it keeps me warm in very chilly temps.

Brown Wool Coat // I also purchased this coat for my first Chicago winter as I wanted something warm but also chic, too.

Gray Wool Blazer // This blazer is a little warmer than the other blazers in my closet since it’s a wool blend. I plan to layer this over my sweaters and button downs.

Six Shoes

Brown Boots // Ankle boots are probably my favorite shoes to wear in the winter (they are so easy to style with all the bottoms in my closet!)

Black Boots // These boots are pricey but are so comfortable. I could walk for miles in them. Here is a more affordable pair.

Sneakers // I like wearing sneakers on the weekends for errands or kid’s activities. These are just the classic white/black Sambas.

Lined Chelsea Boot // These are new to me this winter and come highly recommended by several Canadians (it’s cold up there.) They are lined with shearling so they keep your feet warmer than other Chelsea boots.

Suede Loafers // For mild winter days (ones without snow on the ground), I’ll be wearing these chocolate brown suede loafers from Reformation. They are so comfortable.

Snow Boots // I don’t love wearing snow boots, but you really can’t go without them here. I’ll keep these on standby for cold, snowy days.

Accessories

For accessories, I included this triangle scarf (I got it for Christmas!), this olive wool scarf, this cashmere beanie, these mittens, these gold knot earrings, these silver croissant hoops, these oval sunglasses, these aviator sunglasses, and this chunky black belt (this one is super similar to the one I own, also from Madewell.)

January Capsule Wardrobe: Outfit Ideas

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