Welcome to Strawberry Fields Vintage 2022! I wanted to kick off the new year with a collection that covers some of the basics – a winter capsule wardrobe if you will.
I put a question box on my Instagram stories (you can follow me here) a couple of weeks ago asking what you were currently on the hunt for and quite a few replies were in this vein - ‘winter essentials’, ‘capsule wardrobe pieces’, ‘vintage basics’ etc. I was so excited by the prospect of showing you how you can purchase those pieces secondhand or vintage. And I want to give you lots of styling options for ways to wear your new purchases and inspire you to recreate these looks from pieces already in your wardrobe.
But before we begin, I have a confession to make. I am not an advocate of a capsule wardrobe. My personal style is more maximalist but I always need the basics to form the foundation of my wardrobe & add to any outfit. You will want to take your lifestyle and personal needs into consideration when creating your own vintage capsule wardrobe. Do you work from home or in an office? Do you live in a city or in the countryside? All of these practicalities will influence how you begin to build your collection. I spend at least an hour of every day walking my dog in muddy fields and the rest of the day working from home or in my studio so my vintage winter wardrobe is heavier on the practical, comfortable and cosy pieces and lighter on formal wear. I find that around this time of year there aren’t as many party invitations as there were during the festive season, but it’s always handy to have a glam dress or sparkly top ready to go, just incase!
If I were to go into every item I think you need in your winter capsule wardrobe this post would be never-ending and this week’s collection would be huge so I decided to focus on 5 key areas and cover the pieces that I come back to year after year.
Outerwear
The effortless and chic way to pull any outfit together, a classic longline coat really does go with everything – tops off a suit perfectly, throw it on over a lounge set for an off-duty vibe or wear it over a vintage sweater and a pair of Levis jeans to instantly elevate your look.
As we’re talking about Levis, that leads me on perfectly to my next capsule piece…
Denim
A pair of jeans are a staple in my wardrobe all year round so it was a given that they would make it on to my wardrobe essentials list. I have a variety of colours and styles but for your first pair of vintage denim I would recommend the classic Levis 501 - the mid-rise and straight leg flatters most shapes. I am also a big fan of a Levis 505. Levis were known as a workwear brand up until the 1960s but as they increased in popularity and the brand became a fashion icon they branched out into a more fashion-led styles and this is where the 505s came in. Like the 501, the 505 is a straight leg jean but where it differs is in the zipper as opposed to button fly. However, 505s were generally not as robustly made as a 501, which is why I would recommend starting out with a pair of 501s that will no doubt last you for years to come.
This collection includes a pair of classic blue 501s and a pair of more on trend black 550s which are the quintessential ‘mom jean’ – high rise, relaxed thigh, tapered leg & a zip fly.
Knitwear
A cosy jumper or cardigan is an obvious addition to a capsule winter wardrobe. My favourites are a vintage Aran jumper and an Aran cardigan that I have had for years & I can’t see myself ever getting rid of them.In this collection I have two for you – one in a beautiful heritage green and one in a vibrant fire engine red.
But as we’re talking vintage clothes I wanted to include knitwear with a twist! And with vintage that usually comes in the form of bright colours or popping prints.
This purple mohair cardigan is the colour of the season and has the added bonus of being padded on the inside which makes it super cosy. I have styled it here for a night out but it would work equally well with a white t-shirt, jeans and a pair of converse for a more relaxed weekend look.
Statement Glam
Lockdown left me desperate to bust out those glam pieces that have been hanging unworn in my wardrobe for the past 18 months and as I mentioned in the beginning of this post it is always handy to have a fabulously sparkly piece at the ready. For daytime looks I am a big fan of pairing my sequin flare bottoms with an oversized white poplin shirt or my sequin waistcoat over the same shirt but keeping it relaxed on the bottom half with a pair of jeans. But when it comes to going ‘out-out’ it is all about the fancy top!
Throw it on with a pair of jeans and heels for relaxed glam or go all out with a leather pencil skirt – just like I have with this vintage heavily beaded bralet and 80s leather skirt. No chance of meeting your outfit twin when you’re wearing something as statement and fabulous as this!
Great Quality Belt
I believe in investing in good quality accessories. But they really don’t have to cost the world and I have found some amazing vintage leather belts in perfect condition over the years (especially on eBay). I tend to go for a classic 90s genuine leather for everyday outfits and then something more statement for evening wear.
The belts I have in this week’s collection cover all these bases. I have two genuine leather pieces – one with an elegant gold square buckle and the other with a smaller oval buckle. And I’ve thrown in a few that cover the vintage holy trinity when it comes to belts – plaited, chains & studs.
Wear the genuine leather belts looped through your jeans or trousers for 90s chic vibes and cinch those statement belts over a blazer for maximum impact.
For lots more styling Inspo check out my Winter Warmers board on Pinterest. I update my Pinterest regularly so be sure to give me a follow here!