7 Mom Wardrobe Essentials for the Ultimate Capsule Closet
Are you a busy mom who doesn’t have much time, but wants to have a closet full of clothes that you absolutely love? These 7 mom wardrobe essentials will help you create a closet full of clothes that fit your body type and lifestyle to make getting dressed a breeze, once and for all.
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When I became a stay-at-home mom, I pictured myself as one of those peaceful, crunchy ladies who floats around effortlessly in yoga pants, baking all day and smiling incessantly as she picks her children up from school. As you might imagine… that’s not exactly what happened.
These days, as a busy mom who works full time from home, I’m constantly running from one task to the next, trying to get assignments done as a freelance copywriter while also running errands, cleaning the house, and not being the last person into the school pick up line.
BUT even when life is a little bit chaotic, I still want to look stylish and cute. I still want to seem relevant and young and with it, even as I inch up in my thirties! That’s why I’ve always loved the idea of a capsule closet.
Although I need to do another major closet clean out soon, I’ve found that one easy way to always look pulled together is having a few key wardrobe essentials that go with everything and can work in any season. The best part? It doesn’t take much to get your own mom closet essentials to give you outfit ideas galore!
How can i be a more stylish mother?
We’ve all read articles or books about creating the perfect wardrobe capsule at some point in time. But the reality is, a lot of those lists feel outdated or unrelatable in today’s fashion landscape. There are lots of different ways to create a versatile closet that don’t just include a tank trench coat, white tee and a little black dress.
I’m a full believer in making sure every piece in your closet is an extension of YOU, of your style, personality and what you want to showcase to the world. There’s no hard and fast rules for great style, but here are a few key style tips for busy moms to help you find items you LOVE.
1. Know what you have. Before you go out shopping for new pieces, you’ll want to get a good idea of the items you already have in your closet. What items do you always ignore that you need to give away? Those skinny jeans that haven’t fit in two years? Toss them. That jean jacket from high school? Decide if the fit is still “you” or if it needs to be put in a momento box somewhere. You need to know what you’re working with to determine what you need.
2. Keep your daily life in mind. If you’re a stay at home mom of 3, you probably won’t need a closet full of blazers and pumps. (Although everyone should have one great blazer, right?) Make sure you keep a mix of items in your closet that can go wherever you do – from the gym to date night to the school PTA meeting.
3. Get inspiration. Before going shopping, I’ve found it super helpful to get inspiration on the colors, fabrics and fits that inspire me so I know what I’m looking for. Sometimes this looks like creating a Pinterest board of outfits that inspire me. Sometimes this looks like jotting down in my Notes app an outfit that I loved out on the street. If you want to dress differently than you do right now, make sure you’re noting the looks you love and WHY you love them in daily life.
4. Do what works for YOU. Just because midriff tops are in does not mean you have to wear them! If everyone is rocking platforms and you have a bad ankle, don’t feel like you have to do it too. One of the best things about personal style is that you get to decide what defines your look. You get to shape your closet to show who you are to the world. Choose wisely.
Ready to find the best ways to make staple trendy closet pieces work for you? Here are 7 easy mom wardrobe essentials will help you create a few key foundations you can always rely on.
7 Must-Have Mom Wardrobe Essentials
Without further ado, let’s get to the essentials. These are all items that are perfect for a home mom capsule wardrobe, but can also be perfect for a working mom on the go. Each of these essentials you can find at thrift stores or you can pick up a few new pieces at your own favorite places to shop.
New moms, feel free to choose pieces in each category that adapt to wherever you are in your postpartum clothing journey. Don’t be afraid to improvise when needed and make your style work for you!
1. An Oversized Denim Jacket
Outfit details: Abercrombie Jacket, Vinnie Louise boots, Abercrombie Jeans
This is number one because denim jackets are literally timeless. They also can go with you into every season. I personalize love an oversized jacket because it gives you a laidback, cool girl vibe and it’s perfect for layering when the weather cools off.
You can pair your denim jacket with everything from sweats and sneakers on a casual Saturday to a slinky dress and chunky block heels on a girl’s night out. Dark denim gives off a dressier vibe, while distressed denim with rips gives a little more of that cool mom attitude. I grabbed my favorite oversized denim jacket from H&M awhile back. But here’s another similar denim jacket from Abercrombie that is also a favorite.
GET THE LOOK:
2. The Perfect Layering Tank Top
Outfit details: Abercrombie mom jeans, Nike Dunk Low sneakers, Racerback tanks
One of the quintessential items of every spring and summer wardrobe is the perfect layering tank top. And typically, once you find a brand and fit you love, you might as well buy it in a whole slew of colors!
Wear these tanks underneath big cozy sweaters in the winter, or pair them with your favorite breezy knit pants for rich-lady vibes in the summertime. If you’re on a budget like me, stores like Old Navy, Target and H&M all have excellent basics that can last you season after season. I recently got a few of these racerbank tanks from Gap and I can say that I’m truly obsessed.
GET THE LOOK:
3. VERSATILE White Sneakers
Outfit details: Abercrombie Jeans, Sweater vest, Adidas Astir sneakers, Long sleeve tee
If I had all the money to spend in the world, I would most definitely be a sneakerhead. But since I do not, I currently wear the same pair of chunky white Adidas sneakers with everything. Comfy, stylish sneakers are both practical and trendy, and thankfully we live in a world where sneakers are almost always accessible footwear. Pair your sneakers with your favorite wide leg jeans, leggings, a long skirt or a flirty dress. You really can’t go wrong when you’re in the world’s most comfortable footwear.
GET THE LOOK:
4. A Quality Basic Tee
Outfit details: Abercrombie Essential tee, H&M wide jeans
No capsule closet list would be complete without your standard run of the mill white shirt, right? Except, what if it doesn’t have to be white? What if you just find a tee shirt in a fabric, fit and color you absolutely love and make that your thing?
Besides, for most of us moms, a white tee shirt will be stained in .03 seconds anyway. So choose a color or two that you love and find a few tees you feel great in. Dress your teens up or down, and pair them with everything you own from high waisted jeans to biker shorts and leather pants. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
GET THE LOOK:
5. A Versatile Button Up Shirt
Outfit details: Button up cover up, Black denim shorts, Black sandals
It’s been said that you can’t have a perfect capsule wardrobe without a button-up shirt (okay, maybe I’m the one who said that.) But it’s really true! For those times when you want to feel sleek, chic and pulled together, nothing will do it faster than a perfect-for-you button up will.
There’s a lot of directions you can go in with this piece, from slightly oversized and slouchy for a menswear vibe to tailored and fitted to pair with trousers or under your favorite cardigan. Look for one in a light airy color or pinstripes for a plethora of styling options all year long.
GET THE LOOK:
6. A Pair of Jeans that Makes You Feel Like a Queen
Outfit details: Abercrombie mom jeans, Striped tee, Ankle booties
The right pair of jeans will carry you in life through the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. I have to admit I didn’t find my perfect jeans until the age of 35, but man oh man am I so glad I did. (They’re Abercrombie Curve Love jeans, if you’re wondering.) The important thing with denim is to not worry so much about what different styles your favorite celebrity is wearing, and instead really lean into the fit, cut, shape and washes that make you feel comfortable and totally YOU.
For me lately, I’ve leaned a lot more into loose fitting jeans that hit right at the ankle, but still hug my hips and curves in all the right ways. Are you more of a dark wash or light jean kind of woman? Prefer the distressed vibe or a more pulled together look? Not sure? Don’t be afraid to get out there and try different shapes until you find what works for you! I’m sharing a few of my favorite styles right now right here.
GET THE LOOK:
7. A Vibey Leather Jacket
Outfit details: Motorcycle jacket, H&M wide jeans, Vinnie Louise boots
Last but not least, there’s one final item that will give you the ultimate cool mom look. That my friend, is a vibey leather jacket. What i love about a great leather jacket is that you don’t have to always pair it with a band tee and chunky boots (although that’s a great look!)
It’s just as easy to throw your leather jacket over a matching sweatsuit for carpool line, or pair it with a feminine dress and gold jewelry for date night. There are so many different options for color, style and fit out there. But for busy moms, you can’t go wrong with a slightly oversized fit and a worn in wash so you never look or feel like you’re trying too hard.
GET THE LOOK:
I hope these mom wardrobe essentials will help you to realize that you can be both a comfortable and totally stylish mom, no matter how busy you are! Each of these 7 pieces are a great option to add to any outfit when you don’t know what to wear or you’re just looking for that extra boost of confidence. For even more outfit inspiration, check out my post How to Dress Like a Cool Mom.
Now get out there and dress in a way that’s totally you!
Which of these 7 wardrobe essentials are you looking to add to your closet?