UPDATED JANUARY 2026. Here’s the winter capsule wardrobe I constructed a couple of years ago, but today, in January 2026, it still looks up to date as classic style changes more slowly than fast fashion.
Every season I put together a few clothes with a basic color palette that will see me through for two or three months. I only shop for new items to fill gaps or when a favorite gets too worn. You can see my 10 step recipe for creating a seasonal capsule here.
If you follow these try-ons you know I am over 70, short and overweight. But I don’t let that stop me having fun getting dressed for my day.
So if these pics look less than glamorous, that’s why. However, I hope they inspire you to sort through your own closet and re-use forgotten items in a way that makes you feel that ‘spark of joy’ once again.
To see a 5 minute video of my try-on scroll past the ‘Recent videos’ to near the end of the post.
Dressing for the British weather
As a capsule wardrobe has to take into account both lifestyle and climate I’ve got very casual clothes – classics that can be layered depending on the weather.
That winter I was living in a town in England and enjoying wandering around the shops and popping into cafes. But I was also looking after my grand-daughter three days a week and that means indoors it was quite warm but walking her in the buggy it could be rather cold.
I also like to go for country walks and I tend to move fast in an effort to use calories! So I have to plan for that too.
Black cotton roll neck and jeans is a good basic combination for my winter. I can add a long black shirt for indoors or add a long grey cardigan if I need something warmer.
I’ve bought some new slip-on sneakers – Sketchers style – and I’m loving the comfort. As my daughter has a no-outdoor-shoe policy I find they are ideal for when I go round to her house to babysit. So easy to get into and out of, compared to laced sneakers.
My color palette for this winter capsule wardrobe
I’m building my winter capsule wardrobe around black and brown.
A basic look with brown could start with jeans, a tee and a gilet. Because the tee is short-sleeved it doesn’t have much bulk so even with the padded gilet it sits nicely under my winter coat.
Neutrals date slowly
My go-to winter color palette is often navy. But although basic neutrals change slowly from year to year, there is now a shift towards dark browns and black.
It’s so easy to just use the same formula year after year, but capsule dressing means small up-dates to keep the look modern without buying a whole new set of clothes.
So, whatever your neutral base color has been for the last few years, why not try something new this year. If that means investing in a couple of new pairs of jeans or tailored pants, so be it. Neutrals are very much worth buying. They repay your financial outlay by having the lowest cost-per-wear of any other colors in your closet.
Leggings for easy everyday wear at home
A sportier look, ideal for walking the dog if it’s not raining, teams my new brown cord stretch leggings with a chocolate brown knitted roll neck I bought in the Fall. I’ve written more about leggings recently here.
A scarf brightens up the look and adding the gilet makes the outfit possible for outdoors. A sleeveless puffer jacket like this golden-brown gilet I bought in the sales is perfect for winter walks as you don’t overheat if you walk quickly.
The big woolen sweater story
I bought a new big square-cut sweater is a speckled black and gray. I’m still trying different ways to style it with various items. It’s too warm for indoors but is ideal for shopping. I also like wearing it under my big winter coat when the weather is very nippy.
Big oversized sweaters are everywhere this winter. This one’s not quite long enough to cover my rear in these close-fitting leggings so if I go out I’ll be wearing the coat or the gilet, rest assured.
Velvet is no longer just for nights out
My straight cut black velvet pants from last year are so easy to wear. They have elastic at the back of the waist. They are just a bit smarter than jeans so I can add some jewelry to the black roll neck. But they still work well with a big woolen sweater or a long cardigan for everyday wear.
Black pants are a winter wardrobe essential
Whether you go for black leggings, black jeans, a pair of tailored back pants taken from that suit you used to wear at work, or here, as I have chosen, a pair of velvet trousers I bought for an evening out, you will never regret including this item in your capsule for cold weather.
Black pants are slimming. And that makes them soooo useful! If you worry about your broad hips, then throw on a long top that disguises your width. A colorful top will attract the eye upwards away from your hips or a black top will make the exact width of your hips simply impossible to see.
Kimono – the elegant cover-up
In case I get the opportunity to meet up with friends for lunch or in the evening, I’ve added a new light-weight silky top to wear over my velvet trousers. It’s a very casual kimono style which needs a black strappy vest underneath. Nowadays you can wear almost any shoes to go out in the evening so I haven’t added smart shoes just for this one outfit.
You can wear the clingiest top under a kimono and there’ll not be a bulge in sight. Oh happy days.
The winter legs problem
In colder weather there’s always the worry of what to wear on your legs under a dress. I bought this dress last winter in the sales. It’s in a fluid viscose jersey fabric. I wore it indoors with bare legs.
But I’m trying it out with opaque black tights this year. The long black cardigan works better as it marries up with the black tights but I think the gray cardigan and light-colored sneakers look fine too. This makes for a very comfortable look when I want a change from jeans and trousers some days.
Winter clothes for older women
Honestly, it is so much simpler for us older ladies to put together outfits for colder weather, than it is for warm weather.
In summer we usually wear one single layer. But on colder days we need several layers. If you add layers wisely you can look, not only very stylish, but also disguise any lumps and bumps that your body shape has developed over the years.
You can start with a fitted vest or thermal layer. Look in the mirror. Not your best look I bet! Add a longish shirt and button it up to chest height. Already a lot better – and warmer. Add a thicker layer with more texture, such as a sweater or cardigan, or even a casual jacket or thickish blazer. Let the shirt hang below the top layer for a casual chic vibe, or tuck it into a belt for a smarter, more styled look.
Try the top layer unbuttoned and then button it half or fully. Think about accessories such as a scarf in a contrast color to highlight your face, or add a handbag to tone with a color in one of your layers. Suddenly you are not only warm, but look great. In touch, stylish and confident!
Short video of my Winter Capsule Wardrobe 2024
How did I choose my capsule clothes?
Most of my wardrobe is back in France. So my choices of colors and clothes have been limited for this winter capsule wardrobe.
I like to re-use items from previous seasons and years but try to restyle them to add interest. Then I fill in the gaps with a few new items to catch the spirit of what’s fashionable, if I can.
This year my new items for this season were (affiliate links):
High waist leggings in Bitter Chocolate – cord no longer available these links lead to the new brown leggings (UK) or suede-look leggings (US) by marksandspencer.com UK and marksandspencer.com US
Big gray speckled sweater John Lewis own brand (UK only) no longer available
Long cardigan ( black no longer available these links lead to similar cardigans) marksandspencer.com UK and marksandspencer.com US
Long gray cardigan, similar: Marksandspencer.com UK and Marksandspencer.com US
Gold-brown padded gilet by Gant. (not affiliate link) Bought in the sales at John Lewis for less that 30% of full price. Incredible find!
Black soft slip-on sneakers marksandspencer.com UK and marksandspencer.com US
My oldest item is my coat – I bought it in the sales at Max Mara in the 1990’s! I wore it for the New York winters when even a quick dash to the subway could freeze your ….s off. Then I gave it to my mother. Then my sister wore it for a while after my mum died. And now it’s in use again. The collar is not quite right for 2024 but otherwise the ample styling is right back in fashion.
My little Burberry cashmere scarf comes out every few years. I bought it – full price for once, hahaha – in 1999. I thought it rather expensive at the time but if I calculate the cost per wear…well you get the gist!
If you enjoy these try-on posts by an older woman, here are my previous winters:
Always enjoy your posts and videos showcasing simple but stylish items. Happy New Year!
Hi Barbara. Thanks for your kind comment. Wishing all of us a healthy, happy and more peaceful New Year! Joni
Love every look you have created, ‘rich’ and elegant, but understated. The warm black trousers are key then find the gorgeous browns and creams. This is easy to do I think at any price and just dig out your color schemes. The scarf is a huge plus, a lifer. We can do that, also at quality and price for each person. Thrift shops come to mind here. The ‘big coat’ is LUSH. Thank you for winter inspiration, as I do have those colors and now can get creative. 🙂
Hi Kate. I’m so excited to hear you are going to take a new look at colour possibilites among your clothes. A fun way to start the New Year. Joni
Hi Joni, I always wear tights in winter. I have navy when I wear dark blue and black when I wear dresses with a black background. I think that brown tights would suit the dress better and coordinate well with the trainers (sneakers), just my opinion.
I wear my tights with short ankle boots, black with black tights, if the dress is shorter or long knee high boots if the dress is longer, my ankles look like sticks if the dress is too long. I can still wear a short heel, have you thought about knee high boots with a short heel when you wear a dress?
My boots are a relic of my time in the UK, I left in 1991 although I did spend 4 years back there to care for my father. And I too have some woolen coats which sadly I do not get to wear often in Australia but cannot bear to part with.
Hi Clare. Thanks for sharing your style tips. I agree with all of them. Colour of tights with dress – yes, definitely. Long boots – yes, definitely. But I’m just over in the UK with a minimal set of clothes and didn’t want to buy masses extra. Sometimes life gets in the way of my blog! Joni
I love your posts and look forward to them, Joni. I also subscribe to an American’s version of what older women should wear, but get frustrated with her $800 scarf type of ideas! You’re so very refreshingly real and someone I can relate to. Please keep writing! And more posts would sure be welcomed.
Hi Lois. I love that you love my posts! Re the cost of clothes on the other site – most fashion and style blogs make money from affiliate products. Expensive products make them a lot more money that less expensive products. Although I add affiliate links to some of the clothes I mainly add them so it’s easy for readers to take a better look at the items, see materials, length and prices etc. Yes, if someone clicks and buys I get a small percentage but if you saw what that actually adds up to each month you’d laugh! I do get income from my blog though. From the ads you see. As it’s now quite expensive to run the blog because I have so many readers I need to earn this back. As most of my readers don’t earn huge salaries (any longer!) I made the decision to keep suggested items to reasonable prices – basically things I buy, or would buy, myself. This does mean all those ads though. Joni
Hi, Joni you and I look similar in size and style. You could shop in my closet! Of course you are In England and I am in Colorado, U.S.A. I am 79, 138-140 pounds, and only 5’2” tall. My blonde hair has turned mostly white now and cool tone colors work best for me. We have inside shoes at the door and outside shoes although it is pretty wily now that we have a little rescue Havanese dog named Trixy. She is 9 years old and was a breeder dog. I wear long cardigans over long sleeve tees or a pull on sweater on especially cold days with a puffer vest. I bought a cream and a black one at the early fall sales at JCP, (J C Penney) online. I buy everything online as I live in a rural mountain town about 50 miles from the nearest large city, Colorado Springs. All of my grandchildren are adults with children of their own. They all live in other states so I talk with them by text. Their choice. I wear jeans everyday. I also wear socks. It is too cold here for bare feet! I did buy two pairs of short booties from Skechers and they are warm and so darn comfortable, like wearing slippers all day! I have bad feet so need warm comfortable footwear. Thank you for taking time out to do your blog. I really enjoy hearing from my friend in England and seeing we dress very similarly.
Hi Sydney. Good to hear from you. I thought JCPenny no longer existed. I’ll have to take another look. Joni
Hi Joni
Happy New Year. I’m just a bit older than you and always enjoy your posts. As for tights! I stopped wearing normal tights years ago and now wear footless tights with socks of the same colour. It works well with ankle boots and trainers, maybe not with a more elegant shoe
Hi Averyl. Thanks for your tip re tights and socks. I’m going to have a go with that and see how it looks/feels. Joni
Hello!
This is the first time I have seen your blog!! It is so very nice to hear that others in their 70’s (I am 75) – are running in to dealing with the ever changing styles – this is how I like to dress as well – from Pennsylvania and we have all seasons here. No one at our age wants to spend a fortune in clothing any more and yet we want to look good and BE COMFORTABLE –
Love your ideas – and will check back to see what you have in mind for spring too. Thank you.
Hi Nancy in Pennsylvania. So happy you find the blog relevant. Joni