Building a Versatile Wardrobe

I’ve been pretty vocal about how I want my wardrobe to work harder and smarter. It might be exciting to add a new piece to your closet when you’re feeling a bit bored, but if your wardrobe is anything like mine, it’s those foundational classic essentials which truly are the backbone of all your go-to outfits. Even when shopping for my 9 to 5, I was constantly putting an emphasis on getting cost-per-wear from every purchase. I wanted to build a versatile wardrobe that was functional for day-to-day in the office, but that could do double duty for my more casual weekend ensembles.

OUTFIT ONE: Vetta oversized sweater (c/o), Vetta leatherette skirt (c/o), Celine trotteur bag (affordable), Mejuri earrings and ring

What I want out of my wardrobe is to open it and always have something to wear. Something that is carefully edited – and not necessarily filled to the brim – and feels inherently me. And, part of my process in building this versatile wardrobe is to try and put a focus on brands that are producing garments ethically or sustainably (or even better yet, going on a shopping fast!).

So I’ll admit, I was pretty excited when Vetta reached out to me and asked if I’d like to try out a couple of pieces from their capsule range. It’s the epitome of a versatile wardrobe, as the tightly edited collection of items are highly functional and designed to be worn multiple ways. Given my fondness for knit sweaters, perhaps unsurprisingly the piece I was most looking forward to integrating into my existing closet was their oversized sweater. It has a button back detail, and comes with a detachable collar, and can be worn three ways: as a simple sweater, as a rollneck sweater, or worn back to front as a cardigan.

We’ve had a pretty mild spring so far, which has been great as it’s meant I’ve had a chance to extend the life of my autumn/winter wardrobe by a couple of months, so I’ve been enjoying playing around with this piece and incorporating it into a couple of my outfits. To showcase its versatility, I wanted to share two of the ways that I’ve loved to pair it. The first look, is worn as a rollneck, paired with Vetta’s leatherette mini skirt (which again, is another versatile piece). This is one of those effortless but super cosy outfits – perfect for a day lounging at home or running errands.

OUTFIT TWO: Vetta oversized sweater (c/o), T by Alexander Wang stripe top, Riders by Lee skinny jeans, Sarah van Oosterom belt, Mansur Gavriel gingham pumps, Celine trotteur bag (affordable alternative), Amber Sceats earrings, Linjer watch

For the second outfit, I’ve worn the sweater unbuttoned as a cardigan. I love the way the dropped shoulders sit, and how the ribbed sleeves hug my arms really nicely. Being a cotton sweater, this is perfect for the transitional weather as it keeps me warm but doesn’t feel too heavy, and has that woven yarn-like texture. I’ve been getting back into wearing stripes, so I threw the sweater over the top, and also paired it with some high waisted skinny jeans. Again, another relaxed outfit, but worn with heels, it feels slightly elevated. This is the kind of thing I’d wear on the weekend when I want my outfit to look a little bit “smart”. In terms of sizing, I’m wearing the small for reference.

So for those of you going through the process of refreshing your wardrobe, or finding a bit of equilibrium with what you have, I wanted to share my tips for how I have tried to build a versatile wardrobe of my own…

Opt for items that can be worn multiple ways

This could be something as functional as the Vetta sweater I’m wearing above, or it could be a beautiful blouse which effortlessly slots into your work and weekend wardrobes. Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity of your own to make something more casual work for a formal setting, or vice versa. The simplest hack I know is to wear a slightly loose cardigan buttoned up as a top, or throw on heels with a relaxed item to give it a more formal appearance.

Build your wardrobe around a basic colour palette

Every wardrobe looks different, but the most versatile kinds tend to be the ones that have a cohesive colour story running throughout. I recently started to branch out and include some earthier tones in my wardrobe, which nicely complement my usual palette of black, white, nude, grey and denim. By keeping to a basic theme, it’ll be a lot easier to mix and match your outfits… and get dressed in the dark, if need be!

Choose hero pieces that are easy to launder

I’ve made the mistake of buying a few too many items in the past that were “dry-clean only”, or that were quite high maintenance and didn’t really work with my lifestyle. These days, I look primarily for wardrobe staples that are easy to care for. Anything that can be thrown in the washing machine (on a cold setting) is perfect, and stops you from creating laundry bottlenecks.

Understand your style

I completely appreciate the allure of playing around with your style, and when you’re still figuring out who you really are, it’s a huge part of that journey. But, key to building a versatile wardrobe is knowing your style and sticking to it. While I like to mix things up every now and again, on the whole, I tend to focus on simple, clean silhouettes with the odd whimsical detail thrown in – just for fun. What this helps me avoid is having any – or too many – conflicting styles, and it means that the majority of my wardrobe can be cohesively mixed and matched, and my outfits won’t look out of place.

What rules do you have set in place to ensure you have a versatile wardrobe? x