Most people think being fashionable entails a large wardrobe. Although this does make your life easier, it’s definitely not a requirement. To be stylish, you also have to be smart–smart about your wardrobe choices and how to mix and match them to get the most out of your limited wardrobe. All you need are versatile clothes and a creative mind. Don’t believe me? Here’s a capsule wardrobe composed of only 12 pieces of clothing that’ll last you an entire month (or even more).

The key to creating an effective capsule wardrobe is to invest in the right basics and classics mixed with a few statement pieces. Stick to one color palette composed of just a few colors so it’s easier to match the pieces with one another. Think of items that are multi-functional: a dress that can serve as a top or a skirt; a blazer you can use as a dress or a top; a top you can layer with other pieces or even use as outerwear and so on and so forth. Remember, it’s all about maximizing your wardrobe.

 

 

 

 

 

For my capsule wardrobe, I chose 3 tops (a buttondown tunic, a knitted cropped top and a silk camisole), 2 pieces of outerwear (a blazer and a long vest), 3 dresses (a silk slip, an oversized off-shoulder knit dress and a minimalist jersey dress) and 4 bottoms (a pair of slimfit trousers, culottes with ruffled hem, a statement midi skirt and a patchwork pattern mini skirt). Take a look at how I styled them below. Hopefully you can use this as a guide to create your own capsule wardrobe for your daily outfits or even when you travel. Get creative and don’t forget to accessorize! Trust me, accessories are powerful tools that can take you from plain Jane to fashion maven.