Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Autumn Winter 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    1. Fashion

    I'm a fashion editor, and this is my trick to keeping capsule wardrobe outfits interesting

    It's all in the accessories.

    Zoe Anastasiou's avatar
    By Zoe Anastasiou
    Published 15 February 2023 In Buying Guides

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Capsule wardrobe accessories
    (Image credit: Future/ @zoepopi)
    Jump to category:
    • 1. Jewellery
    • 2. Add colour
    • 3. Add a bold lip
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Here at Marie Claire, I have already waxed lyrical about the benefits of a capsule wardrobe. Creating a concise edit of classic wardrobe staples that can all be mixed and matched is undoubtedly the perfect way to take the difficulty out of getting dressed in the morning. 

    For most people, a capsule wardrobe is generally made up of neutral pieces—think black, white, beige and denim—and while those create timeless combinations that can be worn for years, it can sometimes feel a little plain. However, that is exactly where accessories come in.  

    From jewellery to handbags and even makeup, adding a few extra touches to your outfit can make all the difference in elevating a classic look to statement status. A pair of colourful shades can add an element of fun to your outfit, while a red lip can do wonders for making you feel put together (even in the most casual looks). 

    Yes, when it comes to adding interest to your capsule wardrobe outfits, it's all about the accessories. Keep scrolling for my three top tips for keeping your capsule wardrobe outfits interesting. 

    1. Jewellery makes a difference

    Adding jewellery is the simplest way to add a little interest to your outfit. On days when I feel like my look needs some extra pizazz, I like to layer on a few necklaces, to create a mixed jewellery stack. A fun earring or statement brooch will have the same effect. 

    Heavenly London The Silver Mon Cœur Necklace

    The Silver Mon Cœur Necklace
    £150 AT HEAVENLY LONDON

    Missoma chain necklace

    Aegis Chain Necklace
    £169 AT MISSOMA

    Monica Vinader Nura Cross Over Ring

    Nura Cross Over Ring
    £95 AT MONICA VINADER

    Capsule wardrobe accessories

    (Image credit: Future/ @zoepopi)

    2. Add a pop of colour

    When investing in a capsule wardrobe, many people tend to keep the colour palette relatively minimal. After all, this is the best way to ensure all your items can be paired together. However, that doesn't mean you can't experiment with a pop of colour every now and then. My favourite way to do this is to go for a fun, statement handbag or a vibrant knit. 

    Jimmy Fairly The Cannelle Sunglasses

    The Cannelle Sunglasses
    £149 AT JIMMY FAIRLY

    Cos Knitwear

    Boxy Alpaca Blend Jumper
    £69 AT COS

    All Saints Frankie 3-In-1 Leather Crossbody Bag

    Frankie 3-In-1 Leather Crossbody Bag
    £159 AT ALL SAINTS

    Capsule wardrobe accessories

    (Image credit: Future/ @zoepopi)

    3. A red lip can elevate almost any outfit

    French women have been doing this for decades, but believe me when I say a red lip can make any plain outfit feel a little more glamorous. There is nothing chicer than styling a pair of straight leg denim, alongside a black blazer and finishing the look with a ruby red lip colour. It's ultimate in understated style. 

    NYX Professional Make Up Shout Loud Satin Lipstick

    NYX Professional Makeup Shout Loud Satin Lipstick
    £6.40 AT BOOTS


    Rouge Hermès matte lipstick 3.5g

    Rouge Hermès matte lipstick 3.5g
    £62 AT SELFRIDGES

    Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick

    Givenchy Le Rouge Luminous Matte High Coverage Lipstick
    £23.30 AT BOOTS

    Capsule wardrobe accessories

    Explore More
    Capsule wardrobe
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Zoe Anastasiou
    Zoe Anastasiou
    Social Links Navigation
    Fashion Editor

    Zoe Anastasiou is a Fashion Editor with over eight years of experience working across digital publications in New York, London and Australia. She has contributed to publications including Harper’s BAZAAR and ELLE Australia, and was the Fashion and Social Media Editor at Who What Wear UK before joining Marie Claire. 

    Latest in Fashion
    woman wearing shift dress navy top
    Shopping I Just Got Back From Milan—This Retro-Inspired Dress Is What Italian Women Wear to Look Polished
    Sienna Miller red jackets white jeans
    Fashion Sienna Miller's Easy Autumn Outfit Highlights How to Wear the Colour of the Season
     
     
    A woman wearing some of the trend-led wardrobe updates from the article
    Shopping 18 Trend-Led Items to Update Your Wardrobe with Minimal Effort—and Minimal Cost
    Black boots listing image
    Shopping They're Not Basic, They're Timeless: A Pair of These Editor-Approved Black Boots Is Always Worth the Investment
     
     
    Latest in Buying Guides
    A woman wearing some of the trend-led wardrobe updates from the article
    Shopping 18 Trend-Led Items to Update Your Wardrobe with Minimal Effort—and Minimal Cost
    Black boots listing image
    Shopping They're Not Basic, They're Timeless: A Pair of These Editor-Approved Black Boots Is Always Worth the Investment
     
     
    A woman wearing some autumn basics on sale from the article
    Shopping These Timeless Autumn Basics Might Be on Sale, But They’re Anything But a Frivolous Purchase
    Mytheresa Linkby
    Shopping I’m a Fashion Director—Any of These 13 New-In Autumn Buys Would Make a Great Addition to Your Forever Wardrobe
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.