10 Items to Create Your Plus-Size Capsule Wardrobe, According to a Stylist

Here’s one major tip Wilkins has for all her clients: Invest in your denim. Finding good jeans can be tricky. I’ve gone through my fair share of denim brands searching for that lucky pair I’ll finally love and wear regularly. However, the pairs that usually come close to that euphoric feeling always have a heftier—but worth it—price point. This also goes for denim jackets, which are another capsule item she recommends. “Denim is actually the number one category I suggest investing more money in,” she advises. It may be pricey, but high-quality denim lasts for years, so no need to repurchase as often. She also recommends denim with stretch because if you’re going to wear jeans, at least let them be comfortable.

Several of PureWow’s fashion gurus have already shared the importance of a good T-shirt, and Wilkins feels the same. They pair well with anything—and that’s not an exaggeration. “I always think elevated T-shirts are important in a wardrobe,” says Wilkins. She recommends pairing them with a blazer or a cardigan (which we’ll get into later). Rather than reaching for a slouchy, regular tee and hiding your shape, I recommend an elevated, structured tee to give your ensemble a more polished look.

Now, let’s talk leather jackets. This suggestion comes from my personal experience building a capsule wardrobe, and I couldn’t wait to talk about it. While I wouldn’t say they’re suited for every season, leather jackets have quickly become an outerwear staple I don’t see myself parting with any time soon. Jackets are usually the finishing touch before you leave the house. And yes, ideally you can just throw any topper on, paying more attention to what’s going to keep you warm throughout the day rather than stylish. But doesn’t it feel a hell of a lot better when your whole outfit just makes sense? Leather jackets add a little edge to even the most basic of ensembles. Example: T-shirt + jeans + leather jacket = a foolproof OOTD.

A good blouse can take you far. As versatile as they come, a simple blouse makes any outfit feel a bit more put together. To me, they skate between the line of dressy and casual. Wilkins suggests gravitating towards blouses with movement that can be easily French-tucked. According to Wilkins, the French tuck can be used to add dimension to a look and bring in your frame, no matter what body type you have. At first, I was hesitant about this suggestion because I typically find that certain plus-size clothing items can be hard to tuck or look too bulky. Although she agreed, she also assured me that this doesn’t have to be the case. It all comes down to two things: the fabric of your blouse and the pants you’re sporting with it. “The trick to getting that French tuck to work is getting the pants or your bottoms to be the correct rise,” Wilkins informs, but we’ll touch more on that point in a bit.

This is another personal fashion fave of mine (I own at least five), and if you peruse Wilkins's site, you’ll notice she recommends business casual finds (paired with excellent style tips) often. While Wilkins advises against “structured and stiff cotton blouses” (typically for French tucking), button-downs are an alternative way to look effortlessly fashionable with minimal effort. If you want a bit more variety, I advise searching for oversize iterations that you can tie and tuck to your preference.

I’ve decided to stop running from the business casual trends happening in fashion right now, and in turn, trousers have slowly become a part of my weekly fashion rotation. (Yes, including days when I’m not in the office.) If I’m not in stretchy jeans, leggings or these trusty H&M shorts, I’m in trousers—even for a simple WFH day. But again, it’s all about finding that perfect-fitting pair for your body shape. Here’s what Wilkins had to say about trousers: “Everybody's rise can be different. You might need a lower rise because you have a shorter torso, you might need a mid rise because it's just where it lands for your comfort and then you might need a high rise, and for a lot of people, the high rise works because it comes up and over and in [around the waist].” She continues, “If you don't have that shape at the waist, with the up and over and then you do a French tuck, it creates the illusion that you have [one].”

Every capsule wardrobe you’ve come across so far probably included a blazer and it’s with good reason. Much like the button-down or trouser, a blazer is a business casual staple that fashionistas have made everyday-friendly. Here are two of my favorite blazer styling tips: Skew more towards the casual side and pair it with a tank and jeans, as PureWow’s Associate Fashion Commerce Editor Stephanie Meraz effortlessly does here, or you can step into your ‘Office Siren’ era with the addition of trousers and a button-down—the choice is yours.

Athleisure and everyday shapewear have become the new casual in recent years, bringing a new meaning to comfy basics. Think of brands like SKIMS, Aritzia or lululemon, each with their own unique techy fabrics, promoting the promise of an elevated but relaxed look. As someone with a few of these bodysuits myself, I highly suggest others try them for themselves. I’m all for a simple tee or tank, as I’ve stated time and time again, but bodysuits with that contouring material provide a pristine look that you don’t have to work as hard for by trying to tuck them in. They’re a real time saver, I swear.

We all fall for popular trends in one way or another, but as a plus-size person, trying new fashion crazes can be iffy. From my experience, plus-size fashions rarely reflect current trends, and that’s why Wilkins suggests testing a trend with accessories first. “Burgundy and greens are probably the colors of the season. Each season I'll do a blog on what the trends are, but I never say, ‘Go shop trends,’ because you can't build outfits from it,” she states. This is solid advice and if you’ve ever felt that post-purchase clarity after hastily buying into an “it item” or trend, then you know what we’re talking about. Instead of purchasing certain pieces for the sake of following trends try out a base outfit of neutrals from your capsule collection (think: creams, navies, grays, and of course, black and white) with a sneaker or handbag in a trending hue or print. It still reflects your personal style, and that you’ve been paying close attention to #fashiontok.

If you haven’t caught on, staple outerwear is always a big yes in my book, so when Wilkins suggested adding a trench coat into the mix, I was all ears. However, she advises ditching coats with structure. “Don’t even look for structure,” she emphasizes. “Just get an effortless one that throws on and is worn open, or tied in the front and then you're not bothered by any of the shape,” and I wholeheartedly agree. While I can’t get enough of the sophisticated look a trench adds, I always find myself fuddling with them if they have a weird button-up closure. I’m all for following sound fashion advice, so don’t be surprised if you catch me in an unstructured trench coat this winter.