Workhorses Only, Edition #14
Editing my closet down to 19 pieces
If I could only keep 19 things in my closet, it would be these.
This is my version of a capsule wardrobe. If someone told me, “You’re moving to another country for a summer month — pack your bag,” this is what I’d grab without a second thought. These pieces are the backbone of my wardrobe: when it’s so hot I don’t want to wear clothes (hello from Atlanta!), when I have absolutely no idea what to put on, or when I need to run out the door because I left “5 minutes ago”, these are the items I reach for.
Before I get into the items, I want to make the distinction between capsule and Workhorse. When I talk about Workhorses, people often assume I mean a capsule wardrobe. They’re not the same thing to me. Workhorses are anything in my closet that solves a problem and earns its keep consistently over time.
For example, I own a few blazers and a few special-occasion dresses. They aren’t “capsule” items (I just don’t wear them enough), but they’re absolutely Workhorses. Those blazers and dresses mean that when an event pops up—a panel, a keynote, a special guest lecture—I don’t have to shop or rent or spend brainpower picking an outfit. I just pull and go.
My mind stays free to focus on prepping thoughtful questions for a CMO or fine-tuning a keynote, not scrolling Rent-the-Runway. Some people love the scroll hunt and that’s because fashion is their hobby. It’s not mine! I love looking right for an occasion but I won’t put more than three minutes into achieving that goal (and I can get away with that because I only buy Workhorses).
If you’re trying to become a more mindful shopper and want to own less, start with building a capsule. Or call it your “hardest working Workhorses”. You need the reliable pieces that make getting dressed feel frictionless.
This is the summer edition of my capsule. I live in a hot, humid place where cotton and linen are a non-negotiable, so you’ll see that this list honors those materials.
Dresses
Dresses are the unsung hero of my life. The ultimate one-and-done. You look put-together and chic with minimal effort.
1. Short linen dress
There’s a reason this Tuckernuck dress gets the very first spot on the list. I wear this when I’m bloated, tired, or in a hurry. It makes me look put-together, it’s weightless. I’ve never not gotten a compliment when wearing it.
CODE: Use YOURULE for 20% off. With code the dress comes to $118 and I do think it’s worth every penny. Buy in Chambray or Sea Green. If this is out of budget, I own the same style from Quince and it’s excellent.
2. Short linen blue dress
I must be bloated, tired or in a hurry, a lot, because I also reach for my blue linen dress a lot! Closest match is from Tuckernuck (YOURULE also works on this). Here’s a budget buy version.
3. Sleeveless linen shift dress
Feminine and weightless. You can throw a cardigan over it for the office, add a heel for a date night, or slide on some flat sandals for errands. J.Crew shift linen dress on sale (50% off, best price I’ve seen this season). Or J.Crew factory for budget buy.
4. Sleeveless brown shift dress
I picked this up from Old Navy for $10 when I was shopping for my kids. Will it last years? Nope. Am I wearing it on repeat to the pool this season? Absolutely. It’s sold out, but just a reminder that useful things don’t have to be expensive.
5, 6, 7: Sleeveless smock dresses
This is the truest version of my summer uniform: a smock dress (which doesn’t require a bra), flat sandals and my summer hat. In my rotation:
This from Hillhouse that I’ve owned for 5 years
This from Old Navy (that looks like it’s from Hillhouse)
I don’t own this exact one but this is stripes and green so even better than my brown one
Bottoms
There are no jean shorts on this list. No jean bottoms will enter my life until October.
8. Black linen shorts
They’re sophisticated and weightless. I can pair these shorts with 8 out of 8 of the tops I list below.
9. White linen shorts
They’re so good in black, I also own them in white. I’m not exaggerating when I say these are basically the only 2 pairs of shorts I wear.
10. Colorful long skirt
A colorful long skirt paired with a sleeveless top is so easy and fun. Farm Rio does this so well. The price point is steep! Try second-hand. Here are a few other fantastic ones: under $100, under $50 and stripes for $50.
11. Long white skirt
A white skirt is like white linen pants, but so much easier to wear. I own white pants. I love the idea of white pants, but they are hard to execute! Pocket lines, wrinkles, and so unforgiving. Welcome the long white skirt. Classic under $100, white with blue embroidery under $40.
12. Cream wide-leg crop pants
They’re Anthropologie’s most popular cut (the Maeve Collette) but made with Magic Fabric. I have the froth color. Easy! Also, they go with all 8 tops below.
Tops
These 8 tops would be enough to get me through the entire summer.
13. Sleeveless scoop neck bodysuit
I just got the black one two weeks ago and I’ve already worn it three times. It somehow compresses and feels lightweight (no bra required for me). Full disclosure the black one was gifted by Nuuds and now I am ordering Oats and Coffee shades on my own. In the fall, I’ll wear this under blazers. Workhorse!
14. Blue and white striped button-down
Duh. No notes.
15. Blue and white striped cotton t-shirt
See above. (Less pricey, still elevated version).
16. Crop jean top
I had a vision for how I wanted to look this summer and it was a cropped jean top with white bottoms. It’s turned into one of my most worn items.
17. Knitted cream top
I’ve had this for 5 years and will be heart-broken when it wears out. I will replace it instantly as it goes with everything. Similar versions: high and low.
18. White linen button down
Pool cover-up, shorts companion, white-on-white outfit maker. White-linen button-down is 100% capsule.
19. Dusty pink button up
I wore the white linen one so much, I wanted one more color. I’ve found 8 different occasions to wear this Z-supply one.
Build Your Capsule
Putting this together was an incredibly helpful exercise and one I have not done before. I learned three important things:
1. Short loose dresses are my best getting dressed shortcut. Buying a few more would be money well spent.
2. I’d been in the market for jean shorts but after completing this exercise I realized I didn’t have a need for them. You’ll see where you have real gaps.
3. Capsule items do not have to be expensive. Some are under $50! You don’t need to spend a fortune to have a Workhorse Wardrobe that makes you feel confident and put-together.
I recommend everyone try this exercise for themselves: Head to your closet and pull out your most worn pieces. Not what you love the most, not what was the biggest splurge, but what you actually wear on repeat. Let that guide your shopping.
Confidently yours,
Marina
P.S. You can do something to help me that will take you less than 1 second. Please give this post a ❤️ if you found it valuable. It really, truly helps with discovery. 🙏
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Every week, I take a different category or topic and boil it down to the best and most useful things. Here’s a few of my favorites:
Julie- it’s actually a lovely chance to rebuild. Your body may change, your lifestyle certainly will (chasing after little humans!). Welcome the challenge to build a closet full of workhorses as a smart shopper!
Love these weekly posts, as I could stand to work on my closet & these help shift my thinking.
I’ve already decreased how much I buy & try to buy better quality, but now I need to really focus on buying workhorse items and not one off things I kinda like that I hope I’ll wear often..