Autumn capsule wardrobe: How to shop smart and why materials matter

Selecting and Maintaining Barefoot Shoes

Stylist Kristýna Hrabalová shares how to choose the right materials, care for your clothes and barefoot shoes, and avoid shopping mistakes so your wardrobe lasts for years.

In the previous article, we explored the idea of a capsule wardrobe with Kristýna Hrabalová – a simple guide to creating 20+ outfits from just a few pieces. But even the best capsule will need topping up sooner or later. And this is exactly where we most often make mistakes that clutter our wardrobe rather than help it.

This time, Kristýna and I looked at what to watch out for when shopping, why materials matter so much for autumn pieces – and how to care for them.

The most important rule? Don’t choose items in isolation

A common mistake when building a wardrobe is choosing clothes based on whether we like them on their own.

‘That jumper is gorgeous.’ ‘These trousers really suit me.’ ‘Those shoes are exactly my style.’

‘But then we get home and realise the jumper only works with one pair of trousers, the trousers need specific shoes, and the shoes only go with two outfits,’ says Kristýna Hrabalová. That’s why she recommends a simple test: before you buy anything new, try to come up with at least three different combinations using clothes you already have at home.

‘If you can only think of one or two, it doesn’t automatically mean you shouldn’t buy it. It might be a deliberate statement piece. But you should be aware it probably won’t get loads of wear,’ she adds.

Materials: why ‘something warm’ isn’t enough in autumn

According to Kristýna, materials are one of the key things you shouldn’t overlook when building a wardrobe. ‘Trust me – once you’ve tried cashmere, you’ll steer well clear of polyester jumpers,’ she says.

Quality materials often mean you don’t need as many layers. Instead of piling on several thin jumpers, one well-chosen piece in merino, wool or cashmere can keep you much warmer.

In autumn, it’s worth reaching for, for example:

merino – warm yet breathable, and brilliant as a base layer,
wool – naturally insulating and ideal for colder weather,
cashmere – very warm, lightweight and lovely against the skin, so you don’t need such a thick layer,
bamboo – soft and comfortable, great for T-shirts and base layers.

That doesn’t mean you need to replace your entire wardrobe with expensive materials. It’s more about buying less and choosing better quality for your key pieces. One truly great jumper that you wear for several seasons can be a better investment than a few cheaper ones that quickly lose their shape, start bobbling, or simply end up unworn.

Tip: You can also find brilliant quality pieces second-hand.

How to care for clothes so they last for years

With quality materials comes another important thing – care.

‘A quality jumper isn’t something you mindlessly throw in the washing machine after every wear,’ Kristýna warns. Merino, wool and cashmere all need gentle handling: wash according to the manufacturer’s instructions, use the right detergent, dry flat, and store properly. For some pieces, it’s also better to wash less often and let them air out properly between wears.

It might sound like more effort, but proper care is what decides whether a quality piece lasts one season or several years. And for Kristýna, that’s one of the most important principles of a sustainable wardrobe: don’t keep buying new clothes – take good care of the quality items you already own.

Don’t forget your shoes, either

The same logic applies to shoes too – if you want your barefoot shoes to last as long as possible, it pays to care for them much like your favourite jumper. A few basic habits make all the difference: putting them on gently with a shoehorn, cleaning appropriately for the material (leather, textile, membrane and vegan leather each have their own requirements), drying slowly away from radiators, and above all, regular waterproofing.

You’ll find a detailed care guide by material in the article With proper care, your barefoot shoes can last for years. You just need to know how.

What not to buy for your autumn wardrobe

Autumn brings a wave of new collections, trends and temptations in the shops. But before you take something new home, it’s worth slowing down for a moment – not everything you like in the shop truly has a place in your wardrobe.

Don’t buy things just because they’re trendy

A trend can be a great way to refresh your wardrobe, but it shouldn’t be the only reason to buy. Before you go for the latest must-have, try to imagine whether you’ll still like it next year – and, most importantly, whether it fits your personal style.

You don’t have to avoid trends altogether – it’s much smarter to pick only what genuinely suits you, you enjoy wearing, and you can mix with what you already own. And a trend doesn’t have to enter your wardrobe via a big purchase. Sometimes a belt, scarf, handbag or another accessory is enough.

Don’t buy a piece that requires five more things

According to Kristýna, this is one of the best pre-purchase tests.

‘You come across a beautiful skirt, but then you realise you need special shoes, a new top, a specific handbag, and even a jacket that works with it. Suddenly you’re not buying one thing – you’re starting a whole new outfit,’ she explains.

A well-functioning wardrobe should work the other way round – a new piece should ideally slot into what you already own and give you several new combinations. So before you buy, try (in your head or right there in the changing room) to put together at least three outfits using items you already have at home.

If none come to mind, it’s worth asking yourself whether you really need the new piece.

Don’t buy another version of something you already have plenty of

Maybe you’ve got five black jumpers, several very similar pairs of jeans, or yet another white shirt that only differs slightly from the others.

So before every purchase, ask yourself one simple question: ‘What will this bring me that I don’t already have?’ If the answer is only ‘it’s a bit different’, it might not be that you’re missing this piece – it might be that you simply enjoy shopping in that category.

Instead of adding to what you already have enough of, try looking for a gap in your wardrobe. Maybe you don’t need another jumper, but a pair of trousers that fit really well. Maybe you don’t need a fifth pair of trainers, but shoes you’ll actually use for smarter outfits.

Don’t buy shoes that only work with one outfit

Shoes can completely change an outfit, which is exactly why it’s worth choosing them with your whole wardrobe in mind. Before you buy shoes that are perfect for just one dress, ask yourself instead: ‘How many outfits can I create with these?’ Ideally, you’ll wear one pair with trousers, jeans, a skirt and a dress – that’s when shoes become a truly functional part of your wardrobe, not a one-off accessory.

‘And if you’re choosing barefoot shoes, it’s exactly the same – comfort and a healthier amount of space for your feet doesn’t have to mean compromising on style,’ Kristýna adds.

The best purchase isn’t the one that makes you happy in the changing room – it’s the one you actually keep reaching for again and again.

Before you go shopping, look in your own wardrobe first

‘I don’t want you to go shopping every time you feel like “I’ve got nothing to wear”. I want to teach you to look in your own wardrobe first,’ says Kristýna. Very often, we actually have far more than we think – we just don’t know how to put the pieces together, how to elevate an outfit a little, or how to create several completely different combinations from one item.

That’s exactly why the KriStyle app was created – to help people see their own wardrobe differently. You simply take a photo of the outfit you’re wearing, and the app looks at it through a stylist’s eye – pointing out what works, what could be improved, and how to take the outfit up a notch. It doesn’t have to be a big change either – sometimes it’s just different shoes, a belt, tucking in your top, or adding an extra layer.

The app also builds a gallery of your own outfits, gradually creating personal inspiration – not pictures of other women from Pinterest, but combinations you genuinely have in your wardrobe and can wear again. KriStyle is also gradually expanding with a Wardrobe feature, where you’ll be able to upload individual items from your wardrobe so the app can help you discover new combinations and teach you how to work with what you already own.

‘I don’t want to show you more things you should buy. I want to show you what you already have. Style, in my view, doesn’t start with another purchase – it starts the moment you look at your wardrobe with fresh eyes,’ concludes Kristýna Hrabalová.

This article was created in collaboration with Kristýna Hrabalová, a stylist for everyday women and the creator of the KriStyle app, which brings her approach to styling straight into women’s wardrobes. She believes the best wardrobe isn’t the one we keep adding to, but the one we can get the most out of. That’s why KriStyle gradually connects outfit feedback, a personal gallery and smart work with your own wardrobe.