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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Tampa chapter.

It can seem almost impossible to create a capsule wardrobe as we live in the age of trends. With social media completely changing the game for the fashion industry, it’s extremely difficult to keep up with what’s trending. Building a capsule wardrobe is the easiest solution to the world of ever-changing trends. 

Here are the five must-have items for your capsule wardrobe

  1. A Pair of Jeans

Investing in a good pair of jeans is key to styling a good outfit. Finding a pair of jeans that fits you right will make picking out an outfit 10 times easier. I used to have the hardest time choosing an outfit to wear for a night out on the town but after purchasing a pair of jeans that look good on my body I have cut the getting ready time in half. Express has a wide selection of jeans ranging in style, cut, and wash. I have been loving the look of straight-leg jeans with a darker wash. The style and color are timeless, allowing me to style them in a variety of ways. Jeans are super fun to play around with since you can keep them casual by pairing them with a t-shirt or dressing them up with a cute top and accessories. 

  1. The Blazer 

I never thought that I would like the look of a blazer but I have to say after purchasing one and finding the proper pieces to go with it, it has made me fall in love with the look. I believed a blazer was for the office, but now you can catch me out to dinner with my blazer. There are so many ways to style them, which is why they have remained so timeless. Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of leather blazers all over my feed. There are so many ways to go about the blazer: over a dress, thrown over a t-shirt with jeans, or even worn as a dress. The blazer can elevate and spice up a look. It might be the element of sophistication that you’re looking for in your closet.

  1. Slip Dress

Kate Moss was the queen of slip dresses in the 90s, and I need to see this trend come back. Everyone needs a slip dress in their capsule wardrobe. It is a piece that can be styled in a ton of ways. The whole purpose of a capsule wardrobe is to have a variety of pieces that remain timeless and can be worn in many ways. The slip dress can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. You can rock the slip dress over a baby tee paired with some tennis shoes for a casual look or under a leather jacket with some kitten heels for a night out. 

  1. Let’s Talk Tops

Everyone needs a variety of tops in their closet. While I struggle to find a good pair of pants, my closet is filled with tops. I have a good variety of basic tees, button-downs, and dressy tops. Zara, Aritzia, Cotton On, Brandy Melville, and Skims are my go-to stores for basics. Just a simple solid tee can be styled in so many ways. Button-downs are fun to play with as well. I recently found a denim button-down at a thrift store, and I’d love to style it over a bathing suit or tucked into a linen skirt. A button-down with a pair of jeans and kitten heels is the perfect capsule wardrobe outfit. It can be worn to the office, a dinner party, or out for drinks. Zara, Gap, Express, and J. Crew are all places where you can find affordable button-downs. For dressy tops, I think everyone needs a wide selection. I find myself alternating between the same couple of tops when I go out, so as a solution, I’ve built my closet full of tops to wear for a night out. Free People, Abercrombie, Revolve, and Princess Polly have some great options. 

  1. Pointed Toe Heels

A pointed-toe shoe is a great way to spice up a look. If you’re wearing a semi-basic outfit and are looking for an easy way to give your look some personality, then you must get yourself some pointed heels, bonus points if they’re kitten heels. I’ve been loving the way that this style of shoe has changed my look. While browsing the aisles of T.J. Maxx, I found the jackpot. The perfect pointed-toe black boots and sparkly silver kitten heels. Now when I’m feeling a little bored with my outfit I just throw on my sparkly heels. 

By no means do you have to spend tons of money on any of these pieces. Over the last couple of months, I’ve collected all of these pieces while remaining in my budget. Express and the Gap are definitely my go-to stores when looking for good, reliable pieces. The quality is decent and not overpriced. Finding timeless pieces has been my way to go when shopping since I can go overboard with the accessories. Trends are constantly coming and going and oftentimes it can be super pricey trying to keep up. If you’re looking to elevate your style while saving money, try to build a capsule wardrobe of your own! 

Olivia Fleming is a writer for the Her Campus at Tampa chapter. Her articles cover fashion, pop culture and the entertainment industry. Beyond Her Campus, Olivia is a current junior at The University of Tampa studying journalism, advertising and public relations. She holds the alumnae chair position in her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. She also writes for UT's newsletter, The Minaret. She is currently working at Evolve & Co. as a social media management intern and loves every minute of it. She enjoys spending time with friends, shopping, and exploring different cities. You can find Olivia working at Buddy Brew Coffee in Armature Works! She loves to try different coffee shops to sit down and crank out some work. Her dream job would be to work in the fashion industry writing for a magazine.