September was all about transitioning into fall without dressing for weather that hadn’t arrived yet. Now that we’re into October, I’m updating my fall capsule wardrobe with warmer layers, a few different denim silhouettes, and shoes that are better suited for cooler temperatures.

If you followed along with my September Early Fall Capsule Wardrobe (scroll to the bottom to see a recap of last month’s), you know I’m trying something a little different this season. Rather than starting over with a completely new capsule every month, I’m keeping the core pieces and swapping out a handful as the weather changes.

The goal is to get more outfits out of fewer pieces, while still dressing for the season we’re actually in. For October, I made a few intentional changes that will help transition this wardrobe from early fall into mid fall. Here’s what’s new, what I’m replacing, and why.

October Fall Capsule Wardrobe

For October, I’m keeping the same neutral color palette with chocolate brown, tan, ivory, black, and denim. These colors work really well together, which means I can mix and match without putting much thought into it.

The biggest changes this month are warmer layers, a couple of denim swaps, and a few accessories that feel more appropriate for cooler weather. Sharing what I changed and why.

What’s New for October? 7 Capsule Wardrobe Updates

Swapped: Short Sleeve Sweater
Replaced with: Boatneck Sweater

My short sleeve boat neck sweater was a great transitional piece for September, but October calls for something a little warmer. I’m replacing it with this reader favorite cashmere sweater. It’s one of those pieces that’s easy to wear with jeans or trousers, and cashmere is great for adding warmth without a lot of bulk. I also love that it can be worn on its own or layered underneath a jacket or coat as temperatures drop.

Swapped: Elbow Sleeve Denim Jacket
Replaced with: Utility Jacket

I loved the short sleeve denim jacket for early fall because it gave me that third piece without being too warm. For October, I’m swapping it for a sweatshirt utility jacket that I absolutely love. It has the comfort of a sweatshirt but looks more like a jacket, so it’s perfect for those casual outfits when you want to look a little more put together. It’s pricey, but you really get what you pay for. The quality is amazing.

Swapped: Sling Bag
Replaced with: Bandana Scarf

I’m also adding a really affordable scarf to the capsule this month. Accessories are one of my favorite ways to change up an outfit without adding a bunch of new clothing. A scarf brings in another texture, adds a little warmth, and can completely change the look of a simple sweater and jeans. It’s also an easy way to get more outfits out of the jackets and coats already in the capsule.

Swapped: Mules
Replaced with: Brown Leather Booties

As much as I love a mule for early fall, I’m ready to start incorporating boots into my outfits. For October, I’m replacing my taupe mules with brown leather ankle boots. They feel more appropriate for cooler temperatures and work with so many of the pants in this capsule. This shoe swap actually influenced another change I made to my denim lineup.

Swapped: Wide Leg Jeans
Replaced with: Kick Flare Jeans

I love wide leg jeans, but once I added ankle boots to the capsule, I decided to switch this pair to a kick flare silhouette. The cropped length gives me more flexibility with footwear. I can wear them with ankle boots, sneakers, loafers, and heels without having to worry as much about how the hem falls over my shoes. And when you’re working with a smaller wardrobe, having more shoe options for each pair of pants is a big plus!

Swapped: White Wide Leg Jeans
Replaced with: Straight Leg Jeans

You know I love wearing white denim in the fall, and I’m definitely not someone who follows the no white after Labor Day rule. But when I’m trying to minimize my closet with a capsule wardrobe, I have to think about which pieces will work with the most outfits. For October, I’m replacing my white jeans with a classic pair of blue straight leg jeans. I think they’re a little more versatile with the warmer layers and shoes I’ve added, and a straight leg silhouette is one of those denim styles I reach for year after year.

Swapped: Chambray Shirt
Replaced with: Wool Coat

The final addition to my October capsule wardrobe is a wool coat. I already own this one, and it’s fabulous. The quality is really impressive for the price! I love how a wool coat can instantly elevate even the simplest outfit. Throw it over jeans and a sweater, or pair it with trousers for something a little dressier. Depending on where you live, you may not need this layer quite yet, but I wanted to introduce it now so the capsule is ready as temperatures continue to drop.

What’s Staying in My Fall Capsule Wardrobe?

One of my favorite things about this monthly capsule series is seeing how many pieces can carry over from one month to the next.

I’m keeping the white Oxford shirt, chambray shirt, cropped trench coat, striped sweater, and chocolate brown sleeveless turtleneck. These are all pieces that can be styled with different layers as the weather changes.

My wrinkle-free trousers, barrel pants, and wrinkle-free pull-on pants are staying, too. They give me a good mix of silhouettes and are all comfortable enough for everyday wear.

For shoes, I’m keeping the chocolate brown slingback heels, loafer sneakers, and retro sneakers. And most of my bags, jewelry, and other accessories are carrying over from September.

That’s why I love building a capsule around versatile basics. You can change just a few pieces and still have so many outfit combinations without starting over.

You can shop all the pieces in my updated October capsule wardrobe here. I’ve included the items I’m keeping from September along with the new additions for October.

And remember, you don’t need to buy everything in a capsule wardrobe to get use out of it! The idea is to start with what you already own and fill in the gaps with pieces you’ll actually wear.

31 Outfit Ideas from My October Capsule Wardrobe

September Capsule Wardrobe: The Early Fall Edit

September is always a weird month to dress for. Some places are already enjoying sweater weather, but here in Florida, it’s usually still HOT 🥵. So when I originally put together this fall capsule wardrobe, I wanted it to feel realistic for early fall rather than dressing for temperatures that hadn’t arrived yet.

The focus was on lightweight pieces that worked for warmer days while slowly introducing fall colors, textures, and layers.

I also decided to approach my capsule wardrobes a little differently this year. Instead of creating an entirely new wardrobe each month, I’m updating the same capsule as the weather changes. Some pieces stay, others get swapped out, and the goal is to show how a versatile wardrobe can evolve without constantly buying more clothes.

What Was Included in My September Capsule?

Tops & Layers: I started with a white tank, short sleeve dolman sweater, white Oxford shirt, chambray shirt, elbow sleeve denim jacket, cropped trench coat, chocolate brown sleeveless turtleneck sweater, and striped sweater. These gave me plenty of layering options without being too warm for September.

Bottoms: I chose five different silhouettes: wrinkle-free trousers, white cropped kickout jeans, raw hem wide leg jeans, black barrel pants, and wrinkle-free pull-on pants. I wanted a mix of casual and dressier options that could be styled multiple ways.

Shoes: Chocolate brown slingback heels, taupe mules, loafer sneakers, and retro sneakers covered everything from everyday errands to dressier occasions.

Accessories: I kept the accessories fairly neutral with chocolate brown and taupe bags, a brown belt, mixed metal jewelry, layered necklaces, bracelets, and sunglasses.

How the Capsule Evolved for October

As temperatures started cooling down, I made a few changes to transition these pieces into mid fall. The short sleeve sweater was replaced with cashmere, the elbow sleeve denim jacket was swapped for a sweatshirt jacket, and I introduced ankle boots, a scarf, and a wool coat. I also updated two denim styles to give myself more outfit combinations with the new footwear. See below for what items were added and what items were kept from last month’s capsule.

Most of the original pieces are still part of my October capsule, which is exactly what I hoped to accomplish with this series!

30 Outfit Ideas from My September Capsule Wardrobe

Here’s a look back at the 30 outfits I put together using my original September capsule. Even though a few pieces have changed for October, many of these outfit formulas still work with the updated wardrobe. Click the image to shop!

I hope you love this new format! If you have any feedback, please let me know in the comments or DM me! Have a great rest of your day!