26 July 2026

The Pre-Fall Capsule: 15 Pieces That Do It All!

Cropped trench shirt jacket | Soft white Paige Anessa | Striped polo | Sandals | Raffia bag

The Pre-Fall Capsule: 15 Pieces That Do It All!

Making wardrobe capsules is one of my favorite things to do. I spend hours (I’m not joking) picking out just the right things. It looks easy, but each piece needs to be versatile enough to make several different outfits. I also try to choose pieces that can be worn most of the year — and of course, they need to be super stylish. When it comes to making good, solid outfits, you need to start with the foundational pieces. But, here’s the deal: they don’t need to be boring! Find elevated essentials you love, then layer in the fun things that truly take your closet to the next level.

Today’s post is about brand new pieces that’ll help you build your best pre-fall wardrobe. These 15 essentials are the ones I recommend you buy first. You likely have some of them already, and anything can be substituted. Think of them as the starting point of every solid wardrobe. From there, it’s super easy to add on until your collection is complete. Building an amazing wardrobe takes time, so start now! Cheers 🥂

The 15 Pieces to Buy First

 

Third pieces: Denim jacket (not pictured) | Bomber jacket | Blazer | Quilted jacket | Cardigan | Leather jacket

Denim & other bottoms: Black denim | Faded denim | Drawstring pant

Layering pieces: Button-up | Elevated polo knit | Cashmere crew

Dress/Skirt: Versatile dress | Matching blouse & skirt

 

15 Wardrobe Essentials

Row 1: Navy blazer | Striped polo | J.Crew cotton cardigan | Farm Rio quilted jacket

2: Striped shirt | Mother Bookie Twist – petites here | Leather jacket | Nordstrom dress

3: Vince silk top & matching skirt | Bomber jacket | Matching drawstring pant | Cashmere crew

My highest recommendations

Navy blazer – Everyone should have a blazer — you can wear it all seasons and with many different things. Look for a more relaxed style that’s not too oversized and not too slim. This new TWP one caught my eye, but it’s a bit of a splurge. An affordable option is this relaxed style from Aritzia

Aritzia crepe bomber – Stand collar bomber jackets are the “it” jacket of the season. This one happens to match the Lodge pants I talk about all the time — and when you can get a matching set, I highly recommend grabbing it. Side note: this comes in several colors as a matching set, including navy, olive green, and black

Nordstrom leather jacket Leather jackets are another wardrobe staple, and right now Nordstrom-made ones are so good! They’re well priced, stylish, and worth every penny. Look at this and this for other options

J.Crew cotton cardigan – I just noticed this reversible cotton cardigan, and it’s another good piece to consider. It’s available in several colors and a striped version. It’s versatile enough to wear over a dress or skirt, with your favorite jeans buttoned up, or kept open layered over a knit tank

Farm Rio quilted jacket – This is the fun piece that makes all your basics come alive! This one immediately sold out at Nordstrom, but I found it for you 🙂 The colors are so pretty, and I’m loving this new countryside collection. Other quilted jacket options include this, this and this

… keep reading for 5 more

Striped polo – Elevated polo knits are an easy way to mix up basic tees, and a striped polo adds a little pattern. I love this new one by TWP, and this one by Frame is another excellent option. (It’s the same one I’m wearing above — it has been a favorite all season)

Polo Ralph Lauren stripe button up A classic button-up can be worn many ways, and whether you prefer a solid white one or a stripe (that works with everything), this is a piece you’ll have for years to come

Cashmere crew – I can’t imagine a wardrobe without a cashmere crew! No joke — I take one on every single trip and either layer it over my shoulders for extra warmth, or wear it layered over a white tee. The only problem is deciding which color to get. The colors I wear the most are soft white, navy, light blue and light gray

Faded blue jeans – This new Bookie Twist jean by Mother is hands down amazing! It’ a mid-rise, bootcut style, and everyone who tries it, buys it. It’s available in regular sizes and petites, I highly recommend these

Drawstring loose pant You already know how much I love this pant — I keep going on and on about it! In case you’re new here and haven’t heard, it’s machine washable, comes out of the dryer perfectly, is super versatile, and is the ideal replacement for a jogger. For reference, I wear a size small in the short length. I think the crepette fabric is the place to start, and the two colors I wear the most are soft white and black.

 

Style Board Inspo

Left: Blazer | Shirt | Jeans | Necklace | Bag | Slingbacks | Right: Quilt jacket | Lodge pants | Sandals | Bag

 

Blazer & Bomber Jacket

Left: Blazer | Top & matching skirt | Sandals | Clutch | Earrings | Right: Bomber jacket | Polo | Jeans | Necklace | Bag | Sandals

 

Cardigan & Leather Jacket

Left: Cardigan | Skirt | Sandals | Bag | Right: Leather jacket | Dress | Clutch | Sandals | Earrings

… and here are the last 5!

Vince silk top & matching skirt As I mentioned above, a matching set gives you many possibilities. This pretty satin skirt and top just arrived, and the color is gorgeous. You can wear it now with sandals and later with boots

Nordstrom dress – This dress is a best-seller that’s very well priced, and I just noticed this brand new style. Wear it alone, or with a jacket over it. This is a great basic dress that everyone loves

Black jeans – Once the weather transitions, black jeans become a wardrobe staple again. Try a washed black style — this pair is brand new, and has the cool twisted seam I keep talking about

Denim jacket – Look for a relaxed style that you’ll wear with everything

 

Recent Nordstrom Sale posts, ICYMI

The Pieces That Instantly Make Every Outfit Look Expensive (NSale Picks Inside)

New Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Finds + What’s on My Radar

 

Thank you for reading xx

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