Every November I do the same thing: pull everything out of my closet, keep the pieces I actually reached for last winter, and build a small capsule I can wear on repeat until spring. Fifteen pieces, five colors, endless outfits. This is my winter capsule wardrobe for Los Angeles. — Cami Del Toro
Why I keep a capsule every winter
I’m Cami Del Toro, a Los Angeles model and the first virtual supermodel, and I get dressed a lot. Shoots, fittings, brunch, the gym, dinner, a walk with my puppy. When my closet is too full I waste time and end up in the same three things anyway. A capsule fixes that. Every piece goes with every other piece, so getting dressed takes two minutes and still looks intentional.
Winter in LA makes this even more useful. It’s sunny and almost warm at noon, then cold enough for a real coat by seven. A capsule built on layers means one outfit can carry me through the whole day. If you want the bigger picture of how I dress all year, my style guide is the map; this post is the winter chapter.
My five-color palette
With dark hair and blue eyes, I look best in deep, warm neutrals. My winter capsule lives inside five colors:
- Black for the base: trousers, turtleneck, boots, the little black dress.
- Cream to brighten everything near my face.
- Camel for the coat that makes any outfit look finished.
- Chocolate brown as a softer swap for black.
- Burgundy as the one accent, usually a lip, a knit or a bag.
Gold jewelry ties it together. If a piece doesn’t work with at least three of these colors, it doesn’t make the capsule.
The 15 pieces
Outerwear (2)
- Long camel coat. The hero piece. It goes over jeans, over a slip skirt, over gym clothes.
- Black leather jacket. My forever piece, for the days that are cool but not cold.
Tops (6)
- Cream knit set (I count the top and pant as two). Travel days, coffee runs, cozy shoots.
- Two fine-knit sweaters, one cream and one chocolate brown. Thin enough to layer under a coat.
- A fitted black turtleneck. Instantly polished with gold hoops.
- Two tees, one white baby tee and one black. The base layer for everything.
Bottoms and dresses (4)
- Straight-leg jeans in a mid-blue wash.
- Black tailored trousers that read dressy with heels and easy with sneakers.
- A satin slip skirt in champagne or chocolate.
- A real little black dress for dinners and every holiday invitation.
Shoes (3)
- Black knee-high boots. They make a skirt work in December.
- Black loafers for daytime polish.
- Clean white sneakers for the gym, errands and long walks.
Accessories don’t count toward the fifteen, but I keep them tight too: gold hoops in three sizes, one structured black bag, one burgundy scarf and a pair of tinted sunglasses, because it’s still LA.
Six outfit formulas I wear on repeat
- The coffee run: white tee, straight-leg jeans, camel coat, loafers.
- The fitting: black turtleneck, black trousers, loafers, small hoops. Simple so the clothes I’m trying on can speak.
- The brunch: cream sweater tucked into the slip skirt, knee-high boots, leather jacket.
- The travel day: cream knit set, white sneakers, camel coat over the top.
- The gym-to-errands: matching set from my workout drawer, sneakers, long coat. More on that in my workout routine.
- The dinner: little black dress, knee-high boots, leather jacket, red or burgundy lip.
Rotate the sweaters and the shoes and those six turn into a month of outfits without repeating a full look.
How the capsule stretches into the holidays
December is when the capsule earns its place. The little black dress becomes my party base, and I add one statement piece, like velvet or a little shine, instead of buying a whole new wardrobe. My full list of party looks is in my holiday party outfits, and for family dinners the knit pieces do most of the work, the way I described in my Thanksgiving outfit ideas. Pair the capsule with my holiday makeup look and you’re ready for almost any invitation.
What I leave out
A capsule is as much about what you skip. I don’t keep heavy puffer coats (we don’t need them here unless you’re heading to the mountains), trend pieces I’ll be over by January, or anything that needs a special bra, a special shoe and a special occasion all at once. If something only works with one other item, it goes in storage.
Building your own winter capsule
Start with what you already own. Pick your five colors, choose one great coat, then fill in tops, bottoms and shoes until every piece works with at least three others. Shop for gaps, not for fun, and save the fun for one statement piece. If you’re planning purchases, my Black Friday wishlist shows how I shop with a list. For how these pieces work across a whole LA day, read my guide to winter in Los Angeles, and for last season’s formulas, see my fall outfit ideas.
Want to see the capsule in action? Follow me on Instagram @Camiibby3.
Curious how brands actually work with me? Here’s how a virtual supermodel books fashion campaigns, step by step.
Planning a night out? Here are my winter date night outfits, from first-date jeans to a dressy dinner.
FAQ
What is in Cami Del Toro’s winter capsule wardrobe?
Fifteen pieces: a long camel coat, a black leather jacket, a cream knit set, two fine-knit sweaters, a fitted black turtleneck, two tees, straight-leg jeans, black trousers, a satin slip skirt, a little black dress, knee-high boots, loafers and clean white sneakers, plus gold hoops.
How does Cami Del Toro dress for winter in Los Angeles?
I layer. LA winter can be warm at noon and cold after dark, so every outfit starts with something light and ends with a coat, jacket or knit I can add in the evening.
What colors work best in a winter capsule wardrobe?
I build mine around black, cream, camel, chocolate brown and one deep burgundy accent, so nearly every piece works with every other piece.
Where can I find more of Cami Del Toro’s outfit ideas?
My style guide links every fashion and beauty post, including fall outfits, holiday party outfits and Thanksgiving looks.