Lainy Hedaya Hoffstein is the fashionable force behind Haute Inhabit, an NYC fashion and lifestyle blog. She’s also the owner of her namesake Instagram account, which has garnered over 181,000 followers and counting. She’s known for her chic style, which we would describe as quintessentially New York, albeit with a modern and minimalist spin. (Think dark neutrals and elevated basics with a few statement-making pieces thrown into the mix.) As a blogger who lives and works in New York, she knows how to marry fashion and function, curating outfits that are comfortable enough to wear while trekking all over the city yet look photo-ready, too.
Recently, Hedaya posted her suggestions for the five pieces everyone needs in order to build a capsule wardrobe. We loved her suggestions, which is why we’re now sharing them with you. So whether you’re trying to adopt a minimalist lifestyle or looking for a new fashion uniform, these pieces are the ones that will become the base of your wardrobe. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Here’s what Hedaya Hoffstein posted in response to one of her followers. The five basic pieces you need to have a perfect capsule wardrobe, she says, are a pair of mid-heel black pumps, an oversize black blazer, high-waisted black denim, a white or black turtleneck, and a black midi dress.
Black pumps are one of the best and most basic pieces of any wardrobe. In other words, they’re a staple. Wear them with denim, and you look effortlessly elevated. Wear them with a dress, and you look polished and elegant. Choose “too high of a heel, and you can’t walk anywhere,” Hedaya says. Choose “too flat, and you’re not elevated. Manolo Blahnik makes good pumps.”
An oversize blazer is another staple piece in creating a capsule wardrobe due to its exceptional versatility. Seriously, it can be styled with just about any shoes, pants, skirts, or accessories. “An oversize blazer can be belted very sexy or worn with a more casual look,” Hedaya says. “A fitted blazer doesn’t have the same effect.”
The next item you need to create your capsule wardrobe, according to Hedaya Hoffstein, is a pair of high-waisted black jeans. “Black denim goes with anything and is super underrated,” she says. “Blue denim is always associated with casual, so you’re limited to color and formality.” Why high-waisted denim, specifically? Hedaya says she prefers high-rise jeans because they make booties, another classic wardrobe staple, look better.
Next up is the classic turtleneck. In true New Yorker fashion, Hedaya Hoffstein suggests sticking to neutrals with a white or black turtleneck. “A turtleneck is both functional and chic. It makes any jawline look better and keeps you warm. It also looks better as a layer because there is more to it.”
When it comes to the final item in a five-piece capsule wardrobe, Hedaya Hoffstein names a black midi dress. “I say midi because sometimes you don’t want to (or can’t) be sexy, or you haven’t shaved your legs,” she says. “We always talk about the LBD, but I think a midi is more functional and elegant.”
