Ebony Francis knows her stuff. Previously creative director at Free People, she has built a career on knowing what looks good and what doesn't. Her experience and exquisite taste have earned her thousands of followers—and fans—on Instagram, and she even started a weekly podcast talking all things fashion with fellow content creator Emma Thatcher. Alongside this, Ebony is a stylist and host, sharing her tips and tricks on how to create an elegant yet wearable capsule wardrobe. In her third column, she shows us how to curate a timeless yet elevated capsule wardrobe to last a lifetime.
Scroll on to read her advice, see her looks and shop her picks.
As 2025 begins, it feels like the perfect opportunity to reflect on the pieces in my wardrobe that have stood the test of time and those I’m excited to invest in for the year ahead.
For me, this process has always been about curating a collection of timeless, elevated pieces that I can wear throughout the year, seasonally reimagined. With any new buys, I aim to strike a balance between longevity and individuality; a mix of everyday staples and pieces that allow me to embrace new colours and silhouettes.
In this column, I’m sharing a guide to my 2025 wardrobe, a wardrobe that reflects my ever-evolving style. From the pieces I turn to on off-duty days to the statement looks I wear when stepping outside my minimalist comfort zone, each section represents a mindful approach to dressing that celebrates longevity, personal expression and conscious choice. With a focus on intentional care and fresh interpretations of wardrobe essentials, I hope to inspire you to approach your wardrobe with thoughtfulness and joy, only adding considered pieces that reflect your style and stand the test of time.
Intentional Curation: Reimagining My Timeless, Elevated Wardrobe for 2025
1. Mindful Care, Sustainable Refresh
Refreshing my wardrobe for the year ahead, I’ve spent time sorting through pieces that no longer resonate with my style. I’ve separated the items that need a bit of TLC, sending some off to be repaired and dry-cleaned, and for the rest, I’m ready to start a Vinted account to rehome the bits that no longer work for me but will undoubtedly find a new lease of life in another wardrobe. There’s something beautiful about passing along clothes to close friends too, knowing they’ll restyle and appreciate these items as much as I once did.
With a fresh start in mind, I’ve been paying special attention to clothing care, ensuring that my wardrobe is maintained in the best possible way. I love everything that clothing-care brand Steamery creates, and its steamer, fabric spray and fabric shaver have been transformative for my clothes. Its new book, The Art of Clothing Care, has been an inspiring read; I particularly love the chapter that emphasises how small, daily rituals of clothing care can extend the life of each piece and ultimately create a more sustainable wardrobe.
Steamery's tools are really simple to use, making it easy to maintain my favourite items and ensure they last season after season. And to look after my wool and cashmere knitwear, I’ve turned to Soft Goat’s cashmere wash and wool comb. The ritual of caring for delicate materials feels grounding and intentional.
I also love textile-care brand Kinfill, not just for its ethos of sustainability and mindful living, but also for its elegant and effective product range. The textile brush and foam stain remover are perfect for removing any stubborn marks on my new UGG slippers and beloved Birkenstock clogs. Stylist Melissa Holdbrook-Aposse, known on Instagram as @melissaswardrobe, inspired me to buy Marks and Spencer's Clothes Freshening Mist, which has become a go-to for giving items a quick refresh with its delicate jasmine and ylang-ylang scent. I even pack this in my suitcase to ensure my clothes feel revitalised on trips away.
I'm embracing neutrals in the most elevated way with Dissh's Clemence Oat Marle Knit Jumper and matching bottoms. This soft set feels relaxed yet polished—the ideal outfit for when I want to be comfy without sacrificing style. Dissh is a new brand to my wardrobe. Its pieces are effortlessly chic, blending relaxed silhouettes with "feel-good natural fibres, thoughtful detailing and longevity in mind," as Lucy Henry-Hicks, managing director and creative director of Dissh, explains. Paired with some pearl drop earrings from Daisy Jewellery, the understated look is given a subtle yet elegant lift. The tonal palette flows seamlessly from head to toe, with my UGG Tasman Slippers in Antilope grounding the outfit in cosy sophistication.
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2. Reimagining Knitwear for Modern Comfort
As I reassess my wardrobe for the cooler months, I've been thinking about my long-standing love for timeless black and navy cashmere jumpers—I often wear a sleek crewneck or roll neck with tailored trousers. But this winter, I'm craving something with more texture and depth. Whilst I still appreciate the simplicity of a classic dark knit, I'm feeling drawn to softer tones, heritage-inspired stitches and playful slub details to mix into my weekend looks.
I was kindly gifted a rustic oat cardigan and a Fair Isle jumper from Rails, which are both perfectly cosy yet have an extra visual interest to keep things fresh. My chunky, beige-toned V-neck jumper from Navygrey, with its beautiful heritage stitch, adds a handcrafted feel to my knitwear collection, whilst a grey pointelle cardigan by Ghost feels soft and elegant.
Straight-leg, light-wash denim pairs perfectly with biscuit-coloured textured knits. For an easy, relaxed weekend outfit, I would complete the look with either a brown suede loafer or my new UGGs paired with tonal cotton or cashmere socks. I just took my old pairs of socks to a clothing bank, as textiles that can no longer be used can still be recycled. Instead of opting for my usual black pairs to replace them, I just added three different colourways from New Balance to my collection, along with a cosy cashmere pair from Soft Goat for the ultimate in cosy feet.
To bring these classic knits a bit more up-to-date, I've been styling them with jeans from my newly curated mini collection: curved barrel-leg jeans worn with my new favourite black ankle boots from Jigsaw, which are the perfect heel height to subtly elevate these casual pieces. For added refinement, I've also been incorporating sleek accessories like the Dehance Hollyhock Belt, which provides just the right mix of edgy and polished.
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3. Modern Workwear and Sleek Finishes
Embracing a more elevated workwear approach this year, I'm investing in matching tailored pieces, as I love how I feel when in a full suit. This two-piece outfit gives me the option to wear a full impactful look or to style the separates with other pieces in my wardrobe. I was drawn to this chocolate-hued oversized blazer from Dissh with its higher-set buttons and subtle volume in the shoulders, creating structure whilst maintaining a relaxed, effortless vibe.
Again, I continue reaching for my Jigsaw leather ankle boots. I love the look of the almond-shaped toe subtly peeking out from under the matching high-rise trousers. My wardrobe audit showed me I was lacking belts, and this semi-gloss black leather belt from Dehance adds a touch of refinement to my meeting looks. A beautifully made belt is an item that can be worn for years and feels like a very wise investment.
Whilst high-end designer bags will always hold a special place in my heart, I’ve recently found myself gravitating towards contemporary brands that offer both practicality and elegance, with designs that are pared-back and thoughtful in their detailing, often with a price point that still feels like a treat but remains within reach. My new favourite bag is this sleek style from Little Liffner, which easily fits my laptop, whilst the gold belt buckle accent is minimal and considered. The brand uses traditional Italian craftspersonship, and the quality is simply beautiful.
I have a De Savary brown leather trench coat on my (very minimal) 2025 wish list, and I think it would look great over this tailored look with my brown suede tote from Toteme (another beautiful contemporary handbag) to add depth in texture. Then, these black Pebble sunglasses by Paloceras have a distinct design that can elevate any outfit. The exaggerated, inflated shape is bold yet incredibly stylish, and the signature embellishment adds a unique, sculptural element that sets them apart. With the contrast of black accessories against the oversized brown suit, I’ve opted for minimal jewellery: earrings from Stephanie Yeboah’s collaboration with Ottoman Hands, which is inspired by Ghanaian symbolism, and a delicate Zohreh V. Jewellery diamond coin necklace that I wear every day.
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4. Elevated Essentials for Off-Duty Days
Off-duty style is about the finding the perfect balance between effortless, comfortable yet elevated pieces where thoughtful fabric and refined silhouettes make all the difference. At the end of last year, I visited my friend Emma Thatcher’s presentation at the Yaitte showroom, where I immediately fell for the brand’s edited pieces. I loved the classic shirting but headed straight to this set that was merchandised within the edit. Speaking with the brand’s founder, Danielle Windsor, about her journey with the independent British brand and its honest principles drew me even further into the brand’s ethos. Yaitte’s approach feels perfectly aligned with my 2025 wardrobe vision, where each piece is crafted for both style and comfort, allowing me to feel polished and at ease.
For a more elevated casual look, I’m styling the brushed grey cotton melange shirt and trousers with my new Adidas trainers in the putty colourway. My new brown Whistles leather jacket adds a tougher layer against the brushed textures and makes the outfit feel more street-style inspired. I am a huge fan of the brand Whistles, and the leather clean bonded range is exceptional. Last winter the signature jacket received a fresh update to a classic trench coat design with an exaggerated lapel and wrap-tie fastening which I am saving for as my yearly coat purchase.
Another standout brand contemporary accessory brand is Manu Atelier, known for their modern handbag silhouettes in luscious fabrications. The Le Cambon style has become a bestseller, and this deep brown grained leather version with its soft, structured silhouette is the most stylish everyday practical bag. I’m now adding the larger black leather Le Cambon 45 to my wishlist—it’s the ideal everyday bag with its spacious design and understated elegance.
To add a bit of fun to the outfit, I added my Quay brown aviator sunglasses and a sleek chrome laptop case from Casetify. With the perfect balance between laid-back sophistication and practical ease, this outfit is ideal for days when I need to move seamlessly from running errands to meetings without feeling the need to change. It’s the kind of effortless style that feels polished yet comfortable, allowing me to step out confidently which is the focus in my style direction this year.
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5. Daring To Dress Up: Stepping Outside My Minimalist Comfort Zone
While my day-to-day wardrobe remains minimal, there's something special about dressing up for events or dinners that allows me to embrace a more glamorous side. This year, I'm focusing on taking bolder risks with colour and print, experimenting with longer, more dramatic silhouettes. Attention to the finer details like makeup, nails, and fragrance is how I start to build an evening look ensuring I feel polished and confident when stepping out.
Last summer, I wore a polka-dot dress to an event and was reminded of how much I love the elegance of a maxi dress. While casual in its silhouette, the way the fabric draped, paired with simple accessories, allowed the dress to take centre stage. I decided to step out of my comfort zone this year by trying out the stunning burgundy shade in the Asceno silk dress, a style I already own and love in black. The silhouette is the epitome of chic, and knowing how confident I feel in it, I felt ready to experiment with a new, more vibrant colour.
Pairing the dress with sleek black accessories from Dear Frances, a brand known for its thoughtfully edited selection of shoes and handbags, creates the perfect balance. The mesh booties peeking out from under the silk dress add a subtle edge, while the slim woven leather bag provides structure against the dress's fluidity. Together, they refine the boldness of the dress, making the look feel both elegant and effortless.
To complete the look, I’m wrapping my braids in a royal pale blue and ivory silk headscarf. Also available at Whistles, the brand Sahara (founded by Amira Khan) seamlessly blends artistry with ethics, offering hand-drawn silk scarves with intricate patterns. All designs are hand-drawn and consciously crafted in the UK using luxurious silk twill that drapes beautifully.
I was recently introduced to Kjersten Bradley, the Co-Founder & Creative Director of Ryenn’s Eyes, who kindly gifted me some earrings from the brand’s collaboration with artist, filmmaker, and photographer Quentin Jones. This collection is a fusion of artistry and fashion, with organic, sculptural pieces that feel both modern and timeless. The subtle mismatching of shapes adds an unexpected, playful element to the look while still feeling cohesive with the intended look. I’m wearing the 14ct gold-plated sculptured drop earrings, and I love how the gold complements the richness of the burgundy dress.
For last minute evening looks, I often shop my own wardrobe and invest in statement earrings over a new outfit. Some of my new favourites include Soru’s crystal drop earrings and Daisy Jewellery’s double baroque pearl drops, both of which offer an understated elegance. As I continue exploring bolder choices in my event wardrobe, I love how these carefully chosen pieces allow me to stay true to my style while taking a few more risks. It’s the balance of drama and simplicity that makes these looks feel both fresh and timeless.
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