Today I’m sharing an elevated casual spring capsule wardrobe to help you get dressed this season. It utilizes 21 key pieces, and in this post, you’ll also find 36 outfit ideas you can create on your own.
Spring can be a tricky time of year to dress thanks to finicky weather and unpredicted highs and lows. Although spring isn’t my favorite season, it does provide a great opportunity for layering, and similarly to fall, outfits tend to be more interesting because of this.
There are several reasons to opt for a capsule wardrobe, but for me, I love the streamlined approach to dressing it provides me each morning. Over the years I’ve been investing in more and more high-quality essentials. And even though these pieces are wardrobe basics, there are lots of ways to wear them so that they feel anything but that.
Here’s everything you need for a Charmed by Camille approved spring capsule wardrobe.
Your Complete Spring Capsule Wardrobe
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a streamlined collection of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create numerous outfits suitable for various occasions, days, and events. Capsule wardrobes value quality over quantity, focusing on essential items that are timeless, functional, and align with the season’s aesthetics.
Spring Capsule Wardrobe Essentials
Specifically, spring capsule wardrobe items should cater to the season’s notorious unpredictable weather. Layering is key when it comes to smartly dressing for spring, and you’ll notice that several pieces in this capsule wardrobe can be worn with others, or on their own.
This spring capsule wardrobe is reflective of my personal style. It leans toward neutrals and everyday basics that I truly love, with focal pieces including great jeans, a white button-down shirt, and sneakers.
Blue Straight Leg Jeans
One of the fundamental pieces to any great capsule wardrobe is a pair of jeans that work with a variety of clothing and shoe options. If you only have skinny jeans in your closet, consider grabbing a pair of straight leg jeans.
For length, I prefer jeans that hit at or just above the ankle, because this length works with several shoes including heels, sneakers, ankle boots, and sandals.
Look for jeans in a classic blue wash that isn’t too dark or light. A medium blue wash is the perfect middle ground to help bring warmer winter pieces like sweaters into the spring season.
Here are a few of my favorite medium wash jeans:
Ecru or White Jeans
For warmer days when summer is just around the corner, it’s always great to have a pair of ecru or white jeans as part of your spring capsule wardrobe.
I love the Milo Jean from M.M.LaFleur.
Black Wide Leg Trousers
I always like incorporating a non-denim bottom into my spring wardrobe. Black wide leg trousers are a year-round favorite and can help elevate even the most casual outfit.
My go-to wide leg trousers are these from Artizia, but other favorites include:
You can also replace any wide leg trouser outfits you see here with a midi skirt. A slip skirt like this is a timeless staple.
White Button-Down Shirt
Another year-round classic piece that I can’t live without is a white button-down shirt. I have spent years looking for the perfect shirt, and I love this one because it’s perfectly oversized and effortless.
Denim Shirt
As an alternative to a white button-down shirt, and to add some color to your capsule wardrobe, invest in a great denim shirt. J.Crew always has the best denim shirt options.
Neutral Sweater
Since spring weather is so flaky, it’s always good to have a sweater in a neutral color as part of your arsenal so that you can mix and match it with different outfits as an added layer when needed.
Striped Sweater or Cardigan
Don’t be afraid to throw in a striped sweater for your spring capsule wardrobe. Stripes are a classic print that can feel polished, preppy, and even cool, depending on how your style them.
A White Tee and Tank Tops
You can never have too many white t-shirts. Madewell makes excellent, affordable tees, and a recent favorite is this cut from Everlane.
Tank tops are also key classic pieces to have on hand; they’re perfect for layering during tricky spring weather, and on their own as we ease toward summer.
Trench Coat
Although outerwear can sometimes be difficult during this time of year, you can never go wrong with a tan trench coat. It provides a great, medium-weight layer, and if you’re still cold you can always throw a sweater over your shoulders or under the coat for added warmth.
The neutral color of the tan trench allows this third piece finisher to work with every single spring outfit you may wear.
Lady Jacket
Another great spring outerwear option is the lady jacket. They’re becoming increasingly popular, and although very feminine at its core, a lady jacket can also look cool when juxtaposed with some jeans and sneakers.
Tan Blazer
One of the great benefits of a capsule wardrobe is investing in pieces that work for the day and night. A tan blazer can dress up and casual daytime look, and it’s also an elevated outwear piece for dinner or drinks. Tan feels less aggressive and more seasonally appropriate than a black blazer, which can look heavy toward the end of spring as we inch toward summer.
Black Belt
One of the easiest ways to elevate any outfit and make it feel finished, is with a belt. Don’t forget to invest in one to have on hand for your spring wardrobe.
White Sneakers
White sneakers are a perennial favorite. They’re by far my most worn shoe when I’m in NYC, and they go with everything, even dresses.
My favorite white sneakers include Adidas Sambas, Veja V-10 sneakers, and also the Veja Campo sneakers.
Nude Booties
On cool spring days or evenings, nude ankle booties are the perfect shoe. They’ll keep your feet warm, but the neutral color is much less harsh than black and feels more seasonally appropriate as we ease toward warmer weather.
Nude Heels
For days when the weather does allow for open toes, a low nude heel works in lieu of boots.
Loafers
Loafers are one of my favorite footwear choices when I don’t want to wear sneakers, or when ballet flats feel too girly. I’m always a sucker for menswear inspired pieces, and loafers inject a fun tomboy feel to most outfits.
For more ways to style chunky loafers, check out this post.
Fisherman Sandals
Fisherman sandals can be polarizing, but when styled properly they’re a great spring shoe.
Although they’re a sandal, they still cover much of your foot, and don’t feel too summery for spring weather.
A Nude Bag and a Black Bag
If you’re trying to simplify your outfits with a capsule wardrobe, keep your bag choices to a minimum as well. Look to invest in two bags, a nude and a black.
A nude bag will match with everything in your spring wardrobe (as well as the rest of your closet), and a black bag always feels a little dressed-up, even if you’re wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Since I’m often on the go, I need purses that work for day and night. A bag with structure is dressy enough to be worn in the evening, but also works during the day.
In fact, I have had this bag from APC for the past three years and it’s my most-worn everyday purse.
Sunglasses
So long, cloudy winter! Don’t forget to pack a pair of sunglasses in your purse for those gorgeous sunny spring days we’ve desperately missed.
Spring Capsule Wardrobe Outfit Ideas
Denim Shirt | White Button Down Shirt | Neutral Sweater | Striped Sweater | Black Tank Top | White and Neutral T-Shirts | Trench Coat | Lady Jacket | Tan Blazer | Ecru or White Jeans | Blue Straight Leg Jeans | Black Wide Leg Trousers | Black Belt | White Sneakers | Nude Heels | Nude Booties | Loafers | Fisherman Sandals | Nude Bag | Black Bag | Sunglasses
