I’m always so enthusiastic about putting together my spring capsule wardrobe, with the lighter days and new year full of excitement! One of my favourite things about putting together a seasonal wardrobe, is that I usually think “wow, this is my best one yet”. While I would like to think that is true, I think it is more due to the fact that this exercise (if you will) ensures that I keep improving my personal style to something that feels more and more authentic, while still being suitable to my lifestyle. Not to mention, it helps me distill my wardrobe (and style) down to the very best.
Tops
T-shirts are a staple year round of course, but for spring the t-shirts finally are included in more lighter layered outfits. I love the heavyweight ones from Arket, but Cos also have some fantastic quality ones that are very capsule wardrobe worthy. I do white and black and I like to have a few different ones to cycle through, to account for laundry and to make sure I have some more fitted and some with a looser fit, depending on the outfit.
I also like to focus on having a few different weighted knit tops, as spring weather is so temperamental. One day I may need a light wool jumper, the next a light cotton shirt will do! This year I added a merino wool cardigan from Arket – it is so soft and light enough for the spring season. And my striped cotton knit top (also from Arket) is a long time favourite in my capsule wardrobes, still going strong this year.
I also love being able to more comfortably wear my shirts (without the need for excessive layering), so I have both my regular white button up shirt and a silk blouse. I love that both can be dressed up or down! They are both semi-fitted, to be as versatile as possible. I do love my over sized (everything), but it just demands a little more styling, so I tend to go for something a little bit more middle-of-the-road for my capsule wardrobes.
Skirts, Jeans & Trousers
Pretty much. They make up my bottoms category. I have included both a light wash denim, as I usually do for spring, but also the darker grey pair I wore throughout winter. Simply because I don’t feel done with them and I am still obsessed and not ready to pack them away until fall again! A capsule should be fun, not just rules upon rules, so I try to listen to what I am having the most fun wearing at the given time.
I included a maxi skirt because I finally conquered my fear of the maxi length last year (petites can relate) and I am not full on board with both the comfort level it provides and how it so easily makes even the most basic tops look more chic. I would strongly recommend getting these in either a natural material or rayon / viscose, and not polyester, to make it something you want to wear, comfort wise. Mine are all viscose, it’s incredibly soft, breathable and comfortable, and much more durable than silk (which fragility makes it less of a day-to-day wear skirt for me).
A dress
Really, I feel like I am missing a dress or three. I have included one, and I do love that one, but I definitely have a desire for a tiny bit more variety of dresses in this capsule wardrobe. But I am not going to add things just for the sake of it, and I have neither found anything in the shops that made my heart beat really fast, nor have I had time to sew any (I have spent my sewing time on another piece in this capsule wardrobe). But I am open for adding (buying or sewing) another dress or two for this capsule wardrobe. I am just so excited to start wearing pretty dresses again!!! And a white cotton dress is an eternal staple in my wardrobe, this one is super pretty, while still being practical enough to wear for a multitude of occasions. Well, as practical as a white dress can ever get, anyway. I like to go for long sleeve and maxi length dresses for spring, because whenever I add shorter options, they always need to hang out in the wardrobe for a while, before the weather deigns to be appropriate.
Layers & Outerwear
Ahhhh I am finally back in my trench coat! When it comes to this trench coat, there’s not much to say that I haven’t said a million times before. I have had this one for a couple of years now and I love how over sized and dramatic it is, which means I never get bored with this classic. You can of course go for something more fitted, but I like something that feels a little more relaxed. It should be a staple that will go with everything and can stay in your wardrobe for many many seasons (as mine will).
The blazer is another welcome sight for spring, it feels great to be able to go outside with lighter layers! I like mine over sized still, even if the more fitted ones are coming back into the trend picture, if that is a bit more in your wheel house.
Tweed jacket – this is a new addition to my capsule wardrobe this year and it has been my little spring sewing project over the last month! I have definitely fallen for the little Chanel-esque tweed jackets that are perfect light layering pieces for warmer days. I love how it dresses up a pair of jeans and completely changes a very basic outfit. This one is more on the semi-fitted side, so it will only layer over the lighter layers in my wardrobe. So it is not the most versatile piece in my wardrobe, but it is adding so much fun that I am very OK with that! Every piece should not have to be a classic that can be worn with everything ever, I work better with the capsule wardrobes that allow for some experimentation through “interest pieces”.
Accessories
I have become more and more aware of the importance of the accessories part of my capsule wardrobe over the past couple of seasons – it can absolutely make or break the outfits! I now make sure that I have enough shoes that fit the different occasions and clothing pieces I have included in my capsule wardrobe. Through visually planning and putting together outfits, it is much easier to spot if you’re missing something to make certain outfits work. I have often just automatically put a brown belt into my spring capsule wardrobe, but this year I spent more time planning the different outfits and saw the gap I had by not including a black one as well.
What do you think about seasonal capsule wardrobes?
