10 piece spring capsule wardrobe
It’s almost (almost!) here, my favourite season - spring! As a (dare I say) bit of a traditionalist (only in this one regard, I promise), I believe in updating my wardrobe with seasonal pieces twice a year (spring and fall). I also believe you can achieve a great seasonal refresh by adding a selection of items that help by building on the foundational staples you should have in your closet year-round.
Enter the capsule wardrobe. Pair these key pieces with your tried and true basics and - voila - you have a repertoire that gives you the update you crave, without splurging to replace everything you own.
Here are the 10 pieces in my spring capsule wardrobe this year.
1. White trOuser
A great pair of pants is an essential if you work in an office like I do. In spring I crave a lighter pallet and a white trouser is a great alternative to black (hallelujah). FYI: they can absolutely pull double duty outside of an office setting (read: I would LOVE them with a crop top).
2. Pastel blouse
It’s not summer yet so a full-sleeve blouse helps during these transitional days. The colour though adds a fresh vibe and this year you can’t go wrong with any ruching or ruffle details. You could certainly swap out pastel for printed, but either way, a light, airy blouse is a must,
3. TreNch coat
If it’s not already, this should be part of your collection of staples. But I’m including it on my list in case you’re inclined as I was to switch it up by introducing a deconstructed version. I kept in the typical beige colour but I love the flow and drape of this style because it feels a bit less “buttoned up” than its classic equivalent.
4. Printed dress
You probably expected the print to be floral (“florals for spring, groundbreaking”) but I’m having a moment with dots, Not polka dots, per say, but these abstract, brush-stroke style prints have been calling to me lately. I foresee this one in heavy rotation, work or play.
5. Slip dress
The more I can feel like I’m wearing daytime appropriate pajamas the better (you’re seeing the decision behind my robe style trench coat in a new light, aren’t you?). So slip dresses are right up my alley. In my opinion, they work best for spring because I don’t love them with tights, so I embrace the warmer temperatures I’ll be pairing this piece with boots for now and mules for summer.
6. White blazer
Same argument I made for the white trouser applies to my spring blazer choice. Lighten things up with a crisp white and you won’t be sorry you did (I’m not).
7. SIlk slip skirt
Again with the pajamas (busted). A silk slip skirt is just so damn versatile and comfortable so, naturally, it had to make the list. If it’s your first time, go for a solid colour (blush, cream or a soft grey would be beautiful), but I’m a seasoned vet so I opted for a fun animal print (in black and white though, let’s not get carried away). Treat it like its sister the slip dress, but with more options for tops (see classic white t-shirt - another staple).
8. Pleated skirt
Obviously I couldn’t pick just one skirt so I included two, To me, a pleated skirt gives off a completely different vibe and I can’t help but love the dimension. Though black might seem like a contrary choice for spring, I love it paired back to this pastel blouse for contrast. One final plea on behalf of pleated skirts everywhere…they’re so fun to twirl and sashay in.
9. Shoulder bag
I reserved the final two spots on the list for accessories, I usually only invest in a new bag (or two) seasonally and my pick this spring is a small, shoulder style with an updated woven texture, When I found it my internal dialogue said: “Botegga, but make it affordable”.
10. mules
Last, but certainly not least, my go-to shoe for this spring season is this pair of camel mules, Nothing beats the convenience of a shoe that requires no strap fussing and looks amazing with everything.
There you have it, my picks for a 10-piece spring capsule wardrobe.