It’s that time of year when the birds are singing, the garden is blooming and, in the fashion world, colors are illuminating. We’ve packed up our heavy coats and chunky sweaters into cold storage and sent our snow boots into hibernation until the November chill rolls around.
The opposite of September, May is a month of transitions, coming in like a fresh breeze and ending with the unofficial start of summer season. In 2023, it's all about the cargo pant, utility jacket, blazer, crisp cotton shirt, color-blocking separates, and the pleated skirt.
A capsule wardrobe is a great mix of statement pieces that speak to you, quality classics that work from season to season, and comfortable separates that mix and match with colors and textures you love. While we've given you a guideline into how to create a spring capsule wardrobe, it's more about creating a closet filled with items you'll wear over and over again.
As the days get longer and the temperature rises, May is the perfect time to start daydreaming about the playful summer season that’s just around the corner. If you haven’t started already, this is the month to prepare your spring capsule wardrobe, deciding which elements to keep from the fall and winter months and which pieces from last summer will still work for the warm months to come.
If you read last year’s fall capsule wardrobe blog post, you’ll already be familiar with the way we do things at L2R, but here’s a little recap for those of you who are new to our site.
A capsule wardrobe is a sustainable way to streamline your looks, train yourself to buy less, and use your imagination more; to freshen up your wardrobe for the current season while not overbuying; become the eco-conscious consumer that helps the planet while also helping you to stick to your passion for fashion; make it easier to put outfits together using some key essential elements; and update your style by adding a few trendy touches.
We’ve all done it—buy and buy pieces we think we have to have, hang them into an overpacked closet, and forget about them. But as the seasons come and go, those must-have items have done nothing but take up real estate in our closet.
A simple way to create an easy-to-manage closet that looks so good you won’t want to close the door, is to create a capsule wardrobe.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of staples that can be mixed and matched to create multiple looks, season-after-season.
A scaled-down collection of clothes for a particular time frame, a spring capsule wardrobe typically consists of transitional pieces that will take you from winter through summer. And with the right strategy, some pieces in a well-thought-out spring capsule wardrobe may even transition over to the following fall.
Why Capsule Wardrobes Make Sense
In a time when fashion has taken on a brand new look, we’ve entered into a time when the words “in-style” and “so last year” have been tossed into the recycle bin.
As the zero-waste movement takes over, we’re learning to buy less and think more, taking wardrobe pieces from the past and giving them a second life in the future. As life seems to be mirroring fashion, we’re all learning the importance of living in the here and now, staying close to those we love, and being comfortable in our own skin.
The less-is-more mentality allows us to focus on the pieces that we love to wear and stop consuming in a way that harms the planet. A capsule wardrobe is a tool that lets you be involved in your own style ethos, create new looks by reimagining elements, and come up with more combinations with less items. More than just a pared-down version of your regular wardrobe, a capsule wardrobe is a strategic grouping of items that play well together and let you create a wider variety of looks.
Because capsule wardrobes ensure that the key pieces in your wardrobe are more versatile and go with several other items, they are also a great money-saving tool. Once you realize that you only need one great pair of khaki trousers, a high-quality cotton shirt, and a perfect neutral blazer, you can stop aimlessly shopping and focus your attention (and bank account) on the things that matter most.
Still, another benefit of a capsule wardrobe is that it can help keep you on track with your style goals. Having a capsule wardrobe does not mean you have to become a serial outfit repeater or a bare-minimalist.
In fact a strategically created capsule wardrobe, though smaller in size, will actually help you to create a larger range of outfit options than a closet full of trendy, one-season-only pieces.
To help get you started building your own spring capsule wardrobe, we’ve put together some essential tips for a 20 piece capsule wardrobe for the spring season.
Start with the basics. These are simple, streamlined pieces with little to no design elements or trendy features that can be easily mixed and matched with other basics or statement pieces.
A great pair of jeans, a perfectly-fitting white tee, a crisp cotton button-down, a pair of clean white sneakers, a quality neutral-colored cotton cardigan, a lightweight trench, a pair of great trousers, and a neutral blazer are examples of essential staples in a spring capsule wardrobe. Basically, a capsule wardrobe will be a mixture of basics that can go from season-to-season with a few statement pieces mixed in.
Add a few trendy spring items. If you just can’t resist a trend or two, it’s okay, but keep in mind that the trendier the piece, the less likely they will carry over to the next season. Instead of blowing your budget on what’s “on trend,” focus your spending on “what’s going to last.”
Include versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down. A pair of neutral cargo pants, a knit sweater, and a great wear-with-anything blazer.
Choose the right outerwear. If you live on the east coast, the nights are still on the chilly side. With a great jacket, blazer, or lightweight denim, you can’t miss. This year, it’s all about the utility jacket. If there was ever a spring trend to jump on in 2023, it’s the bomber jacket. Resist the urge to spend your cash on a piece you’ll only wear for one season. That’s just not sustainable and, frankly, just a waste of money.
6 - Add shoes and trendy accessories like a great pair of white trainers or a springy floral clutch. This year, it’s all about the 90s, so if you have a pair of comfy Adidas sneakers in the back of your closet, and they’re in good shape, lucky you! If not, it might be a great time to invest in a fresh new pair.
And for spring, there’s nothing like florals. Tie a silk scarf around your neck and use it in place of a piece of jewelry. And of course, there’s nothing like a great new handbag or belt to elevate any basic wardrobe. This year, the tote is back in business as we’re all spending much more time out-and-about.
How to choose what to put into your spring capsule wardrobe
When choosing your capsule wardrobe ingredients, remember there are no rules! What’s most important when creating a capsule wardrobe is to embrace your personal style and not follow trends too strictly. Keep your own lifestyle, body type, and career in mind when creating your own capsule wardrobe—or any wardrobe—for that matter.
If you’re caring for a new baby, you’ll certainly require a much different capsule wardrobe than if you’re back in the office full-time. If you work in a corporate job, a bunch of funky sandals will likely sit in your closet all season.
We’ve put together this 2023 spring capsule wardrobe sample to help inspire you and give you a basic outline. Just use it as a guide and tweak the list to fit your budget, style goals, and lifestyle.
Here are some general categories:
2 lighter-weight outerwear pieces that you can wear all season long on cooler days and nights.
Layering pieces: lightweight knit sweaters and cardigans, linen shirts, and linen or cotton jackets that can be layered over a tank or tee are the perfect transitional must-haves for spring.
2 functional staple bags that fit all your daily necessities.
Neutral items: Having some base color pieces (white, black, or cream) makes getting dressed in the morning simple.
Tip: If you find a great basic tee, buy more than one because you’ll likely be wearing it a lot in the spring.
Weather-friendly shoes: Make sure you have a few options for the changing spring weather.
Capsule wardrobes can change 4 times a year, but truthfully, if you build a capsule for fall and spring, you should be fine for the more extreme winter and summer seasons. Well-fitting, quality basics can go from season to season, capsule to capsule (think white tee, chambray button-down, black blazer, and your favorite jeans.)
Incorporating trends into a capsule wardrobe
Adding 2 or 3 trendy pieces doesn’t always mean new pieces. In fact, a lot of trends center around styling shifts or layering techniques.
The majority of the components on this sample spring capsule wardrobe list are things you might already have in your own closet.
Creating a capsule wardrobe is not about suppressing your own personal style. It’s more about honing in on foundational pieces and combinations that you know work best for you.
With spring 2023 well underway, use this capsule wardrobe checklist to help you build your capsule wardrobe for the exciting warm-weather seasons ahead.
Spring Capsule Wardrobe Checklist for 2023
Jackets/Coats
Tops/Sweaters
Oversized Boyfriend Shirt in White Cotton
Tissue Turtleneck
2-3 White Tees
Black Tees
White Tank
Bodysuit
White Button-down Shirt
Lightweight Knit Sweater
Cotton Cardigan
Trendy Top
2-3 White Tees
Black Tees
White Tank
Bodysuit
White Button-down Shirt
Lightweight Knit Sweater
Cotton Cardigan
Trendy Top
Dresses
Maxi Denim Skirt
Casual Midi
Elevated Dress/Slip-dress
Casual Midi
Elevated Dress/Slip-dress
Bottoms
Wide-bottom trouser
Wide leg jeans
Classic Trouser
Linen Pants
Bermuda Shorts
Pleated Skirt
Shoes/Boots/Sneakers
Wide leg jeans
Classic Trouser
Linen Pants
Bermuda Shorts
Pleated Skirt
Shoes/Boots/Sneakers
Classic Trainers
Loafers
Ballet Flats
Combat-style Sandals
Trendy Boots
Loafers
Ballet Flats
Combat-style Sandals
Trendy Boots
Accessories
