Over the past year or so, I’ve really been focused on curating my capsule wardrobe. Building a capsule wardrobe doesn’t happen overnight! I’ve added versatile pieces to my closet over the years, but this past year, I was inspired to sit down and make a list of what I was missing. After recognizing the holes in my wardrobe (for instance, my tops-to-bottoms ratio needed a lot of work), I was able to start looking for pieces that would serve an intentional purpose in my wardrobe capsule and help me to create even more classic looks. Now, getting dressed is a breeze! These 9 wardrobe pieces have helped to take my capsule collection to the next level.
1. A White Maxi Skirt
I honestly don’t know how I ever lived without a white maxi skirt in my closet. When I tell you I wear it at least once a week, I’m not kidding! Its cost per wear has already far exceeded the price of this wardrobe staple for spring and summer. A long white skirt is one of my first recommendations when someone asks me about warm weather wardrobe essentials.
What I love about a white maxi skirt is its versatility. For an afternoon at the winery, I paired it with leather sandals, a floral tank top, and sunglasses. It’s the perfect piece to dress up or down! I also love wearing it with a cardigan in the spring, or a barn jacket for a transitional fall look. If you end up adding a white skirt to your wardrobe, you’ll probably find yourself wearing it even more than you imagined!
quince
Tiered Maxi Skirt
2. A Blue Button-Down
If I had to start my capsule wardrobe over from scratch, a striped blue button-down is probably one of the first pieces I would repurchase. I couldn’t even tell you the number of ways that I’ve worn this over the past year, and throughout all four seasons. And that’s saying a lot as a Midwest girl!
For a springtime walk with my Aussie, Nana, I paired it with Levi’s jeans and sandals. Shades of blues are some of my favorite neutrals to pair together, because you still get a subtle pop of color. Button-down shirts are another great wardrobe capsule piece to dress up or down. Pair them with trousers for work, or jeans for a more casual look. They also look great paired with a mini skirt and trench coat, or white jeans and white sneakers for a bright, clean spring look.
gap
Oversized Shirt in Poplin
3. A Gray Cardigan
Cardigans in neutral colors may make up the bulk of my capsule wardrobe, but surprisingly, I didn’t own a gray cardigan before this year. Now, it’s one of my go-to pieces in my minimalist capsule wardrobe. I love to tie it around my shoulders if I get warm, or tug it on at the office when the air conditioning kicks on. If you’re building your first capsule wardrobe, you’ll definitely want to make a light cardigan a priority (I happen to love the Gaspard Cardigan from Sezane for this purpose).
A gray cardigan pairs well with your favorite little black dress, or paired with bright accent colors, like red or pink. And if you want to style it in the summertime, try styling it with a navy and white striped tee and a pair of white shorts for a nautical aesthetic. If you don’t already have a gray cardigan in your current wardrobe, you won’t regret adding this staple piece.
Sezane
Gaspard Cardigan
4. White Jeans
One of the biggest style misconceptions I regret buying into is that you should primarily wear dark-wash jeans for a flattering look. Once I found the right fit of white jeans for my petite frame, I don’t know how I ever lived without them! This is another style I’ve been wearing weekly this spring, and can see myself wearing them all summer long, too. They add a great contrast to dark tops, are bright and fresh for warm weather, and are way more flattering than I had previously imagined them to be.
For a transitional winter to spring look, I paired them with a navy sweater from Quince, a patterned neck scarf, leather loafers, and the suede saddle bag from Madewell.
gap
High Rise Stride Wide-Leg White Jeans
5. A Black Mini Skirt
If you’re struggling to create capsule wardrobe outfits that don’t involve a pair of pants, try mixing things up with a black mini skirt. Over the past year, I’ve discovered that a black mini skirt is nearly as versatile as a pair of jeans. I’ve had fun getting creative with different styles to wear with the new addition to my closet. I’ve dressed it up with blazers and heels, or dressed it down with a white tee and trench coat. Depending on your comfort level with the shorter length, you can always add a pair of tights underneath for extra coverage and warmth.
A black mini skirt will pair well with almost any of your timeless tops. It also pairs well with almost any footwear – loafers, boots, and ballet flats also look great with this style for chic looks! This is one of my new favorite essential pieces to travel with as well, because it takes up so little space but can be worn in so many different ways.
everlane
Dream Mini Skirt
6. A Denim Shirt
I’m a big fan of East Coast-inspired looks, and Ralph Lauren is one of my favorite designers. I appreciate the way their pieces balance a timeless, polished look with functionality. Living in the Midwest, barn jackets, thick sweaters and classic denim are all as practical as they are beautiful. For this reason, adding a denim shirt to my wardrobe capsule this year made perfect sense.
From denim on denim looks to Western-inspired wear, denim shirts are definitely having a moment. I love when classic pieces are trending, because it’s the perfect time to source plenty of inspiration from both real life and the Internet! I’ve been able to get inspired to wear this shirt in a number of ways, and paired with a mini skirt and trench coat, jeans and a suede belt, and a pair of white linen pants for breezy spring dressing.
Although the particular shirt I’m wearing is no longer available, Sézane’s Max Shirt in Deep Blue is a great alternative for classic denim style.
sezane
Max Shirt – Deep Blue
7. A Basket Tote
Although I did already have a tote bag or two in my capsule wardrobe, I don’t regret adding a straw tote to my collection. Accessories can make or break your outfit, and if you want to elevate your spring and summer looks, adding a straw tote to your look is an easy way to do just that!
This straw tote is my Mary Poppins bag. It can hold an entire picnic lunch (blanket included) for an afternoon at our local arboretum and gardens, while still looking chic. It’s functional, easy to clean, and adds great texture to a simple summer capsule look. What more could you ask for from a bag?
j.crew
Straw Tote
8. Loafers
This pair of loafers may have kicked off one of my new fashion obsessions. I could go on and on about the versatility of this pair of shoes! They’re great for work, but can also be styled with leggings and an oversized sweater for an effortless look to run errands. These loafers are supportive, chic, and comfortable to walk in. They’ll be a must-have travel shoe moving forward, as they’re easy to style with so many outfits while also providing an elevated alternative to a pair of white sneakers.
madewell
Vernon Loafers
9. A Quality White T-Shirt
I’ve owned a fair share of white t-shirts over the years (I’m sure I’m not alone on this). My motto in the past has been to purchase a less expensive version of the shirt, knowing that I might spill coffee on it, accidentally stretch out the neckline, shrink it in the dryer, etc. But over the years, I’ve reflected on the sustainability of this attitude. There’s so much waste in operating by this motto, and over the past years, I’ve tried to be more intentional about investing more in quality pieces that I can care for and own for years to come. Enter, my new favorite quality white t-shirt.
Everlane’s Box Cut Tee is now ranked as my all-time favorite white tee. It has a slightly cropped, slightly boxy look that looks great on its own or worn as a layering piece under one of my (many) sweaters. It’s 100% cotton and is perfectly breathable. It washes up beautifully, and I’ve never had any issues with odd stretching. I can already tell that I’ll be reaching for this shirt for years to come, and since purchasing it, I’ve picked up a couple of other colors as well to add to my capsule wardrobe.
everlane
Box-Cut White T-Shirt
My New Capsule Go-Tos
Although these pieces are relatively new additions to my capsule wardrobe, they’ve already taken center stage in a number of my favorite looks. They’re all incredibly versatile, which means that they’ve carried me from season to season with ease. They’re also timeless, so I never have to worry about them going out of style. I truly don’t know how I ever got dressed without them!
If you’re also working to curate your capsule wardrobe this year, you’ll want these tips about personalizing your shopping list to your unique lifestyle and needs. Up Next: How to Create a Capsule Wardrobe That Works for You
So who owns this website?
Is Cassie the content creator now?
Very confusing. Something not right here.., like a catalog in the mail.
Hi, Judy! All is good over here 🙂 I, Carolyn, still own the website and have brought on Cassie as an employee to help create content!