I’m so excited to share my Spring Capsule Wardrobe with you. I’ve been craving simplicity, minimalism and ease in my wardrobe. I’m no stranger to capsules – I’ve done many capsule wardrobe challenges in every season. There’s something about having less and wearing what you love that fits so well with my lifestyle. If you are experimenting with minimalist style, ethical fashion or just love to see capsule wardrobes, this Spring Capsule Wardrobe is for you.
This is one of the bigger capsule wardrobes I’ve done. We are still experiencing winter in Northeast WI and I know in a couple months we will be having lots of days in the 70s. With a huge temperature span I decided to give myself a couple extra sweaters and jeans. I think capsules should be about freedom, not rules for the sake of rules so I didn’t force myself into a certain number of pieces.
Before we jump in, a few thoughts on capsule wardrobes:
- This Spring Capsule Wardrobe is meant to serve as a guide. Yes, it has links to the pieces I’m wearing or something similar and I do earn a small commission from those links. The point is to simplify your life, not make you feel like you need to buy a new wardrobe. You’ll notice several of these pieces I’ve had for years. Could you add a piece or two each season? Yes. I enjoy fashion and style, but it’s not meant to burden you.
- Wear what you have. If you are trying to pursue ethical fashion and take a less is more approach, a capsule wardrobe is a radical but good way to start the journey. Go through your closet, purge the things you never wear, and consider wearing 30-40 of your favorite items for a season. Pack the rest away to reduce visual and mental clutter. See what you learn.
- You don’t need these exact pieces. It might be helpful to see what realistically works for someone else. It might feel very challenging to have this size of wardrobe and it might be more than you are used to. This number is not very difficult for me personally, it’s even a little generous in the jeans department ;). Consider loosely the number of tops & bottoms.
- Feel free to add different pieces to your capsule wardrobe. Do you like dresses, skirts or jumpsuits? Lots of bold prints and color? Create a capsule that works for you lifestyle and climate. You do not have to be the same as me.
- A word of advice on lots of color: try to choose a color palette to stick to so you can easily mix and match pieces. My capsule is not as neutral as many of the others you’ll find, but it’s mostly shades of green for color. They don’t all match together, but I’ve included plenty of neutral basics that work with all of the green, brown & red.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s dive in to the details of this minimalist Spring Capsule Wardrobe 2024.
Spring Capsule Wardrobe Tops
Black crewneck sweatshirt: this graphic crewneck is my favorite from Sela Designs. It’s sold out right now, more coming later this year. In the meantime, this is my favorite light weight sweatshirt for Spring and Summer. It’s ethically made in the USA and beautiful quality.
Striped Tee: brown has been making a big comeback since last Fall and I am HERE.FOR.IT. I find brown stripes to be more suiting for my style than traditional black or navy. I was thrilled to upgrade my standard striped tee to this one for Spring. Keep in mind it is a higher quality, heavy weight fabric. I sized up to a medium for more length (I have a long torso).
Cream Sweater: this one has been a favorite for a couple years. It’s 100% cotton and ethically made by one of my favorite quality brands. It’s the perfect weight to throw over a tee or tank for cool evenings or with shorts as the weather improves. This exact one is no longer available, but here are some other options: black sweater, v-neck cotton sweater, or crewneck cotton sweater.
Black Gauze Top: this is a double gauze 100% organic cotton top and will quietly be a star of this capsule. It’s incredibly soft and ethically made, breathable fabric to live in. I can’t recommend it enough. It runs true to size (TTS).
Striped Cotton Sweater: another favorite from last Fall. This exact sweater is already sold out, but there are plenty more options if you are looking to add stripes to your Spring wardrobe. This sweater in other colors here, stripes, and another striped sweater option.
Green Cotton Cardigan Sweater: I’ve had this exact cardigan for 2 years and I’m wearing it as I type away. This company is known for their high quality cardigans. It’s available in a slightly darker shade or try Poshmark for the exact color.
Striped Top: this is a classic breton stripe in a deep caramel color and ecru. This style is a heavy weight cotton and the sleeves are 7/8 length, which I find helpful as I work with my hands a lot. I love the button detail on the sleeves.
White Button Down: a classic staple I’ve recently been wearing a lot more. Some say you always need a white button down shirt in your capsule wardrobe. I don’t think that’s true, but I have been wearing mine a lot more lately so I wanted to include it in my capsule. This one fits TTS. Here is an oversized white button down.
Green Striped Button Down Top: I’m obsessed with this green for Spring and the stripes are icing on the cake for me. I laugh at myself because I always go back to stripes for Spring. I don’t know what it is, but this style is very chic, minimal and classic to me. It’s also available in a deep caramel brown, which I love. With a minimal wardrobe I had to just choose one. This style runs TTS.
Everyday White Tee: another minimalist basic piece that is a work horse in my closet. This exact t-shirt is slightly shear, lightweight and has a slub texture. If you are looking to upgrade your white tee shirt and want something that you cannot see through try this heavyweight option, this solid white tee, or this one with a bit of stretch.
Oversized Denim Button Down Top: so many button downs this season. Each very timeless, but has it’s own cool girl vibe. I’m a big fan of denim on denim + this oversized fit goes really well with linen bottoms or as a coverup. Darker version here.
Striped Cotton Henley Sweater: A modern, chic henley sweater with French girl vibes, essential to any minimalist capule wardrobe. I love the buttons and I had to add a pop of red somewhere in this capsule wardrobe. This sweater is lightweight and somewhat airy. It runs TTS, but if you are in between sizes I recommend going up. It’s available in a few different colors.
Spring Capsule Wardrobe Bottoms
Dark Straight Leg Jeans: Straight leg jeans are always a good option. Choose you favorite length: cropped, full or ankle. I bought full length and cut a raw hem to my favorite length & now I wear these jeans every week. High rise is my go-to, but if you have a shorter torso I recommend going with a mid-rise. I had a hard time choosing which pair to include in my Spring Capsule so I’ll link a couple options for you. This one is the most comfortable & good if you are just branching out from skinny jeans and this one is very affordable fair trade jeans.
Ecru Wide Leg Cropped Jeans: high rise cropped ecru jeans have been in my closet for years. This style is almost universally flattering and feels timeless. I bought this exact pair on Poshmark. They are from Zara, but I don’t know the exact style name. Zara cotton jeans are the best quality I’ve found for the price – often like new or new on Posh for $30 or less. Other options here and here and here.
Wide Leg Jeans: whether you cuff them, crop them, or wear them full-length, wide leg jeans are here to stay. They are a nice change from tight, fitted skinny jeans in my opinion. I’ll stick with high rise though, I have no interest in anything low rise.
Patch pocket Wide Leg Cropped Jeans: another timeless style. I’ve been wearing these in a cropped version for 5 years. They are my favorite jeans for Spring, Summer & early Fall. This brand often runs big, so read reviews before purchasing. I stayed TTS for a roomier fit.
Cotton Gauze Wide Leg Pants: double gauze wide leg pants are the ultimate in comfort. This color is absolutely gorgeous in person, better than the photos. I’m between sizes so I went with my larger size to make sure they are roomy on the bum. 🙂
Khaki Pants: these pants have a coastal grandma vibe, which I like for Spring. They are soft and easy to wear. I love having another pant option that I can dress up or dress down depending on my day. I was between sizes so I went with my larger size, but I think the smaller would have been fine too.
Linen Joggers: if you want to get out of your sweats or leggings more often can I introduce you to linen joggers? They are every bit as comfortable, but look like you tried. This style is a linen blend so they don’t wrinkle as much as 100% linen. If you are between sizes, I recommend sizing up so you don’t have to think at all about them feeling tight.
Off-black Straight Leg Jeans: this is the extra pair of jeans I could have lived without, but I chose not to. They are very affordable fair trade jeans in the perfect off-black color. I love wearing these straight leg jeans cuffed. The sizing is slightly generous so go with your lower size if you are in between.
Floral Maxi Dress: can we please have a moment for this dress? The print is stunning, while the dress is comfy, has pockets and a full maxi length. It has a partial open back that allows you to wear a normal bra. It’s fitted in the bust and waist and then flairs out slightly. I stayed TTS in this one.
Spring Capsule Wardrobe Jackets & Shoes
Trench Coat: what’s more French girl chic than a trench coat? I can’t think of anything. I got mine from Poshmark, but if I had the budget I’d get this one. Remember if you buy secondhand to consider sizing up so you can wear bulky layers under when needed.
Quilted Barn Jacket: this quilted jacket is taking the place of a blazer in my Spring capsule wardrobe. I love blazers, but this coat does the trick and is very versatile. It runs TTS and is ethically made in Cambodia, providing job skills and living wage jobs to women at high risk for human trafficking.
Woven Loafers: one of my most worn and loved flats for Spring and Fall. I’ve had mine for 2 or 3 years. They are incredibly comfortable and hide my toes when I don’t get around to getting a pedicure.
White Sneakers: a classic pair of white sneakers are a go-to minimalist shoe style for modern women. These run TTS and do require some break-in, as with many leather sneakers.
Neutral Ballet Flats: ballet flats are one of the biggest shoe trends for 2024, but they really are timeless. This pair is on my wish list. Code: ASHLEIGH10 for 10% off.
Black Huarache Sandals: another go-to Spring sandal I’ve had for years and have multiple colors. I do use heel pads on this style and they mold to my foot. I’ve walked miles in these huarache sandals. They are fantastic. They run slightly large. I went with my smaller size. Code: ASHLEIGHBECKER20 to get 20% off.
Black Mary Janes: Mary Janes were at the top of my wish list this year and I’m so thrilled with them. These beautiful leather flats require zero break-in and are ready for wear right out of the box. They are TTS. Code: ASHLEIGH10 for 10% off.
Neutral Slide Sandal: this pair of slide on sandals in almond was one of my most worn sandals last year. I know I’ll wear them a ton this year as well. They are high quality and hand crafted ethically in South America. Code: ASHLEIGHBECKER20 to get 20% off.
Neutral Chunky Sandals: a casual everyday sandal that is comfortable, cool and modern. They run TTS. Code: ASHLEIGHBECKER20 to get 20% off.
Black High Tops: a classic pair of high tops has been on heavy rotation for the last year or two. I’ve walked thousands of steps through cities in these and they continue to be a favorite. They run TTS.
A few more tips for building your capsule wardrobe:
- Define your personal style: Before you start selecting items for your capsule wardrobe, take some time to define your personal style. Consider the colors, patterns, and silhouettes that you feel most comfortable and confident in. This will help you choose pieces that you’ll love wearing and that will work well together.
- Focus on quality over quantity: When building a capsule wardrobe, it’s important to look for high quality pieces made with natural fibers that will stand the test of time. While these items may be more expensive upfront, consider the cost per wear.
- Choose versatile pieces: Select items for your Spring capsule wardrobe that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of different outfits. Aim for pieces that can transition seamlessly from day to night and from casual to formal occasions. For example, a trench coat instantly elevates any denim.
- Edit ruthlessly: As you build your capsule wardrobe, be ruthless about editing out items that don’t fit or flatter you, or that don’t align with your personal style. Keep only the pieces that you truly love and that serve a purpose in your wardrobe. This will help you maintain a clutter-free closet and ensure that every item gets regular wear.
I can’t wait to share more about this Spring capsule wardrobe 2024! Check back next week for the first 10 outfit ideas and more to come. Thanks for your support and following along on my ethical fashion journey.
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