Building a spring capsule wardrobe isn’t all that different from filling your closet with wardrobe essentials; many of the building blocks overlap, which means you’re probably already halfway there.
What you’ll find in the ultimate spring capsule wardrobe? The usual suspects, for sure: white T-shirts, black and white tank tops, great jeans, white sneakers, perhaps an affordable designer bag. New additions for the season come in the form of familiar silhouettes—think a silk slip or cotton spring dress, a denim midi-skirt, throw-on-and-go outerwear done up in lighter-weight fabrics (or at least ones more attuned to spring’s mercurial temperatures). Shoes, of course, get a refresh too—now’s the time to wear those open-back mules and ballet flats you’ve been stashing in boxes under the bed.
The key really is to curate your wardrobe around a handful of pieces you can wear over and over again without getting bored or tired of them—think less but better, without having to spend a ton either on quality staples. Below you’ll find some tried-and-true favorites that Glamour editors rely on for their spring capsule wardrobe.
A seasonal refresh—or restock—adds up, so save when you shop on your spring capsule wardrobe essentials with these Madewell, Nordstrom, Target, and Saks Fifth Avenue promo codes, as well as coupons from Shopbop and Net-a-Porter.
The white tee
You’ll wear a white T-shirt all the time—the best move is to invest in a couple at once so you can rotate them out without having to do laundry every single day (unless that’s your thing, in which case, right on). Amazon, Target, Aerie, and Uniqlo have some of the best to buy in bulk.
Hanes Essentials T-Shirt (4-Pack)
Fruit of the Loom Men’s Coolzone Crewneck T-Shirt (5-Pack)
Uniqlo U Crewneck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
Aerie Basic Crewneck T-Shirt
The minimalist tank top
Baggy cargo pants, satin maxiskirts, pleated trousers—there’s something about a tank top that makes everything you wear look that much cooler. (Don’t believe us? Here’s proof.) A white tank is timeless, but Buck Mason and Éterne have high-quality styles in neutrals and earth tones that look great and can hold up to countless washes.
Madewell Brightside Cutaway Tank
Buck Mason Surplus Rib Scoop-Neck Tank Top
A New Day Slim-Fit Ribbed Tank Top (2-Pack)
Eterne Cropped Scoop-Neck Tank
The white sneakers
Two words: convenience and versatility. Subtle Supergas and Vejas are royals favorites for anchoring a ’fit, though if you actually want your workout shoe to stand out, Asics and Hokas are loved by editors for being comfy and stylish.
Superga 2750 Cotu Classic Sneakers
Veja Esplar Low-Top Sneakers
Asics Gel-kayano 14 Sneakers
Hoka Bondi 8 Running Shoes
The workhorse jacket
Denim jackets are the happy medium when you’re not in the mood for leather or structured outerwear.
Alex Mill Britt Work Jacket in Denim
J.Crew Classic Denim Jacket
The cool mule
Leather or suede—an open-back shoe is just for now. Staud’s Janine mule is perfect for the office, while Birkenstock’s Boston clog will get tons of mileage on the weekend.
Staud Janine Mules
Birkenstock Boston Boston Soft Footbed Clogs
The modern ballet flat
For those who prefer a closed-shoe style, consider the ballet flat—romantic and youthful with a strap (maybe even in raffia), or sleek and sculptural with a pointy toe.
Loeffler Randall Leonie Crochet Raffia Ballet Flats
Aeyde Kirsten Leather Ballet Flats
The midi-dress
Just right for warmer spring days, the midi-dress has endless appeal. We’re loving J.Crew’s cutout style for any kind of dressy event, and Boden’s shirtdress when the occasion calls for a little more coverage.
J.Crew Collection Side-Cutout Midi Dress
Boden Pleated Skirt Shirtdress
The sultry slip dress
You probably already have a black slip in your closet, so why not branch out? Dôen’s ruffled polka-dot style is what bucolic dreams are made of, while Aritzia’s white midi leans into the classic ’90s silhouette without being too sheer.
Dôen Calsi Ruffled Polka-Dot Silk Midi-Dress
Wilfred Only Slip Midi-Dress
The effortless shirt
Tuck it into pants, style it unbuttoned over a tank or slip dress, or throw it casually over a high-waist bikini as a beach coverup—there’s no wrong way to wear a button-down shirt.
J.Crew Garçon Cotton Poplin Shirt
100% Organic Cotton Big Shirt
The striped knit
Coastal grandmas, unite! The Breton stripe takes on many forms, but we’re loving these two lightweight sweaters in particular. They’re what you’ll reach for when the temps don’t call for jackets but it’s not quite sleeveless weather just yet.
Naadam Cashmere Striped Boyfriend Cardigan
Buck Mason Soft Spun Cotton Long-Sleeve Crew Sweater
The designer bag
There’s s lots of talk right now about stealth wealth and quiet luxury—especially when it comes to accessories—but investing in a well-made handbag that isn’t excessively branded or trend-driven is nothing new. Here are two elevated designs you’ll wear for years to come.
Cuyana Oversized Double Loop Bag
Advene The Age Bag
The canvas tote
Whether or not your Saturday afternoons are dedicated to park hangs, a durable canvas bag (that’s not the flimsy branded tote you got with your last order) is a necessity. Bonus points if it has zippers and can be monogrammed, like L.L. Bean’s.
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Zip-Top Bag
Tombolo x Hôtel Magique Dive Beach Tote
The denim skirt
The denim skirt (midi or maxi lengths preferred) looks great paired with almost everything in this article—sneakers, ballet flats, T-shirts, and striped knits. Though between us, it’s hard to miss when styling this piece.
Agolde Hilla Denim Skirt
Mango Slit Denim Skirt
The cargo skirt
Pockets, pockets, pockets! The cargo skirt bypasses the slip (which you probably already own anyway) to stake its claim as a contemporary must-have. We love how effortless it looks with a simple tee or tank.
Zara Gabardine Patchwork Skirt
Staud Justine Cargo Midi-Skirt
The baggy jeans
Skinny jeans might make a comeback by fall, but until then, baggy styles still reign surpreme. The way to wear them? Low-slung and puddling over your shoes—don’t mind the tears.
Everlane The Baggy Jeans
Madewell Garment-Dyed Low-Slung Straight Cargo Pants
The white jeans
As much as we love a white-on-white moment in winter, the look is especially fresh in spring. Vintage-inspired jeans designer Still Here has a great high-rise style if you like your whites on the cream and eggshell side, while Agolde’s mid-rise jean is more of a true white. Should you get both? Probably.
Still Here Worn-In Childhood High-Rise Jeans
Agolde ’90s Crop Mid-Rise Loose Straight Jeans
The wedding guest dress
Celebratory lunches and dinners stack up from April through October, so start your search for the perfect wedding guest dress with these two wear-again favorites from L’Agence and Reformation.
L’Agence Clea Satin Slip Dress
Reformation Frankie Silk Maxidress
The sunglasses
No squinting in these bad boys.
Le Specs Outta Love Sunglasses
Lu Goldie Jeanne Sunglasses
The packable sun hat
A cute and travel-friendly summer hat is just what’s needed for your upcoming OOO days.
Janessa Leone Felix Bucket Hat
Madewell Packable Braided Straw Hat
Not your grandma’s pearls
There are plenty of noteworthy spring fashion trends, but pearls stand out for getting a particularly modern twist with the addition of silver chains, double strands, and a mishmash of round and natural pearls.
Justine Clenquet Taylor Choker
Adina Eden Double-Strand Pearl Necklace
