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The ultimate summer capsule wardrobe.
With summer just around the corner it’s time to start thinking about summer clothes, old clothing items you want to keep and new items you want to add to your wardrobe. I must admit summer fashion is my least favorite, but I have found that keeping a curated summer capsule wardrobe makes getting dressed in the morning a lot easier and less stressful.
If you have been wanting to start your own summer capsule wardrobe and don’t know where to start then this step-by-step guide will walk you through some of the clothing items worth checking out for a chic and timeless wardrobe.
This post is about building a summer capsule wardrobe.
SUMMER CAPSULE WARDROBE CHECKLIST:
1. Lightweight Button Up Shirt
A lightweight button up shirt is an absolute must-have clothing item you can wear year-round. You can easily style it over a tank, shorts and sandals or with some leggings, sneakers and a baseball cap for a super cute athleisure look. Both of these outfits would make cute casual summer outfits.
Look for:
- Neutral colors
- Lightweight fabrics like cotton and linen
This is a great oversized button up shirt option: Banana Republic Oversized Shirt
Looking for a budget friendly option? This Aerie button up shirt is a great one: Aerie Cover Up Shirt
2. Casual Tee
Don’t underestimate the versatility of a casual tee. A t-shirt can easily be styled with casual everyday outfits or styled for a going out look. You can style a tee with denim shorts and sandals, or you can style it under a spaghetti strap dress for extra coverage.
Definitely a must-have when it comes to summer clothes.
Look for:
- Size and fit
- Sleeve length
- Fabric content
I love the size and fit of Reformation tees, this one is one of my favorites: Reformation Max Slim Tee
3. Minimalist Tank
Just like a casual tee a minimal tank is another really versatile clothing item for summer. Depending on the fabric and style of the tank you could style it with both casual outfits and dressier going out outfits.
For example a ribbed tank would look great with more casual outfits whereas a more structured tank would look great with dressier outfits.
For dressier outfits this Free People one is a great option: Free People Iconic Tank
Looking for something more casual? Skims makes great casual pieces: Skims Cotton Rib Tank
Look for:
- Neckline
- Length (cropped or long)
- Ribbed or plain
4. Linen Blazer
Linen blazers are great for a summer work capsule wardrobe and for casual outfits as well. You can easily throw on an oversized linen blazer over a tank and denim shorts for an elevated everyday look. Linen blazers also look great styled with jeans, skirts, and over dresses.
Both fitted and oversized blazers would be great for summer outfits.
Look for:
- Size and fit (oversized, form-fitting, shoulder pads)
- Length
- Pockets
This Madewell linen blazer is perfect for summer: Madewell Relaxed Blazer
For a slightly more affordable option you could try a linen blend blazer like this one: H&M Linen-Blend Blazer
5. Denim Jacket
Denim jackets are another great clothing item to have in a timeless capsule wardrobe. You could go for a cropped fitted denim jacket or a more oversized one. I personally love an oversized one since it can easily be worn in the fall with a hoodie underneath.
Denim jackets look great over dresses or styled with some denim shorts for a cool denim on denim look.
Look for:
- Denim color
- Size and fit
This oversized denim jacket is perfect for year-round outfits: Pilcro Denim Jacket
6. Cardigan
Cardigans are great for throwing on over dresses and tanks. They are great for when the weather is on the cooler side and when its transitioning to another season. They are perfect for dressy and casual outfits.
A super cute casual outfit you can try out is a tank with denim shorts styled with some sandals and your cardigan.
Look for:
- Neutral color
- Pockets
- Sleeve Length
The brand Everlane has some great neutral colored options: Everlane Cardigan
Looking for a short sleeve cardigan option? This Reformation one is super cute: Reformation Short Sleeve Cardigan
7. Denim Shorts
You can get a lot of outfits out of a plain pair of denim shorts. Pick a pair of denim shorts that don’t have any embellishments so that they surpass trends. You can style a pair of denim shorts with any of the tops listed above with either sandals, kitten heels or sneakers.
Look for:
- Low-rise or high-rise
- Denim color
- No embellishments
These Agolde denim shorts are stylish and timeless: Agolde Denim Shorts
For a more affordable pair of denim shorts these Mango ones are great: Mango Denim Shorts
8. Mini Skirt
A classic mini black skirt is another summer must-have. You can style it with a simple tee and some sandals or loafers for a super cute casual look. You can throw on a denim jacket or a blazer if needed.
Look for:
- Size and fit
- Fabric content
- No embellishments or distressing
Lately I have been buying a lot of mini skirts from Princess Polly and I love the size and fit of them: Princess Polly mini skirt
9. Linen Pants
If you are looking for more work clothing items or ideas for traveling outfits then linen pants are definitely worth checking out. Linen is a great fabric to wear on really got days. Linen pants are also really easy to style. You can style them with a simple tee or tank and some sandals for a casual summer look.
For work you can style your linen pants with a matching linen blazer or a tee and some kitten heels.
Look for:
- Elastic or button closure
- Pockets
- Size and fit (cropped, flare)
These linen pants are perfect for work or for dressier outfits: Banana Republic Wide Leg Linen Pants
Looking for a drawstring linen pant option? These barrel leg pants from Athleta are perfect for casual everyday wear: Athleta Linen Crop Pant
10. Mini Dress
A little black dress is an incredibly versatile clothing item to own. You could wear it to special events, date nights and parties. You could also style it in a more casual way with an oversized jacket worn over it.
In the fall and winter you can layer on tights, cardigans, coats and jackets; all in all a great clothing item to have in your casual capsule wardrobe.
Look for:
- Minimal design
- No embellishments
This is a great mini dress that can be worn in a variety of different ways: French Connection A-Line Dress
11. Midi Dress
A midi dress is a great dress option for work, birthday parties, and weddings. Since they are longer you don’t really have to be super conscious of your dress riding up or anything like that. A midi dress with a more structured fit would be best if you want something you can wear to more formal events.
Look for:
- Shape and fit
- Minimal design
This minimal midi dress from STAUD would be perfect for formal events as well as a work outfit: STAUD Fit & Flare Midi Dress
12. Maxi Dress
Looking for items you can add to your summer capsule wardrobe for travel? A maxi dress is great for a beach vacation and more. For a super versatile maxi dress go for something that isn’t too dressy or too casual.
Look for:
- Fabric content (cotton or linen)
- Minimal design
- Size and fit
This maxi dress from the brand Label of Love is the perfect maxi dress for summer. You can easily wear this to the beach and dress it up with kitten heels: Label of Love Maxi Dress
13. Sandals
Sandals are a great shoe to have to wear with casual outfits. They can be styled with shorts, jeans, skirts and dresses. For a versatile pair of sandals go for something in a neutral color like brown or black.
Look for:
- Color
- Style (flat, minimal embellishments)
These black flip flop sandals with the buckle detail are perfect for summer outfits: Franco Sarto Flip Flop
14. Kitten Heels
For a more elevated casual shoe that you can also style with more formal outfits you can’t go wrong with a kitten heel. Kitten heels look great with dresses, skirts and jeans.
Look for:
- Design & style
- Neutral color
- Comfort
The perfect kitten heels for work outfits: Tory Burch Slingback Mary Jane Kitten Heels
Casual kitten heels for everyday wear: Open Edit Kitten Heel Sandal
15. Sneakers
A pair of white sneakers are great to have for summer outfits. You can style them with dresses, shorts, skirts and more. They are great for casual everyday outfits.
Look for:
- Comfort
- Neutral Color
- Timeless design
These converse sneakers are my personal favorite pair to wear: Converse Platform Sneakers
16. Sunglasses
As far as accessories go you can’t forget about a great pair of sunglasses.
Look for:
- Quality
- Timeless design
- Color (brown or black)
With sunglasses it all comes down to personal preference. I personally love a pair of cat eye sunglasses: Blenders Eyewear Polarized Cat Eye Sunglasses
17. Hat
Sunny days require some type of hat. Floppy hats, bucket hats, cowboy hats and caps are all great options. If you plan on spending a lot of time at the beach then a big floppy hat would be a great option. However, for everyday wear consider something more wearable like a cap or cute bucket hat.
Look for:
- Versatility
- Neutral color
For casual outfits you can’t go wrong with a classic cap: Alo Off Duty Cap
18. Large Tote Bag
Lastly, having a bag big enough to fit all of your essentials is a must-have. Look for something that is durable and stylish especially if you plan on doing a lot of traveling
Look for:
- Size
- Practicality
This Longchamp bag is perfect for summer travels and everyday wear: Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote Bag
This concludes this summer capsule wardrobe guide for beginners.
