Spring Capsule Wardrobe Checklist: 50 outfit ideas
If you follow me on Instagram or read the newsletter, you've probably seen a bit of my spring capsule wardrobe already.
Like all my capsule wardrobes, this one can be called a perfect spring capsule wardrobe because of my particular spring capsule wardrobe checklist.
My lifestyle, work and environment dictate my personal style and in this instance my spring style. Yours will be totally different, but if you want a perfect capsule wardrobe you can follow the steps below and get spring outfit ideas in your own personal style or color type.
The fashion tips you'll learn can help you with other capsule wardrobes as well, not just your spring wardrobe.
You can receive weekly styling tips, capsule wardrobe examples and sustainable fashion knowledge by subscribing to my newsletter.
Step 1: Lifestyle Analysis
Before you even start putting together your spring outfits, do a lifestyle analysis.
A lifestyle analysis is an overview of all the activities that you will do over the next 3 months or season.
You might get advice that steers you towards items like a denim jacket, faux leather leggings, a floral dress, and other particular clothing items.
If your particular needs, type of work, and weather do not fit, you will just be buying clothing you will never touch.
If you get lots of windy weather - which I don't - then a good quality trench coat is a piece I would suggest investing in. You will wear it for many years to come, so why not?
You might want to take a look at your winter capsule before you buy anything new. I'm always surprised at the amount of money the Wonder Wardrobe capsule system allows me to save.
You probably wear jeans and have some shirt dresses that can easily make the transition to your spring capsule wardrobe.
Step 2: Mix & Match Tops and Bottoms
Once you understand how many outfit combinations you can make for all your lifestyle needs, it's time to look at how many tops, bottoms, skirts and dresses you have.
If you've taken the Style Harmony Class, you know what styles make you look your best. The same goes for your personal color type and color palette.
Knowing these two things is crucial to turning your tops and bottoms into stylish outfits.
The colors you wear next to your face can make a huge difference in how you appear to others. If you've got your color type right, the colors of your tops do more than match your bottoms. They literally make you look full of energy, more vibrant, and overall attractive.
For extra style points pay attention to stylistic details such as volume, shape, cut, and materials of your tops and bottoms. You want to aim for harmony here.
If you want to master these stylistic details I suggest you take the Body Harmony Class. It will teach you how to dress your unique features to perfection. You will also learn what type of shoes and outfits go together better than ever before.
Presuming you already know your personal style and color type, the next step you want to take is a deep dive into your previous capsule wardrobes. For this spring capsule wardrobe, I made sure to check my previous winter and summer capsules.
Step 3: Outfit Ideas for Dressier Work Days
Perfect outfits for Client work, Client meetings, Presentations, and Shooting Videos.
The first category that I need to consider for my lifestyle outfits is the work ones. These outfits are different from the next outfit category because they are a bit dressier. I will need outfits for working with clients or client meetings.
As a personal stylist and shopper, I meet women and we go shopping so I need to look presentable yet approachable.
In this category, I've also included outfits that I will wear during public speeches or presentations, like the one I had this year on sustainable fashion at Universidade Lusiada do Porto.
The last sub-category here is outfits that I will be wearing when shooting videos for Youtube or the Wonder Wardrobe classroom.
To do this correctly you should consider all the work events you will be going to this season. How would you like to be perceived by your customers, clients, colleagues, or managers? If you're only doing work from home, then this
Step 4: Outfit Ideas for Casual Work Days
Perfect outfits for WFH, desk work, editing videos and shopping for clients.
This category is mostly comprised of work-from-home outfits, so the aim here is to feel energised but still comfortable enough to sit or stand at my desk for long hours.
For client video calls I will keep some of the tops from the previous category so I can still look professional.
I've done several work from home capsules that you should check out. The type of work you do, the amount of energy you want to get from your outfit, and the comfort levels you need should all be considered when you put together these outfits.
Step 5: Add missing clothing items
Most styling advice out there will put this step first. I prefer to put it almost last because I've slowly invested in my clothes and they look good even years later.
My personal style hasn't changed, my lifestyle hasn't changed so why go spend money on things I don't need? The only thing that has changed a bit is the weather. But as you can see from these examples, I can do a lot with what I have and get a perfect spring capsule wardrobe.
In order to understand what new clothes I had to buy, I first needed to understand what clothes I can actually wear this Spring.
I took a look at my summer and winter capsules and took a few items from both. When I combined all of them, I understood that what I'm missing are only 2 items.
One of the new clothing items I've added is this second-hand white blazer. It goes great with the Portuguese spring and it looks great as a layering piece.
The second item I went for is this colourful sweatshirt. It boosts my energy, it's warm enough for an evening walk around Lisbon and I made sure to match the colors it has with the rest of my bottoms.
Whatever new items you decide to add to your spring capsule wardrobe, make sure they increase the number of outfits you can create, before spending any money.
If you're having trouble finding great clothing, just check out the Ethical Shopping Guides I've put together. They will save you tons of time and money while being kind to the planet.
Step 6: Update Your Outfit Planner and Capsule Wardrobe Overview
All of these outfits would have been lost in my closet or stored up in my Bento Bags had it not been for my trusty Outfit Planner.
It's almost impossible to keep track of my yearly capsules and individual items. I don't like clutter so I always pack up my clothes and store them out of sight once the season is over.
That's when the Outfit Planner comes out. I have it digitized on my phone, but I know Wonder Wardrobe students which simply print them and pin them inside their closets.
Before I've started taking clothes out, mixing and matching new outfits for the spring season, I made sure to check my outfit planner and see what is available to me. Some people call this shop your closet. I love it!
I always forget some great pieces I've worn years ago. There's a particular kind of joy in finding old items and giving them a new purpose. Whatever works for you to index your outfits and capsules, I suggest you do it.
Having an Outfit Planner has saved many of my students from impulse shopping and time-consuming searches.
Instead, it has given them a clear picture of what they can wear for any occasion.
The Wonder Wardrobe Course has a special class dedicated to all the software you can use on your phone or computer to quickly put together your Outfit Planner.
My Perfect Spring Capsule Wardrobe
It took me around one day to put together the 50 outfits that I will be wearing this Spring. I've saved a lot of money by only buying two new items - one is actually second hand. Here is my spring capsule wardrobe.
50 outfits is exactly how many pieces I need for my lifestyle over the next 3 months. Some of these outfits will probably make the transition to my summer capsule if the weather doesn't get too hot.
As you've probably noticed, I haven't talked about trends and must-have items for this spring capsule. I don't believe in such things.
I believe in personal style not letting someone else decide what I should wear and when. That's the beauty of knowing your style, colors, goals, and values. It frees you from the influence of brands that are constantly trying to sell you things. This spring capsule wardrobe proves my point.
If your lifestyle doesn't undergo tremendous changes, why should your closet? That’s it for now. Receive weekly styling tips, capsule wardrobe examples, and sustainable fashion knowledge by subscribing to my newsletter.
