Building Your Summer Capsule Wardrobe

Are you ready for outfits that involve less layering and more outdoor fun? Then you’re ready for a summer capsule wardrobe! With a capsule wardrobe, you take the stress out of getting dressed and allow yourself more time to spend at the beach or that backyard barbeque and less time staring at your closet trying to figure out what to wear.

Creating a capsule wardrobe for the summer is easy to do with our capsule wardrobe guide. Here, we’ll help you build your minimalist summer wardrobe by going over the essentials you should include and by sharing outfit ideas for inspiration. Use our handy capsule wardrobe checklist to ensure you have all the pieces you need in your curated closet. Deciding what to wear this summer will be a breeze. Let’s get started!

Summer Capsule Wardrobe Essentials

If you’ve already created your spring capsule wardrobe, you may find that many of the essential items from that season’s capsule also work for your summer capsule. You’ll use the same base capsule collection for each season, which means every capsule is comprised of clothing you love.

Be sure to consider the climate where you live when choosing your summer wardrobe essential pieces. Certain locations have high humidity along with high temperatures, and you’ll want to select fabrics that dry quickly or at least hide perspiration well.

Other places are hot and dry, and the hours of full sunlight may affect your color palette. If summer storms are common where you live, you’ll want to include a raincoat and appropriate shoes for heavy rainfall.  

When you build your summer capsule wardrobe, consider incorporating items like these: 

Tops

• Short-sleeved tees
• Smocked tops
• Neutral tank tops
• Chambray button-up
• Linen button-up
• Eyelet tops

Bottoms

• Light denim
• Denim shorts
• Linen pants
• Light pull-on trousers
• Cropped flare jeans

Skirts and dresses

• Miniskirt
• Mini dress
• Slip dress
• White dress 

Jackets

• Linen blazer
• Denim jacket 

Shoes and accessories

• Tan sandals
• Strappy sandals
• Basket bags
• Tortoiseshell sunglasses
• White sneakers
• Huarache sandals

As you select your capsule essentials with intention, remember to choose the color palette that works best for you, whether that’s a soft summer capsule wardrobe or a true summer capsule wardrobe.

5 Timeless Trends for Summer

While capsule wardrobes are based on articles of clothing that stand the test of time and never seem to go out of style, don’t let that make you feel like including trends in your wardrobe is off the table. Instead, consider trends that maintain their appeal year after year. These 5 timeless trends feel as fresh for a summer capsule wardrobe in 2021 as they will the following year and beyond.  

Breathable, Loose-Fitting Fabrics

Summer is synonymous with warm temps and extra hours of sunshine, which make breathable, loose-fitting fabrics an absolute must. Stay comfortable during the summer months by including clothing made of materials meant for the season. These fabrics are always on trend for summer attire:

• Cotton
• Nylon
• Polyester
• Rayon
• Linen

Dresses

Capable of being styled in a variety of ways, dresses are one of the simplest outfit choices to look put together with very little effort. Style them with flat sandals or cute sneakers for a casual aesthetic or dress them up with jewelry and a wedge sandal.

Excellent for keeping you cool during the summer months, you may find that many of your capsule dresses can also be mixed and matched with items from your winter capsule wardrobe and worn during colder months with tights and boots.

Leather Sandals

Stylish with denim shorts, full-length jeans, skirts, and dresses, leather sandals are the perfect footwear to include in your summer capsule wardrobe. Opt for one pair of flats you can wear with more casual outfits and another pair of heels or wedges that go with something dressier.

Well-Cut Basics

T-shirts, long-sleeves, and tank tops may seem like pieces you don’t need to be picky about, but well-cut basics fit and look better than a generic tee. Include well-tailored basics so you can throw on a comfortable shirt and still look stunning and stylish. These pieces will serve you well and stand the test of time.

White Sneakers

White sneakers are a summer wardrobe trend that will never quit and they can literally be worn with anything – and we do mean anything! Pair them with denim shorts, a midi-dress, a skirt, a romper, jeans, you get the picture. Be sure to include a pair in your summer capsule wardrobe.

Summer Capsule Wardrobe Outfit Ideas

Now for the fun part, combining pieces of your capsule wardrobe into outfits! Once you have all your essential pieces and items based on sustaining trends chosen, it’s time to put things together and effortlessly create your stylish looks. Here are a few outfit ideas to help you get started.

Everyday Casual

An easy look to style with your summer weekend capsule wardrobe is as comfortable as it is casual: simply pair denim shorts with a classic t-shirt and white sneakers. Accessorize with a crossbody, a cute fedora, and a delicate necklace.

At the Office

Co-workers will think you have a much fuller closet than you do when you mix and match outfits from your summer work capsule wardrobe. For a polished look, style trousers with a striped top, and complete the look by adding a linen blazer and wearing leather mules with a small heel.

Going Out

Want to put together an outfit that makes you feel as good as you look? Attain the epitome of summer chic in a flowy slip dress that’s accessorized with chunky jewelry and envy-worthy wedge sandals. Add a classic denim jacket for a layering piece in case the night temperature drops.

Simplify Your Wardrobe for Summer and Beyond

By building a minimalist summer wardrobe you alleviate the stress of getting dressed and fill your closet with items you love. At Dressbarn, you’ll find fashionable women’s clothing, stylish accessories, and everything you need to create a refined closet. Now that you know how to create an easy, breezy summer wardrobe, keep reading to learn what you should include in your fall capsule wardrobe.