These 10 Items Make for a Stylish Spring Capsule Wardrobe

While winter and summer are all well and good, we're of the opinion that the in-between seasons of spring and autumn are the most exciting to dress for. And, naturally, given the time of year we currently find ourselves in, we're here to talk about the former.

Spring allows us to start ushering our favourite pieces from our warm-weather wardrobes back into our outfits, all the while comfortably relying on the winter items we can't bear to part with just yet. As such, you actually don't need to invest in a colossal amount of new clobber for spring, but a few new styling ideas can't hurt. 

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(Image credit: @brittanyxavier)

Rest assured that for spring's wardrobe reshuffle, you needn't concern yourself with anything other than 10 carefully picked items. Below you'll find everything you need for your spring 2020 capsule wardrobe. So keep scrolling to see the effective spring wardrobe that will do all the hard work for you, and shop our favourite pieces for each of the 10 elements.

1. LIGHTWEIGHT SUITING

Don't worry—the velvet suit you invested in last year will still serve you well from September onward, but for the warmer months, a lighter style, perhaps in linen and cotton, will serve you well and won't overheat you. For an homage to the runway, we suggest snapping up a pastel or muted option. 

2. THONG SANDALS

One of the leading sandal trends for 2020 is thong sandals, which shouldn't come as a huge surprise seeing as just about every other minimal '90s trend has already made a comeback. While shoppable styles are still somewhat thin on the ground, Net-a-Porter assures us it has 36 such pairs landing throughout spring. 

3. BRIGHT LEATHER OUTERWEAR

Leather might be considered a wintry fabric, but thanks to a fresh new colour palette, leather outerwear has never felt more spring-like. Wear it now with a chunky knit and jeans, then flung over slinky slip dresses with espadrilles later on. 

4. WHITE DRESS

White dresses are always a warm-weather style mainstay, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't consider the new options that are landing in new-in sections. Simple but far from boring, white frocks with something about them—an oversize silhouette, a gathered sleeve, sheer details—work hard in your wardrobe.

5. POLO SHIRT

The preppy polo shirt is seriously chic, with everyone from Bottega Veneta to & Other Stories already serving up their own polo options. Wear with straight-leg jeans and chunky trainers for a relaxed but stylised look. 

6. BERMUDA SHORTS

Mini frocks were all the rage on the runways, but shorts? Bermuda styles that graze the knee are where it's at.

7. CHAIN NECKLACES

Having been somewhat of a microtrend over the last few seasons, chain necklaces are finally having their day in the sun. They were apparent on just about every runway you can think of, but don't worry—there are plenty of high-street options out there, too. 

8. SOMETHING POLKA-DOT

Polka dots made a not-so-quiet comeback last year, with Zara's iconic midi dress proving to be one of the most sought-after buys of 2019. As such, polkas are still going strong, only this time around you'll find spots of various sizes set against just about every hue you can think of. 

9. RATTAN BAGS

It's hard to believe that perhaps, four years ago, basket bags weren't really a thing. Now, we've been treated to just about every woven iteration we can think of, with spring/summer 2020 set to be all about rattan textures. 

10. RACER VESTS

Simple, yes, but don't let that fool you. Much like the white dress, our jersey basics have been elevated thanks to the teeniest of updates—a racer back. Wear with leather trousers or your favourite jeans for pared-back perfection. 

This post was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Next: 5 Influencers Just Told Me the 8 Items in Their Dream Capsule Wardrobes

Opening Images: @monikh/@charlottekuhrt/@brittanyxavier/@heartzeena

Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.