Basic Summer Capsule Wardrobe

Basic Summer Capsule Wardrobe

Hello! I’m not quite sure if I’ve ever created a capsule wardrobe here on Affordable by Amanda yet. Typically I share try-on hauls, styled looks, and affordable fashion finds, but I don’t think I’ve ventured out into this territory!

Summer fashion feels incredibly close, especially with June right around the corner. Even though it’s my job as a fashion content creator to buy from various retailers and share what’s new, I do see the appeal in creating a solid capsule wardrobe filled with the essentials.

A summer capsule wardrobe came to mind the other day while I was browsing on Pinterest. I saw numerous capsule wardrobe pins appear on my profile and I felt like it could be helpful to make my own!

My style incorporates a blend of feminine, girly, and boho elements. For this reason, I catered my summer capsule wardrobe to feel authentic to Affordable by Amanda. A capsule wardrobe allows you to mix and match tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories to put together multiple looks with only a few pieces.

Capsule wardrobes are excellent for those of us who want to wear stylish clothing without cluttering up our closets with random things. It’s true that I try out a lot of clothing for my blog, but I seriously only hold onto the best basics to wear again and again every season! Of course, if I find a stunning printed piece I’ll try to hold onto it for a special occasion.

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In the summer my goal is to find the best, most comfortable linen shorts/pants to style with fun tops. I also look for neutral tops (bodysuits, tank tops) to style with a few different bottoms (paperbag shorts, white jeans). I am excited to share my basic summer capsule wardrobe with you today to help you craft your own capsule wardrobe for summer!

Tops

Basic Cotton Tank Top

A super simple basic to have in your summer capsule collection: a cotton tank top. If you don’t mind wearing white, I suggest opting for this simple color! Basic cotton tank tops are a must-have for any summer capsule. Personally, I pick up a new cotton tank from Target or Walmart prior to the start of each summer season.

Short-Sleeve Bodysuit

Another easy staple to mix and match with is a neutral-colored short-sleeve bodysuit. I’ve had the same tan bodysuit from Abercrombie for 2+ years now and it’s held up in the wash. If the Abercrombie bodysuits are out of your price range then I suggest looking at the Sofia Vergara collection at Walmart for less expensive bodysuits.

Knit Top (Optional, Bonus Item)

Alright I couldn’t NOT include a fun bonus item for this summer capsule collection! I found a cute pink crochet knit tank top (as seen above in the tops section) at Walmart and felt like it would work well into this style guide. It’s an *optional* piece because the rest of the capsule collection would work perfectly fine without it, but I do like how it’s a trendy item to toss into the mix.

Linen Button Down Shirt

Linen everything during the summertime, friends! Find yourself a linen button down shirt to fit into your wardrobe as a top AND double as a swimsuit cover-up. Upon visiting Old Navy the other week, I found my ideal striped linen button down shirt. You can also easily wear a simple white tank top and then use the linen shirt as a “jacket” over it.

Puff Sleeve Printed Top

After gathering your basic summer tops, be sure to toss in a fun printed one. For me, I always look for a pretty floral top. Puff sleeves have been a major trend over the last few years which is why my printed floral top (as seen above) features this detail.

Styling Summer Tops Multiple Ways

Bottoms

White Jeans

You’ll rarely see me in a pair of denim jeans in the summer. I tend to switch out my dark wash denim for a white pair of straight-leg or skinny jeans. White jeans are perfect for the hot summer days ahead. You can mix and match all of the tops in this capsule wardrobe to look fantastic with white jeans!

Linen Pants

Linen fabrics are naturally breathable. Year after year I personally stock up on both linen pants and shorts. Linen has moisture-wicking properties that make wearing this fabric more enjoyable in the summertime heat. I suggest looking for neutral linen pants to have in your summer capsule wardrobe like these linen pants from Old Navy.

Linen Shorts

Right now in my own wardrobe I have a few solid pairs of linen shorts from Walmart and Old Navy. Tan or white linen shorts are ideal to have in your summer capsule collection.

Styling More Looks: From Day To Night

 

Denim Cut-Off Shorts

Keep things casual with a pair of denim shorts in your summer wardrobe. Choose your favorite wash and style. If you are looking for the best denim shorts, check out my blog post where I break down my top picks along with photos of me wearing each denim short.

Paperbag Shorts

A super flattering type of short that I recommend for your wardrobe are paperbag shorts. These high-waisted shorts typically feature a tie at the top to form a chic bow.

Mini Skirt

I decided to add a mini skirt to this summer capsule collection because it can dress up any simple top. I found a gorgeous white eyelet mini skirt from Nordstrom for this specific collection, too.

Dresses

Printed Dress

Summer special occasions are the right time to pull out a fun, printed dress. You just need one of these dresses for your summer capsule collection! I found the one featured in the collage at Express. I love the halter neckline and floral print of it so much!

White Cotton Maxi Dress

Add more white to your summer wardrobe with a long white cotton maxi dress. I’ve found a few good ones at Walmart recently. In a pinch, you can wear a long white maxi dress with a gold necklace, sun hat, and quilted heels for a classy summer look.

Puff Sleeve Mini Dress

Not only should you have a maxi dress in your summer wardrobe, but you should have a mini dress, too. You can keep things easy by finding a solid colored mini dress. Check out places like Abercrombie & Fitch for high-quality mini dresses like this sassy pink one.

Sleeveless Tank Dress

Another type of dress to include in your capsule is a sleeveless tank dress. On Amazon I found the PERFECT neutral tiered sleeveless dress!

Style Guide: How to Wear Dresses from the Capsule Wardrobe

 

Shoes

Quilted Heels

In the summer, I recommend finding a comfortable block heel to pair with dressier looks. Most of the “night” out looks that I put together here include a brown quilted block heel. One of my favorite quilted block heels are these from Amazon in the white color for under $50.

Brown Strappy Sandals

For the daytime. one can get away with wearing strappy sandals. A great neutral strappy sandal is necessary for casual outfits. It’s up to you whether you want white, tan, or black sandals for your capsule. Personally, I own a lot of white and tan sandals myself.

Accessories

Straw Woven Bag

No summer feels complete without a straw bag! Amazon has some affordable straw bags for you to choose from.

Quilted Crossbody Bag

Feel more dressed up at night with a quilted crossbody bag. One of my favorite finds this spring was a chevron quilted crossbody bag in a light beige tone.

Sun Hat

You can order sun hats virtually anywhere online these days to prepare for the summer. Amazon and Walmart have the best selection of affordable straw or rattan sun hats.

Sunglasses

The BP. department at Nordstrom carries trendy and inexpensive sunglasses. Look at these tortoise shell square sunnies for $15. A light-colored pair of angular sunglasses that I love from Express are also inexpensive under $30.

Gold Earrings

A simple pair of gold earrings can be worn during the day or night. One of my favorite jewelry brands is Kendra Scott. I own quite a few classic gold earrings from Kendra Scott.

Gold Necklace

Two of my favorite gold necklaces are from Amazon. Dainty necklaces are what make up most of my jewelry. This initial necklace is a recent purchase of mine and has a beautiful crystal cubic zirconia pattern around the initial center letter “A”.