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In my last post, we discussed what’s in style for summer 2025. Now that we have that covered, we’ll look at what a Summer Capsule Wardrobe would look like for this summer.
My sample summer capsule wardrobe took into account a few things that are in style, but I also focused on easy pieces that were breathable. Between all of the pieces below, you’ll be able to make up so many outfit combinations, that you’ll have cover everything from running errands to brunch to a work meeting.
Blue Sweater, Long Sleeve White Top, Jean Jacket
Button Up Dress, Navy Dress, White Skirt (Similar)
Yellow Tee (Similar), White Button Up (similar), Navy Tank (Similar), White Tank (Similar), White Vest (Similar)
Denim Shorts, Floral Skort, Pants (Similar)
White Purse, Raffia Purse, Navy Tote
Sandal, Block Heel Sandal, Mesh Mary Janes, Sneakers
Gold Necklace, Beaded Necklace, White Bracelet Set, Navy Bracelet Set
Drop Earrings, Bow Earrings, Mixed Metal Earrings, Mixed Metal Bracelet
Check out more options and suggestions for your capsule!
What Is a Capsule Wardrobe (and Why You Need One)?
What is a capsule wardrobe? Well, I fully broke it down in my Spring capsule post, but tldr: it’s a small collection of pieces that you can wear multiple ways and with multiple combinations. It focuses on keeping your wardrobe more minimal, but still let’s you full embrace your personal style. The perks? Less shopping and less thinking when you’re getting dressed.
2025 Summer Capsule Wardrobe Essentials
Within every capsule wardrobe, there are few key pieces that are great to include. These pieces are versatile and look good on most people. That being said, you don’t need to include something just because it’s on this list! A capsule wardrobe is all about what YOU like to wear and what you’re comfortable in.
Lightweight Button-Down Shirt
I think a button down shirt is always the first thing to find it’s way onto one of these lists. Whether it’s short sleeve, long sleeve, white, blue, or striped, it’s a piece that you can wear multiple ways (and for multiple events! During the summer, you’ll probably want to look for one that’s linen, 100% cotton or slightly oversized to help with breathability.
For my capsule wardrobe, I picked a short sleeve button down and a popover white top. For the outfits below, the tops are interchangeable in most of the looks. However, if I had to narrow it down even more, I would probably keep the short sleeve shirt. The short sleeve can be easily paired with all of the bottoms and I prefer short sleeves during the summer.
High-Waisted Shorts
So this is the perfect example of clothing that would be great in a summer capsule, but I decided to not include in this one. Why? Well, even though high-waisted shorts (especially in linen) are some of the best summer shorts for women, I decided to opt for a skort this year. A skort gives you the more dressed up look, but it’s still as comfortable as a pair of shorts.
I also decided to keep the denim cutoffs in my sample wardrobe because I love this pair of shorts. They have a stretchy (in the back) waistband, so they’re super comfortable. I also can’t resist a pair of denim shorts with a sweater for chilly evenings.
Want to stick to high-waist shorts? No problem! Aim for a more tailored pair that’s linen or cotton (the theme of summer clothing). The more neutral you keep them, the easier they’ll be to mix and match with other pieces. Check out neutral tones like beige, white, navy, or olive.
Easy Summer Dress (or Two)
Confession, I have a tendency to go overboard with dresses in the summer. They’re so comfortable and easy to wear! It’s just one piece and then you’re done. I had a pretty hard time narrowing down the dresses I wanted for this capsule wardrobe. I looked at everything from midi dresses, to spaghetti straps, to mini swing dresses.
Ultimately, I landed on two dresses that could cover work, relaxing, and dressier occasions. If you don’t have any dressy occasions this summer, then you could sub out the navy dress for something a little more relaxed. I actually originally had three dresses, but I decided instead to go for a white midi skirt since there are even more styling options!
(A little styling tip, if you get sick of wearing your loose summer dress the same way, add a belt to give your dress a waist!)
Tank Tops or Fitted Tees
This one is pretty obvious, right? Tanks and tees are the key for an wardrobe. Since it’s summer, I went for three tanks with different vibes and a simple tee. I also used this section as a way to carry over some pieces from my spring wardrobe. I kept the white vest and butter yellow tee since both are still in style and can be used to make some really fun pieces. To balance them out, I added a flowy navy tank and a fitted white tank to give a few more options. I kept all of the colors fairly neutral, but threw in the butter yellow for some fun.
Want to make your tops even more versatile? Play around with keeping them loose in some outfits and or tucked in for other!
Wide-Leg Linen or Cotton Pants
My “summer pants” were another area where I carried over a similar item from the spring. If you’re going to wear pants in the summer, you want to keep them as breathable as possible. This typically means aiming for a wide leg pant that’s made out of linen or cotton.
I went in a slightly different direction for my pants this summer. During the spring, I got this pair of pants from J.Crew and they were so comfortable that I decided to get a second pair in a different color for the summer. They’re perfect because in addition to being comfortable, they’re very lightweight and breathable. I wore them in 85 degree weather the other day with no issues!
I also love having a pair of pants for summer (even though DC gets super hot) because it looks a little more polished, which is great if you have to go into the office. Also, let’s be real, shaving is annoying and I need something to wear when I’m lazy or forgot.
Minimalist Sandals and Mesh Mary Janes
You can’t have a summer wardrobe without sandals, right? Minimalist flat sandals are the easiest and most versatile shoe option. You can get flip flops (obviously), but there are so many great options now that I would steer away from the flip flops. I really love this option or this one.
You can also add something a little strappy-er or metallics to dress you sandals up or down. Want something more neutral? Aim for a black or tan! But if you ask me, I still say that gold is a neutral.
The other big trend this summer? Mesh flats (or more specifically, mesh mary janes). They pair so well with shorts, dresses, and pants, that it’s a great option to include in your wardrobe.
(And yes, jelly sandals are back, but we’re not going to talk about those.)
Versatile Lightweight Jacket or Overshirt
While DC only seems to know one temperature in the summer: hot and humid, most places can actually get chilly at night in the summer! For that reason, you’ll want to have one or two pieces that you can use for layering in the summer. For a summer jacket, I would aim for either a denim jacket or a chore jacket. Prefer a sweater? I love this knit option from J.crew, but a cardigan is a great option as well.
Woven or Canvas Tote Bag
I tend to use the same bags year round, but I do love to throw a woven or raffia bag into the mix for the summer. It’s a great everyday summer bag that can also dress up (or down) an outfit, depending on the bag. It’ll also turn any look into an instant summery outfit.
I also love a canvas tote bag that I can use for everything. Like most people, I love the Boat and Tote and I’ll use it for everything from a grocery bag to my diaper bag (and every option in between). They’re great because they’re more resilient than other bags and can be washed.
Beaded Necklaces, Chic Sunglasses and Sun Hats
You’ve probably noticed by now that I didn’t include any sunglasses or hats in my capsule. That’s for a very good reason: I’m not a summer hat person. To be honest, I also forgot about both when I was picking my accessories. I was so much more excited about the beaded necklaces and bracelets that I forgot about hats and sunglasses! Personally, I just have one or two pairs that I stick to for sunglasses and my hats are really only ever baseball caps. Sorry not sorry I’m boring.
How to Build Outfits from Your Capsule
Now that you’ve picked out the pieces for your capsule wardrobe, let’s look at all of the fun different ways you can put the pieces together. I have about 14 outfits here, but I could have easily done at least 10 more! Here are some easy combinations to help you out:
Button-down + shorts + easy flats = casual cool
White Button Up, Denim Shorts, Raffia Purse, Mesh Mary Janes, Navy Bracelet Set, Mixed Metal Earrings
Dress + heeled sandal + fun bag = dinner-ready (or wedding guest ready!)
Navy Dress, White Purse, Block Heel Sandal, Mesh Mary Janes, Sneakers, Drop Earrings, Mixed Metal Bracelet
Tank + wide-leg pant + light jacket = travel day polish
Jean Jacket, Navy Tank, Pants, Raffia Purse, Sandal, Gold Necklace, White Bracelet Set
Tee + skirt + sneakers = weekend errands
Blue Sweater, Yellow Tee, Raffia Purse, Sneakers, Beaded Necklace, Bow Earrings
Here are even more outfit combinations!
Blue Sweater, Button Up Dress, Raffia Purse, Mesh Mary Janes, Gold Necklace, Mixed Metal Earrings
Jean Jacket, Button Up Dress, Navy Tote, Sneakers, Gold Necklace, Bow Earrings
Blue Sweater, Navy Dress, Raffia Purse, Mesh Mary Janes, Beaded Necklace, Bow Earrings,
Blue Sweater, Floral Skort, Navy Tote, Sneakers, Bow Earrings
Long Sleeve White Top, Pants, White Purse, Mesh Mary Janes, Mixed Metal Earrings, Mixed Metal Bracelet
Blue Sweater, Yellow Tee, Pants, Navy Tote, Sandal, Beaded Necklace, Bow Earrings
White Vest, Pants, White Purse, Block Heel Sandal, Mesh Mary Janes, Bow Earrings, Mixed Metal Bracelet
White Vest, Floral Skort, Raffia Purse, Mesh Mary Janes, Drop Earrings, Mixed Metal Bracelet
Navy Tank, Floral Skort, White Purse, Block Heel Sandal, Gold Necklace, Beaded Necklace, White Bracelet Set, Navy Bracelet Set, Bow Earrings, Mixed Metal Bracelet
Blue Sweater, White Tank, Denim Shorts, Navy Tote, Sandal, Beaded Necklace, White Bracelet Set, Navy Bracelet Set, Bow Earrings
Jean Jacket, White Skirt, Navy Tank, Raffia Purse, Mesh Mary Janes, Beaded Necklace, Bow Earrings
White Skirt, Yellow Tee, Raffia Purse, Sandal, Block Heel Sandal, Mesh Mary Janes, Sneakers
Gold Necklace, White Bracelet Set, Navy Bracelet Set, Mixed Metal Earrings
Final Thoughts: Capsule Wardrobe, Styled Your Way
Remember, not every capsule wardrobe is, or should, be the same! Don’t like floral prints? Swap it out for a big bold print or some polka dots. Hate heels? Don’t include them! Your capsule wardrobe should reflect what YOU love and actually want to wear. Check out even more picks for a summer capsule wardrobe here!
Want help customizing your capsule for summer travel, workwear, or DC humidity? Let’s build a capsule wardrobe together. Book a styling session and I’ll help you create looks you’ll actually wear all season.
