Having endured months of cold weather, followed by a spring that felt more like winter, it's finally starting to feel warm enough to put away the coats and knitwear in exchange for lighter layers.
On a scorching summer day, the last thing anyone wants to do is spend time deliberating over outfit choices. Summer style becomes all about throwing together comfy outfits that are breezy and cool. When you don't want to have too many items cluttering you’re your closet but still want to be able to mix and match to create tons of outfits; a capsule wardrobe is essential.
A capsule wardrobe is especially useful in summer when you need an outfit that won't leave you in a sweaty mess but you don't want to lose your sense of personal style.
Simplifying your wardrobe, especially when the heat kicks in, is liberating. With fewer options to choose from, getting dressed becomes easy, and you can spend less time stressing about how you look and more time soaking up the sunshine.
This is how to create a summer capsule wardrobe with outfits that reflect your personal style, no matter how hot it gets outside.
A Summer Capsule Wardrobe for 2024
- Wrap Top
- Graphic Shirt
- Ruched Blouse
- Statement Shirt
- Oversized Shirt
- Cotton Shirt
- Linen Trousers
- Maxi Skirt
- Midi Skirt
- Gingham Midaxi Dress
- Strappy Dress
- Sleeveless Dress
- Midi Dress
- Midaxi Dress
- Jumpsuit
- Classic Sandals
- Platform Sandals
- Circle Bag
- Xerjoff La Capitale Perfume
- Swallow Necklace
- Hoop Earrings
This is my capsule wardrobe for summer 2024, heavily influenced by the classic outfits from my style inspiration mood board. After experiencing a burst of colour during spring, my outfit choices have reverted back to black.
There's nothing simpler or easier to wear than a black dress, even in summer. Although many people avoid wearing black in hot weather, I've never had a problem with it so long as I stick to lightweight, loose-fitting clothes in natural fabrics.
If you love an all-black outfit but struggle to know what to wear in the heat, my style guides will help.
Fashion has become saturated by an abundance of microtrends that identifying which ones are unique to each season has become increasingly more difficult. When everything is trending, nothing is trending, shifting the focus towards cultivating personal style over fleeting fads.
Having said that, trends can be fun to play with and there are plenty of ways to do it sustainably—namely through thrifting—without losing your sense of style or ending up with a wardrobe that looks and feels outdated after only a few months.
I try to only incorporate trends I believe have the potential to remain in my wardrobe for a long time or can be easily styled differently to avoid looking out of fashion once the trend is over. The fashion trends for summer 2024 that appeal to me the most are embroidered details, gingham prints, and charm jewellery.
The simple outfits that the summer heat demands leaves many people struggling to know what to wear. Accessories are what make summer style more interesting with jewellery being the most versatile choice for any capsule wardrobe.
Sun hats, sunglasses, and sandals are essential but jewellery can be styled in so many ways, from solo chains to layered necklaces to mixing metals. With just a few pieces of jewellery, multiple different looks can be made to suit any outfit.
Xerjoff La Capitale is the perfume of choice for this year's summer capsule. It's a sweet-fruity fragrance with a smooth, creamy blend of peach, vanilla, caramel, rose, saffron, and leather. Samples and decants are available here if you don't want to spring for a full sized bottle.
More affordable alternatives include the KDJ Inspired Shooting Stars La Capitale and the Alternative Fragrance La Capitale dupes. Both have fresh strawberry notes blended with either leather and balsam or ginger and amber. Or there is Lattafa Kashaf with a more spicy floral profile.
Summer Outfit Inspiration
Should you have a capsule wardrobe for each season?
Having a separate capsule wardrobe tailored to each season offers a versatile solution to the ever-changing weather. While seasonal capsules provide a more flexible and creative approach to fashion, this often leads to a larger wardrobe requiring additional storage for off-season items.
On the other hand, a single, year-round capsule wardrobe minimises the hassle of seasonal transitions, which is particularly useful for those with limited wardrobe space. Although this approach relies on living in a mild climate with consistent weather to work long-term.
Whether to have seasonal capsules or a year-round wardrobe is a personal decision that depends on personal style preferences, climate variability, and lifestyle demands. The key is to find a system that works best for you.
What doesn't count in a capsule wardrobe?
The focus of a capsule wardrobe is on curating a collection of essential and versatile clothing options that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits. The goal is to create a streamlined and functional wardrobe that reflects personal style while minimising excess and clutter. As such, certain items typically don't count towards the core capsule wardrobe.
Any items that serve a specific function separate from daily attire are often excluded, such as activewear, loungewear, sleepwear, and special occasion outfits. Foundational pieces, such as underwear, bras, socks, and tights, are also excluded. Accessories including jewellery, scarves, belts, hats, and handbags, are often considered supplementary and may not be counted as part of the core capsule wardrobe. However, they play a crucial role in adding versatility and personal style to outfits.