This marks my first time attempting to build a capsule wardrobe. It’s something I’ve been asked for many times over the years and has been hard for me to wrap my mind around. If you’re not familiar with the concept of a capsule wardrobe it is a blend of clothes that all go together seamlessly. The colors and prints harmonize, making for a wide variety of outfits from just a few items. You can use this as a foundation of basics or for streamlining your wardrobe and having fewer things in your closet. For me personally, it’s a foundational thing, the items in my capsule wardrobe are my most worn and most versatile pieces. I also chose items that many of you told me on Instagram were your most worn items in the spring and summer when building this capsule wardrobe.
Petite Friendly Spring Capsule Wardrobe 45+ Outfits
My capsule ended up being around 22 pieces including the shoes. I photographed 30 outfits for this post but my video has I believe around 48 outfit combinations. You can probably even make more than that from these basics! This capsule only includes my casual style, I’m planning to make a separate post about work outfits.
Spring Capsule Wardrobe
I started with a few different bottoms, then added in tops and jackets that would go with each of them. I also kept the shoes simple and only wore four different pairs for this post. You can really take it to three if you wanted to.
Sizing: I’m 4’10” around 105lbs. I’ll share what size I’m wearing in each item below.
Bottoms
Denim Shorts 0
I’m wearing a pair from Old Navy that has been my most worn and favorite of all. This pair is also a great option if you’re looking for a different style.
White Denim Shorts 24
My exact pair is selling out, but this pair is another option.
Non-Distressed Jeans Petite 24
I love my Madewell jeans because they don’t stretch out and don’t really fade. However, another great petite option that’s a little less expensive is the high-rise jegging at AE.
White Jeans Petite 24
My white jeans are also from Madewell and they’re the combination I’ve been looking for, for a while. They’re mid-rise and comfortable, not see-through, and not distressed at all. AE also has great petite-friendly white jeans for a less expensive option.
Mini Skirt XXS
I chose the printed navy skirt I shared in my J.Crew Factory try-on last week, but any neutral-colored mini skirt will do! I like that you can easily dress a skirt up and down.
Linen Shorts XXS
Linen shorts are great for hot days when you want extra comfort. I love the seaside shorts from J.Crew and have them in several colors. I chose the olive pair for this post, but I could see a tan, black or navy pair looking great too.
T-Shirt Dress Petite XXS
So many of you said you wore a t-shirt dress a lot in the summer so I was sure to include one. Although it isn’t the most versatile of the items I chose, it is comfortable and can still be dressed up and down. My exact dress is from Banana Republic last year, but I’m linking a Banana Republic Factory version from this year. Based on measurements it should fit the same. I ordered the gray version to try!
Tops
Chambray Sleeveless Top Petite XXS
A chambray sleeveless top is versatile, and I love the fit of this one. I chose to include a button up style shirt that can dress up any of the bottoms. You can wear chambray with denim, but I personally don’t love the way it looks so I mostly wear this one with colored and white bottoms.
Printed Blouse Petite XS
I chose this top mainly because it is one I have that’s in stock and shoppable and represents the style I think works well in a capsule. The boho-style blouses with billowy sleeves look great with jeans and shorts and can dress up any outfit! So if this one, in particular, isn’t your style any printed boho style top would work!
White Halter Tank Petite XXS
The halter tank tops at LOFT hold a strong place in my wardrobe. They’re fitted so they tuck in well if you want to, and they also add a little polish to an outfit. I wear a cami under my white one because I find it to be slightly see-through despite the fact that it’s thick. To get a racerback to work with a cami I wear a bra that has a j-hook in the back so I can look it through the straps and pull them together.
V-Neck T-Shirt XS
A v-neck t-shirt gives a different neckline than the halter tank and is a little more relaxed. I wore a white one, but a gray one would also look great with these outfits. A lot of you said you wore a gray t-shirt a lot, and I realized I don’t even own a gray v-neck t-shirt! I’m always gravitating to white but gray is a beautiful neutral.
Tank Top XS
I also included a tank top that’s comfortable but has a great fit and a different color to mix in the outfits. I chose a red/rust one because it blended well with the navy and olive accents I had in the other things.
Striped T-Shirt XXS
A blue and white or black and white striped top that goes with a lot. You’ll definitely get a ton of wear out of one!
Cream Sweatshirt XS
I chose this cream sweatshirt because I wear it a lot and it’s really versatile. For the up and down weather of spring it’s been great and can be worn with all of the bottoms, even the dress and the skirt!
Jackets/Toppers
We’re getting into the season where it will be too hot to wear a jacket, but since this capsule is technically about spring I wanted to include them. I added in a kimono because those are great as a summer layer!
Olive Jacket Petite XXS
You can tell this is one of my most worn things without me even telling you by how much I show it on the blog. It’s truly one of my favorite layers and olive seems to go with just about everything!
Denim Jacket Petite XS
My exact denim jacket is a few years old, but I’m linking this year’s version of it. I chose a version that isn’t distressed because I felt like it mixed better with the style of the other things I picked out.
Anorak Jacket Petite XS
A raincoat is an essential part of any wardrobe in the spring so I was sure to include this one! I don’t think it makes the biggest fashion statement or anything like that, but I do really like wearing it on rainy or cool spring days and included a few outfits with it.
Kimono
Kimonos aren’t always easy to find when you’re petite. I look for the ones that are shorter on the model and they’ll be more like a mid to full length on me. They’re a great summer layer and can be worn not just how I styled it here but also over simple t-shirt dresses.
Shoes
Simple Sandal 5.5
I chose my Tory Burch Miller Sandals as a simple neutral sandal, but you can wear any nude/tan flat sandal and get the same look. My exact pair is the color makeup and I sized up 1/2 size.
Studded Sandals 5
I also chose my Travel sandals for this post because I like the little bling they add to an outfit. If you wanted to cut out some shoes I would think you could choose either sandal option and wear them with any of the outfits.
Wedges 5
I always have a pair of wedges in my wardrobe and tend to wear them if I want to feel a little more dressed up. I don’t wear them to run errands necessarily but maybe out to dinner or something like that. My exact pair is from Target and is true to size. They have rubbed my ankles a little in the breaking-in period just to warn you.
Sneakers 5
I wore two different sets of sneakers in the post, but you really just need one. I love the versatility of a classic white sneaker, but the printed one I wore adds a little something to the outfits.
Accessories
I’ll even mention my accessories. I kept those simple also and chose one drop earring and one stud earring. I basically wear the larger earrings when I want to look more dressed up and the stud earring when I want to be a little more dressed down. I also wore a headband, hat, and a necklace. As much as I love to shop I’m a firm believer in keeping things simple and I don’t think you need tons and tons of accessories to make your outfits pop.
30 Outfits
White Denim Shorts 24 | White Shorts Option XXS | Printed Blouse Petite XS | Studded Sandals 5
Denim Shorts 0 | Cream Sweatshirt XS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings
Denim Shorts 0 | Cream Sweatshirt XS | Anorak Jacket Petite XS | Simple Sandal 5.5
Mini Skirt XXS | White Halter Tank Petite XXS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings
Mini Skirt XXS | White Halter Tank Petite XXS | Olive Jacket Petite XXS | White Sneaker Option | Earrings
White Denim Shorts 24 | White Shorts Option XXS | White Halter Tank Petite XXS | Olive Jacket Petite XXS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings
White Jeans Petite 24 | Tank Top XS | Wedges 5 | Earrings
White Jeans Petite 24 | White Halter Tank Petite XXS | Kimono | Wedges 5 | Earrings
Denim Shorts 0 | White Halter Tank Petite XXS | Kimono | Studded Sandals 5 | Earrings
Chambray Sleeveless Top Petite XXS | White Denim Shorts 24 | White Shorts Option XXS | Studded Sandals 5 | Earrings
Chambray Sleeveless Top Petite XXS | White Denim Shorts 24 | White Shorts Option XXS | Olive Jacket Petite XXS | White Sneaker Option | Sneakers 5 | Earrings
Chambray Sleeveless Top Petite XXS | Linen Shorts XXS | Simple Sandal 5.5
Linen Shorts XXS | White Halter Tank Petite XXS | Wedges 5 | Necklace
Linen Shorts XXS | Striped T-Shirt XXS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings | Necklace
White Jeans Petite 24 | Striped T-Shirt XXS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings | Necklace
White Jeans Petite 24 | Striped T-Shirt XXS | Olive Jacket Petite XXS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings | Necklace
Linen Shorts XXS | V-Neck T-Shirt XS | Denim Jacket Petite XS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Necklace
Denim Shorts 0 | V-Neck T-Shirt XS | Olive Jacket Petite XXS | White Sneaker Option | Sneakers 5 | Necklace
Denim Shorts 0 | Tank Top XS | Anorak Jacket Petite XS | White Sneaker Option | Sneakers 5 | Earrings
White Denim Shorts 24 | White Shorts Option XXS | Tank Top XS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings | Necklace
White Denim Shorts 24 | White Shorts Option XXS | Tank Top XS | Denim Jacket Petite XS | Wedges 5 | Necklace
Mini Skirt XXS | Tank Top XS | Denim Jacket Petite XS | Wedges 5 | Earrings | Necklace
Mini Skirt XXS | Tank Top XS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings | Necklace
Jeans Petite 24 | Tank Top XS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings | Necklace
White Jeans Petite 24 | Printed Blouse Petite XS | Denim Jacket Petite XS | Wedges 5 | Earrings
Chambray Sleeveless Top Petite XXS | Mini Skirt XXS | Studded Sandals 5 | Earrings
T-Shirt Dress Petite XXS | Olive Jacket Petite XXS | Studded Sandals 5 | Earrings | Necklace
T-Shirt Dress Petite XXS | Cream Sweatshirt XS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings
T-Shirt Dress Petite XXS | Anorak Jacket Petite XS | White Sneaker | Necklace
T-Shirt Dress Petite XXS | Denim Jacket Petite XS | Wedges 5 | Earrings | Necklace
T-Shirt Dress Petite XXS | Simple Sandal 5.5 | Earrings | Necklace
Woo! If you held on this long you deserve an award. This post felt like a marathon to put together but I hope it inspires you to build a classic wardrobe foundation you’ll wear over and over again! To see more of the outfits you can catch the style video on Pinterest and IGtv.
-Brooke
