The first time I heard the phrase “capsule wardrobe,” I’m 99% sure it was from the lips of Gwyneth Paltrow. And, regardless of how you feel about Goop, there’s no denying the woman is a timeless beauty with spot-on fashion sense.

The more I researched, the more appealing the idea became to me—a capsule wardrobe makes dressing easy without sacrificing style. My Winter Capsule Closet is one of my most-read blog posts to date, so today I’m sharing a Spring Capsule Wardrobe for 2020 with a twist: everything’s under $150.

In this post, I explain what a capsule wardrobe is, share 17 affordable spring essentials and why each is useful as a foundational item, and provide spring outfit inspiration from the capsule.

PS—Looking for a Summer Capsule? Discover my picks here!

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential clothing pieces and accessories that can be worn interchangeably throughout the season. It typically includes a handful of layering pieces, tops, bottoms, shoes, and bags. I liken it to a flexible school uniform; there’s a template of trustworthy items, but you can get creative whenever you have the urge.

2020 Spring Capsule Wardrobe Under $150

1 / Neutral Tote (also love this one under $40)—For everyday errands and work. It’s probably true that all we need to carry is lip balm and our phone, but I’m usually found with my laptop, wallet, healthy snacks, and more on any given weekday. This pebbled leather bag can hold it all for only $62!

2 / Soft Pouch—My choice for brunch and date night—this pouch is lightweight but roomy enough for touch-up makeup, sunglasses, and your ID/credit cards.

3 / Nude Crossbody (also in black)—A crossbody is always my weekend bag of choice because I prefer to keep my hands free for things like coffee, grabbing flowers for the week, and grocery shopping. This feminine Chloe dupe comes in white, black, and powder blue.

4 / Lightweight Sweater—Everlane is my go-to brand for timeless sweaters that I know will come through with regard to quality, fit, color selection, and price. For $100, this cashmere crew is a steal. Wear it when the office is chilly during the day or for brisk spring mornings.

5 / Jean Jacket—Nothing says spring like piling on layers and saying “wow, this gorgeous day!” at least once per day. My go-to for “light jacket weather” is the jean jacket. Madewell’s denim jacket has been an affordable crowd favorite as long as I can remember.

6 / Trench Coat—A neutral trench is your best friend in spring because it can be dressed up or down and goes with everything (jeans, dresses, skirts—you name it). I chose an Everlane trench coat for the capsule that has stellar reviews, pockets, and rain-ready details like a water-resistant finish.

7 / Floral Dress (Sold out, similar here. Also love this style.)—Time to unleash your legs (after you’ve used these, of course). This little number is under $100, has bow details, and also comes in light blue for my Carolina girls.

8 / Light Denim (similar here with distressing)—Slightly cropped, high-waisted, and a mid-tone wash, nothing says “adult off duty” more than a pair of jeans and a simple tee.

9 / White Jeans—White jeans are the brighter, airier cousin to classic denim. If you’ve never owned a pair of J. Crew jeans, the kick crop style is my favorite, and they make them in classic, petite, and tall styles for all body types. This pair has a cropped, kicky hem that looks great with heels and flats alike.

10 / White Cami—A lace cami is a crucial spring base layer for blazers in the office but can be worn on its own when you’re out and about and the weather’s warm enough. This cami is a tad feminine without overdoing it.

11 / Simple Shirt (sold out, similar with long sleeves here)—This neutral safari top can be easily dressed up and down—tuck into jeans and throw a cardigan over it for the weekend or wear it to work with a skirt and pumps.

12 / Feminine Blouse (sold out, similar here)—No capsule wardrobe on natalieyerger.com is complete without a feminine top. This blouse under $150 marries three things I love: eyelet details, ruffles, and a mock neck. More feminine spring blouses here.

13 / White Tee—A comfortable no-brainer for under $30. It has a slightly longer hem at the back for extra coverage.

14 / Closed Toe Mules (If sold out in nude, available in black here).—I’ve yet to get 100% on board with the flats train, but I like that these mules have a subtle heel yet aren’t too high for comfortable walking.

15 / Sneakers—Vejas some in so many fun colors, but I love this neutral pair for warm weather! I love styling these with a midi dress and a jean jacket, as seen here.

16 / Blush Pumps—These pumps could be a year-round staple, but the blush tone is ideal for springtime. For the office, date night, or dressing up an otherwise casual outfit.

17 / Nude Sandals—These look exactly like my pricey Stuart Weitzmans, which are hands down my most worn pair of heels, for less than $100.

Spring Outfit Ideas

Now that we have our essentials, here are some ideas for pairing them. Click the collage to shop the look.

Spring Outfit 1

Spring Outfit 2

Spring Outfit 3

Spring Outfit 4

Spring Outfit 5

SPRING OUTFIT 6

Spring Giveaway!

I love showing appreciation for YOU, my readers, so in today’s post I’m doing just that. I’m giving away an item of your choosing from the spring essentials collection to one lucky winner this Friday, February 21!

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow me on Instagram

2. Comment on this Instagram post and let me know which capsule collection item you’d want if you win

BONUS ENTRIES (ONE FOR EACH COMPLETED!):

Tag a friend in the comments of the IG post (one additional entry for each friend tagged)

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