20 Summer Capsule Wardrobe Essentials You Must Have
Want to simplify your summer style? I’m breaking down the must-have summer capsule wardrobe essentials every woman needs. If you’re looking to create a closet full of versatile, timeless pieces, these picks will help you build a chic, minimalist wardrobe for easy, effortless outfits all summer long.
Feel like your summer closet is missing those go-to pieces that make getting dressed easy and effortless? This post is for you!
There’s honestly no better season that summer. From the endless sunshine, to tanned skin, beach days and flowy clothing, there’s just something so carefree about this season that I absolutely love.
Summer can be one of the easiest seasons to get dressed, but only if your wardrobe actually works for you. That’s where a summer capsule wardrobe comes in!
Think of it as a mini wardrobe made up of versatile, breathable, and timeless summer staples that you can mix and match effortlessly. Fewer pieces equals less stress, and more styling options!
I’m sharing my go-to 20 summer wardrobe essentials you need in your closet that will help you feel put together all season long!
These timeless pieces are the perfect foundations for building your summer outfits, plus their versatility means you can wear them again and again.
Looking for other seasonal staples? Find them here
20 Must-have Summer wardrobe essentials
Whether you’re starting fresh or just looking to fill a few key gaps in your summer wardrobe, these essentials will help you create a capsule that’s stylish, breathable, and easy to wear every single summer.
Ready to build a minimalist wardrobe for summer? All your closet needs are these 16 summer essentials!
Keep in mind that these are my recommended essentials for summer. Feel free to keep or remove any of these pieces depending on your personal style when building your summer capsule wardrobe.
Must-have Summer capsule tops
Basic tee - You can’t go wrong with a simple tee! Basic tees are must-have closet essentials for every season—they’re versatile and can be dressed up or down for any occasion. My favorite fitted tees are the essential tuckable baby tee and essential polished body-skimming tee from Abercrombie. When it comes to a more relaxed, oversized tee that’s perfect for tucking, I love this drop sleeve t-shirt from Amazon.
Basic tank top - Basic tanks are another summer essential! This square neck tank top from Amazon is my favorite, the material is lightweight and stretchy—perfect for warm weather! I also really love bodysuit tanks as well, I think they offer a much sleeker look than a tucked in tank. This is my favorite tank bodysuit from Amazon (it’s the same material and thickness as the square neck tank top) that also comes in a stunning high-neck option! Even though tanks are more commonly worn, camis are also great basic tops for summer! This cami top from Amazon is from this same brand as the other 2 tops I mentioned before—they’re all so buttery soft and light!
Basic strapless top - A basic strapless top can really elevate an outfit. From brunch to date night, this simple yet sexy top is a classic summer staple! Amazon has tons of cute basic strapless tops that are super affordable!
Button up vest - The button up vest has quickly gone from trend to closet staple. It’s a fun elevated piece that can be dressed up or down for work, brunch, date night and more!
Check out this post: How to Style a Linen Vest for Spring/Summer
Linen top - Linen tops are classic summer closet essentials. They’re lightweight and breathable, which is why they’re the perfect essential to add to your summer capsule wardrobe. This linen crop top from Petal & Pup is my favorite, and this chic low back linen top from Amazon is a great regular length option that looks super chic when tucked in!
One shoulder top - One shoulder tops are super chic, especially for a night out with the girls or going out for a summer date night! I’m loving these one shoulder tops from Amazon right now—they’re soft and stretchy!
Button-up shirt - A button up shirt is a such great summer staple—especially a basic white button-up! They can be worn in so many different ways—as a shirt, layering piece, and more! This beige striped linen button-up shirt from H&M is my new summer capsule favorite—it’s so soft and lightweight! Abercrombie has a perfect white crinkle button-up shirt that’s perfect for casual summer outfits. If you want something more elevated for date night, try a sleek satin button-up like this one from Zara—it comes in 7 colors and it’s under $40!
Must-have summer capsule bottoms
For this list of essential summer bottoms, I’ve included everything except jeans, they’re a capsule wardrobe staple and can definitely be worn during cooler summer days and nights, however, I wouldn’t consider them an essential for summer.
Denim shorts - Timeless and effortless, denim shorts are a go-to for casual summer outfits. Choose a high-rise pair (short or mid-length depending on your preference, height and frame) in a light or medium wash to keep the look relaxed yet polished. My personal favorites I wear every summer are these mom shorts from Abercrombie (I’m a 5ft petite woman so I’m personally not a fan of longer length shorts).
Lightweight shorts - A step up from denim, lightweight shorts are ideal for warmer days and slightly dressier moments. Trouser and tailored shorts are perfect for creating elevated looks for occasions like brunch, resort vacations, and date night (Abercrombie, Aritzia, and Amazon have some great tailored shorts). For a more casual, laid back look, cotton and linen shorts with elastic or drawstring waistbands are better suited. These high waisted linen shorts from Petal & Pup are my favorite—they’re just like my fave linen pants, only shorter.
Linen pants - Linen pants are perfect summer closet staples for a sophisticated summer wardrobe. From straight leg to wide-leg linen pants, they offer so much effortless versatility to your outfits. These wide-leg linen pants from Petal & Pup have been my most loved and most worn pair for years because they’re perfect for transitioning my summer outfit from day to night (I own them in beige & black). I just snagged these super chic wide-leg linen pants from Nordstrom (in both white & black) this summer for styling more chic summer looks. Another pair I’m loving right now are these trouser style straight leg linen pants from Amazon (they’re under $33, come in 18 colors, short lengths for petites as well as regular & tall lengths)—perfect for summer work outfits and elevated summer outfits.
Mini skirt/skort - Mini skirts and skorts in linen or cotton offer a flirty, functional option for dressing up or down. Abercrombie, Aritzia, and Princess Polly have some great summer mini skirts and skorts (my personal faves are this Abercrombie linen mini skort and this beige linen mini skort from Princess Polly!
Long skirt - A long white skirt (in either midi or maxi length depending on your preference and/or height) adds an element of elegance to your capsule. Whether you choose linen, cotton, or poplin, this piece feels fresh and crisp—perfect for picnics, beach dinners, or everyday outings. I recently added these Amazon skirts to my summer capsule wardrobe: this white poplin midi skirt and this linen maxi skirt (in beige, black, and white—it’s so good I needed all the colors).
Must-have summer capsule dresses
Want to look put together with zero effort? Opt for a dress! Dresses are the ultimate summer closet staples—they’re the easiest way to create an effortless summer outfit!
There’s so many summer dress styles to choose from—mini, midi, and maxi lengths, spaghetti straps, to tank straps, strapless, halter and more. While summer dresses offer lots of effortless versatility, just make sure to choose lightweight, breathable materials like linen or cotton to keep your comfortable in the heat.
If you’re looking to minimize the amount of dresses for your summer capsule, I suggest sticking to 2 different summer dress lengths (1 casual and 1 for dressier occasions):
Mini dress
Long dress (midi/maxi depending on your height and/or preference)
TIP: If you want more dress options without buying more dresses, style one of your tops with a skirt in the same color, the two pieces will blend together, making it look like a dress!
Years ago I would’ve said that mini dresses were my go-to, but I’ve quickly fallen for midi and maxi dresses for summer—they just have this effortless elegance about them I love! I just added this white linen spaghetti strap midi dress from Amazon, this chic black flowy spaghetti strap maxi dress from Zara, and this stunning black pleated maxi dress from Shein to my summer capsule. My fave stores to shop dresses for summer are Abercrombie, Lulus, Amazon, Petal and Pup, H&M, and Zara!
Must-have summer capsule shoes
Sandals - Sandals are the ultimate summer shoes when it comes to completing your summer outfits! From casual flip flops for everyday summer looks and cute strappy sandals for a chic summer brunch outfit, to sexy heeled sandals for classy summer date night fit and more, sandals are must-have summer essentials!
The 4 types of sandals you must have in your summer closet:
Flip flops - While flip flops used to be seen as a more casual summer shoe, it has definitely gotten an upgrade over the past few years. Skip the thick rubber flip flops and opt for a faux leather minimalist flip flop with thinner bands—this chic summer shoe can easily elevate any summer outfit. These minimalist faux leather flip flops from Amazon are my favorites—they’re comfy, come in tons of colors, and under $25!
Slides - Slide sandals are the ultimate mix of ease and style for summer, perfect for slipping on and heading out the door. Opt for sleek faux leather or raffia styles with a comfy footbed—these Amazon slide sandals are my current go-to and they're under $50, cushioned for all-day wear, and come in so many color styles including raffia!
Flat strappy sandals - Strappy sandals are a summer staple that instantly dress up any outfit while still feeling breezy and lightweight. I love a strappy sandal with delicate ankle ties or thin crossover straps—this Amazon pair is under $35, super comfy, and adds just the right amount of polish to any summer look.
Simple heeled sandals - Heeled sandals are for those elevated casual and dressier summer outfits—perfect for brunch and date night. My favorite heeled sandals for summer are these block heel sandals from Amazon (best for dressier summer fits) and these thong kitten heel sandals from Amazon (perfect for elevated casual looks).
Want more? Check out my Amazon list of Trendy Summer Shoes and Sandals!
Okay, so you might be wondering…what about other types of shoes for summer, like flats and sneakers? You still can! If you build your capsule closet accordingly, you can wear shoes from other seasonal capsules in the current season. For example, flats and sneakers are the most popular shoe essentials for a spring capsule wardrobe, so if you make your shoe selections wisely, you should be able to wear them throughout the summer. The better you curate your capsule staples, the less money you’ll have to spend on new shoes and the less closet clutter you’ll have!
Must-have summer capsule bags
Summer bag - Complete your summer capsule with cute summer bags in materials like straw, raffia, rattan, shell, or wood—they’re quintessential summer accessory that adds texture and seasonal charm. Plus, they pair with nearly everything in this list to effortlessly bring your summer looks together.
The 2 types of summer bags you must have in your summer capsule wardrobe are:
Raffia clutch - A raffia clutch is the perfect summer bag for date night or a dressy brunch meetup! This one from Amazon is my favorite!
Basket tote - Basket totes made from woven, straw, or raffia materials are perfect for casual summer days like everyday outings, errands, or the beach! The Sezane Justine Basket Bag is my favorite basket tote for summer! It’s on the pricier side so I linked some dupes here: The Best Sezane Justine Basket Bag Dupes + Alternatives
Consider these summer closet essentials as the foundation to build upon that can start or complete any summer outfit.
With your summer basics covered, you can easily incorporate fun patterns or colors to accentuate your looks!
