Spring has officially sprung!🌷 The longer days and the warmer sun is signalling it’s time to start storing our winter sweaters under the bed and replacing them with spring clothes — and if you’re looking for spring clothing inspiration, you’ve come to the right place.

Below, you’ll find the types of garments we’re styling this season, along with our favorite selections from sustainable brands at a range of price points. Consider it inspiration for creating your own dream capsule however you’d like. Try shopping your closet first, host a clothing swap with your friends, or follow our DIY and upcycling tips below to customize your capsule on any budget.

Why consider a capsule wardrobe?

If you’re embarking on a capsule wardrobe for the first time, or want to get inspired by the variety of capsule wardrobes people practice, check out our deep dive into what capsule wardrobes are. In short, creating a capsule wardrobe is a more sustainable way to think about clothing. Rather than snapping up tons of trendy pieces, it encourages you to curate a streamlined handful of clothing pieces that you truly love, and then mix and match them with each other for endless outfits.

Paring down your wardrobe to just your favorites will make sure you’re not cluttering your closet with pieces that aren’t serving you, and it encourages you to invest in high-quality, well-made pieces that will last for years and years to come.

Our sustainable capsule wardrobe is inspired by current trends. Keyword: Inspired — because we want to keep you updated on some of the latest trends without making you feel the need to go out and buy a bunch of new stuff that you don’t love. Trends, to us, are an opportunity to consider branching out of what we typically wear, and incorporate new items we’ll cherish for a long time.

This season you’ll find lots of pastels (we’re obsessed with cornflower blue), quality denim, and light layers. Preppy and boho styles are also making a huge comeback.

You’ll also find some looser fits, simple jewelry, and clogs. When choosing pieces, we’ve curated options that are layer-able and versatile for springtime, and you’ll find specific picks from some of our favorite sustainable brands, too.

Keep on reading for our favorite sustainable garments and accessories inspiring our spring capsule wardrobe. Be sure to share in the comments what garments you have on heavy rotation this season!

1. A casual button down

This one stays in our ideal capsule wardrobe for every single season, but it gets the most use in spring. A nice cotton or bamboo button down is breezy and lightweight, easy to care for (you can usually throw it in the washing machine and the dryer), and even easier to pair with any sort of bottom, from jeans and trousers to skirts and shorts. We also love a button down that’s linen or chambray and gets softer with every wash, too, making it just as good for running casual errands as for running to the office. Plus, check out how cute these DIY flower buttons are if you want to spruce up your button downs!

Person sitting on a stool wearing a blue pinstripe shirt, light jeans, and white sneakers, with hair tied back and neutral expression.
Person wearing a hat, green shirt, shorts, white tank top, and sandals. Standing in a casual pose. Red "The Good Trade Award Winner 2025" badge in the top right corner.
Reformation ($128) | Quince ($35)

2. Quality Denim

We’re living in kind of a denim golden age right now. High rise or low rise, fitted or baggy, cropped or full length — you can find pretty much any pair of jeans you fancy. A light or medium wash is perfect for the spring and summer months, and investing in the right pair of jeans that you truly love will get you dozens of new outfits. If you have more time and patience than budget, here’s our guide for finding vintage denim that you’ll love for years to come.

Side view of a person wearing a black tank top, blue wide-leg jeans, and black shoes. There's a red award badge in the background.
A person in sunglasses wearing a striped top, light blue jeans, and black sandals stands against a plain background, holding a black clutch.
Quince ($50+) | Reformation ($168+)

3. A classic white tee

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — a well-made, high-quality short-sleeved white tee shirt will get you far in a capsule wardrobe. Throw it on to lounge around the house or hike, or wear it under a cardigan or a blazer to kick it up a notch. And you can even throw on a skirt or a little heel, too. If your current tops are looking a little dull, here are some ways to whiten them without bleach.

Person with short hair wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans stands with one hand resting on their head, against a plain background.
Person wearing a white T-shirt, long dark skirt, and brown boots. A "Reader Favorite" award badge from The Good Trade is in the top right corner.
MATE the Label ($48) | Quince ($20)

4. Lightweight trousers

A well-fitting, tailored pair of trousers will never not be one of the most useful (and best looking!) garments you can own. When shopping for warmer-weather trousers, we like to look for materials like linen or cotton rather than heavier wool. Lightweight cargo pants are our pick when we’re going for a more casual yet structured vibe. And this tutorial walks you through how to turn your tight pants into ones with a little more breathing room for your ankles.

Woman wearing a black top, beige cardigan, and light blue pants holds a hat. The Good Trade 2023 Reader Favorite Award logo is in the corner.
Two women stand in a rocky outdoor setting. One wears a brown top and cream pants, while the other is in a cream outfit with a jacket. Trees are visible in the background.
Pact ($78) | LA Relaxed ($128)

5. A breezy dress

Everywhere we look, we’re seeing stunning dresses in timeless silhouettes and patterns. A long, flowy dress that makes us feel good is one of the cornerstones of this season’s capsule, and we’re especially excited about dresses with generous waistlines and stretch for our ever-changing bodies. If a new dress isn’t in the budget (they get expensive), here are some tips on styling robes that don’t all look like loungewear.

Person wearing a floral dress holding a straw handbag, standing against a neutral background.
Woman in a white dress stands on a wooden path, leaning against a post and holding a straw hat. She is outdoors, surrounded by greenery.
Sézane ($215) | MagicLinen ($146)

6. Simple earrings

Simple jewelry is timeless and elevates even the most basic of outfits. A pair of minimal earrings that are chic, high quality, and not necessarily expensive are an essential we always keep on hand in our jewelry box — you can find some great secondhand options online. A simple monochromatic outfit with a pair of classic mini hoops is one of our go-tos right now. 

Close-up of a person's ear with a gold ear cuff and three small, gold hoop earrings. Two earrings feature turquoise accents. The person has light brown hair tied back loosely.
Close-up of a person with light blonde hair, showing a silver hoop earring and winged eyeliner. The person is wearing a denim jacket.
Hello Adorn ($78) | Mejuri ($48)

7. Comfortable clogs

Clogs have been all the rage lately, and this spring, we’re reaching for our tried-and-true slip-on clogs for an easy, warm-weather alternative. Shoes that are comfy yet can be dressed up or down? Yes, please! You’ll find some of our favorite clogs from sustainable brands below.

Person wearing frayed-hem blue jeans and beige slip-on shoes with textured soles on a white surface.
Person wearing yellow slip-on waterproof boots stands on wooden steps near a bright yellow wall.
Rothys ($159) | Seavees ($100)