Menswear-inspired vests are making a serious comeback. Yes, vests! We saw the return of the sweater vest during the fall/winter season as it basically ran the streets of the city during New York Fashion Week, and it has found its way into the impending spring/summer season as well. This layering piece that’s typically reserved for a man’s three-piece suit has been separated from its other two pieces and is being worn on its own by the most fashionable of fashionable. I love how versatile a short, sleeveless vest is, with the ability to elevate your typical jeans and a tee look or even add an edgy twist to your wide-leg pants.

It’s not just short vests making a comeback, either. Longer vests or sleeveless blazers are popping up everywhere as a more breathable, attention-grabbing substitute to the classic long sleeve blazer. This is music to my ears because the long, sleeveless vest look was a Fashion Jackson favorite way back in the day, and I’m ready to resurrect the trend. 

I couldn’t build this capsule without including one of my go-to springtime essentials: the oversized beige blazer. Whereas your trusty black blazer may look and feel too heavy over a sundress, a beige blazer adds the perfect bit of sophistication while still keeping things light. The key here is keeping it oversized. Slouchy/relaxed can still look polished as long as you keep the proportions right with the bottom half of your look. It’s a very worthy and functional spring capsule wardrobe essential.

Just the name of this piece makes me smile because it’s so proper and feminine. Lady jackets are typically made of tweed but can be found in other knit varietals (like this cotton bouclé), are a cropped length so they hit around or right below your waistline, button down, and have a certain structure that can make any woman wearing one look impossibly put together. Instead of a jean jacket or blazer, a lady jacket is a sophisticated alternative that you can wear to class-up your look or wear it in a more updated, edgier way.

Denim jackets are never not in style. Ever. Rather, they refresh themselves every year and this year’s popular denim jacket look is oversized and slightly cropped like this one from ANINE BING. The versatility of a denim jacket is boundless, and I love finding new outfits to wear mine with every season. This year especially, don’t be timid about pairing your denim jacket with denim—the Canadian Tuxedo look can be one of the coolest outfits when done right!

Another timeless springtime layering piece is the trench coat. The key to buying the perfect camel trench coat for spring is all about the length—always opt for longer over shorter. Your trench coat should fall below your knee to achieve the most iconic and chic look possible, like this perfect example by MANGO. You can treat it as a layering piece or make it the focal point of your outfit by wearing it casually over just a t-shirt—either way, there’s no arguing the stylish nature of a trench!

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect, “cool girl” white-tee and finally found it in time for this spring capsule wardrobe. The key with a relaxed white t-shirt is all in the sleeves. A longer short-sleeve exudes casual coolness rather than the typical fitted sleeve, which means this shirt does well on its own and doesn’t need any layering or extra help. We’re going for relaxed and approachable with this plain white t-shirt rather than appearing too buttoned up. Spring is all about feeling fresh and open to newness, after all!

We all need one long-sleeve, fitted but breathable shirt for Spring, and this one by Three Dots is exactly that. While the weather is still in its transitional phase and there’s a slight chill in the air (especially at night), having a solid layering piece like this long-sleeve gray tee is crucial for your springtime wardrobe. Plus, the fitted silhouette works perfectly underneath trench coats, lady jackets, denim jackets, and blazers!

Remember the chambray shirt craze back in the 2010s? Well, it’s back but not necessarily in the same color. True denim button downs are trending and really always been a classic in my book, so it felt right to include them in this season’s capsule wardrobe. You can get super creative when styling denim shirts whether you do denim-on-denim, denim with linen, or denim with the right kind of skirt! The key to keeping this updated and looking modern is to pay attention to the details in the shirt. Look for lighter weight denim fabrics, like tencel, opt for tortoise buttons vs. pearl snap. Think timeless styling details instead of western details. 

I’ve featured both a white button-up and a blue button-up in past capsules, so it was only a matter of time before a striped button-up made its way onto the scene. This one by A.L.C. has an asymmetrical hem and accomplishes that relaxed yet still polished look. The gorgeous bright blue, and the clean white stripes make this the kind of button-up you can wear with all kinds of bottoms and with or without jackets this spring!

This is, hands down, the perfect cardigan for spring.  The almond color is such a soft neutral and pairs well with any and every color, so there’s no end to the outfits you can create. Wear it on its own, draped over your shoulders with the relaxed white t-shirt, or even the trench coat. Plus, this cardigan is sustainably-crafted and a part of the Eco Group, which means it’s crafted using materials and practices that are better for your wardrobe and the planet.

Use code JACKSON15 for a discount

Nothing is more classic than a black and white striped sweater, especially for the Spring. This 100% cotton sweater features mid-weight black stripes to add a bit of personality without being too distracting and looks so good with jeans and flats, or even shorts with your favorite white sneakers! I particularly love wearing this style sweater in a cross-body tie to accomplish that effortless, cool girl look.

Use code JACKSON15 for a discount

When it’s still not warm enough to show off your legs but you need a serious change of scenery from your jeans, a long denim skirt with a front-slit is the perfect springtime option. It’s the right blend of everything: feminine, playful, casual, and versatile. When styled right (think: tank top, striped sweater tied cross-body, and Birkenstocks), it’s one of the chicest looks you can create! When looking for the perfect denim midi skirt, I suggest ordering 2 sizes. I have found they can run a little small and to achieve the right look, you don’t want the skirt tight. Comfortable is how it should fit. Every denim midi skirt I tried this season, I always preferred a size up (but I liked having both sizes to compare and make the best decision). 

It’s wild to think how far we’ve come since the skinny jeans. First came straight legs, then came flares, and now we’re leaning into baggy/relaxed denim, and I’m here for it. You can do a true blue denim here or switch it up by going black like I did—the point is the oversized look. These particular jeans look amazing when paired with fitted tops, even if that means a white tank top with your lady jacket on top! Remember that the general fashion rule of thumb is tight on top, loose on bottom or vice versa. They can also be styled with every shoe featured in this capsule, so you have plenty of ways to wear these in a style that speaks to you!

Elevated cargo pants. I know—you thought you’d never hear that phrase in one of my capsule wardrobe guides, but here we are. I love cargos when they’re done right, and these trouser cargo pants are so right. There’s no end to how you can style them but for me personally, my mind goes all the way back to the short camel vest. These paired with that would make a killer look! You can get away with just about any light trouser style for spring by pairing it with the right accessories and top, and they’re a fabulous, elevated alternative for jeans at the office. Think of these as your traditional trouser, just with an elevated twist.

I love denim shorts as much as the next person, but sometimes you want to elevate the look without sacrificing your shorts all together, and these linen shorts by ANINE BING are perfect for exactly that. Designed in a high-rise, flared leg silhouette with rolled hems for some extra detailing, the length is the key to how chic these shorts are. The color pairs with everything included in this capsule wardrobe so you have no shortage in creating spring forward looks based on these shorts!

Spring MVP is the trench coat. At least in my capsule wardrobe! A good trench coat makes an entire outfit with completely minimal effort. I especially love this one from J.Crew because it has a detachable hood, which you never see and is so efficient!

A good utility jacket (named that because of its soft olive green shade and hardware) is something you can wear throughout the spring with a number of different tops and bottoms (over a white tank with jean shorts and cute sneakers?!). This is the pop of olive I was talking about in my intro; while olive adds a bit of color to your capsule collection, it’s still a very neutral tone that can go with so much.

This slim fit blazer by Favorite Daughter from Nordstrom is an ideal choice. The angled pockets on this piece create a flattering cut and magically draw in your waist a bit more. It’s the perfect sleek blazer to put on for a waist-up Zoom call—no one will know if you’re wearing leggings or loungewear underneath; they’ll be too distracted by the blazer!

Every spring capsule wardrobe needs a killer denim jacket, and this is that. The ex-boyfriend trucker jacket by Levi’s has been a favorite for years for a reason; it’s the perfect denim jacket for all occasions! Wear it over tees and tanks with jeans, short, or midi skirts for a lightweight layered spring look.

If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect workwear blazer, this is it. J.Crew calls it a “sweater blazer” since it’s somewhere between the two, and it really is the perfect layering piece for changing seasons (i.e. fall to spring). The white for spring is playful and professional, meaning you can wear it to work or weekend brunch; it’s so versatile, it goes with pretty much everything.

Madewell’s Central Drapey shirts have been one of their top sellers for years because it’s the perfect button up shirt. It’s casual but cool, has that slightly oversized fit, and is machine washable so you can wear and wash to your heart’s content. A great black button up tee can go far in a spring capsule wardrobe.

I can’t even tell you how many compliments I got on this French Blue button up shirt from Jenni Kayne when I wore it the other week. It’s the most subtle blue so, while it reads as a neutral, it has just a little bit of personality to it. Bring it to life french-tucked into your favorite pair of jeans for a classic but chic vibe. Use code JACKSON15 for a discount on your Jenni Kayne order!

The Fisherman sweaters by Jenni Kayne are everything. For spring, I love 100% cotton version as a lightweight layering piece. Paired with denim shorts, trousers, jeans, or layered over your shoulders, the cotton sweater is essentail for spring! Use code JACKSON15 for a discount on your Jenni Kayne order.

This black midi dress is the ultimate blank canvas for any spring outfit. You can dress it up with heels and the sweater blazer, or keep it casual with sneakers and the Levi’s denim jacket. It’s such an easy dress that allows you to move around freely and style it however you want, depending on the day. It’s so comfortable you could even travel in it with sneakers and a light jacket.

Having a pair of wide leg, comfortable trousers is imperative for spring capsule dreams. These Drapey Eco Cupro trousers from J.Crew are gorgeous and, as they say on their site, “more polished than pj’s, but just as comfy.” I have them in tan and absolutely love them with a ribbed tank top and slides.

I love joggers and consider them to be an essential part of any wardrobe, but especially for spring. These pull-on joggers from GAP are available in the perfect green and are both easy to wear and style in a number of ways: heels for a dressy approach, mules for a sophisticated approach, or sandals for a casual approach!