2018 Spring Wardrobe Essentials

I’m super excited to announce that 22 Days of Spring Fashion starts this Thursday, March 1st!!! That means it’s high time for my annual Spring Wardrobe Essentials post.

These are pieces that are on trend this spring and will provide a basic foundation for your spring wardrobe. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but it should be a good starting point for most of us.

As always, you will need to discern which pieces you should add to your closet based on your own lifestyle and wardrobe needs, but these are some of the basic clothing, shoes, and accessories that you may want to consider.

2017 Spring Wardrobe Essentials

#1. White Tee

This probably goes without saying, but I don’t want to leave it out because it is absolutely an essential. Investing in a few quality t-shirts that you can wear alone with a great accessory or layer under your jackets and cardigans is crucial. I prefer a v-neck or scoop neck, but you may like a crew neck or boat neck style. Choose a neckline and a fit that is flattering on you. If yours is worn out, it may be time to invest in a new one.

I’m actually working on a white tee review, but you can get a sneak peek with my recommendations below. Hover over the images to see the brands and price, and click through to shop!

SHOP WHITE T-SHIRTS:

#2. Rain Boots

If you live in a temperate climate as I do, rain boots are a must for spring. I can’t believe I went so many years without them! I love my Hunters, but I’m also a fan of BOGS, and Kamik makes a nice rain boot at a lower price point.

SHOP RAIN BOOTS:

#3. White Jeans

White jeans make a crisp statement and pair well with everything from neutrals to pastels to brights. It’s important to find a pair that fits well and the material is thick enough that you can’t see through it. I like an ankle length skinny jean best, especially for summertime.

I have a cropped pair with distressing and a plain ankle-length pair, and I wear them both a ton during the spring and summertime. Of course, you can do white jeans in a straight or bootcut style if that’s more your jam, and the cropped straight and flare styles are trending this spring.

You know I will recommend premium brands like DL1961 and Paige, but you can certainly find decent white jeans for less. Check LOFT and Kohl’s for more budget-friendly options, but no matter where you shop, be sure to try them on and get a good look at your rear view to ensure a great fit. For outfit inspiration, see how I’ve styled white jeans for all seasons.

SHOP WHITE JEANS:

#4. Denim Jacket

A denim jacket is great to have in your closet all year round, but it’s the perfect layering piece for spring. I love how a denim jacket looks over a dress or with a skirt to make the look less dressy and a little more edgy. It also looks great over a basic tee with white jeans.

Also consider a white denim jacket for a fun twist on this classic wardrobe essential, and don’t rule out a fun color. For outfit inspiration, here are some different ways I’ve styled denim jackets.

SHOP DENIM JACKETS:

#5. Trench Coat

I realize a trench coat makes it into every year’s spring essentials post, but there’s good reason for that. Every woman should have one.

If a classic trench feels fussy to you, consider an anorak or raincoat. I also like this North Face Midi Trench and the BB Dakota Cotton Twill Coat for a more casual trench coats.

SHOP TRENCH COATS:

#6. Utility Jacket

A utility jacket is a great alternative to a jean jacket, or if you live a super casual lifestyle, you may want one of each. I love the variations on the traditional military style that are trending this spring. For outfit inspiration, see how I’ve styled my utility jackets.

SHOP UTILITY JACKETS:

#7. Wedge Sandals

I adore wedge sandals, and I cannot WAIT for the weather to warm up enough to break mine out. If you’re only going to have one pair, my best advice is to go with a taupe or blush tone. I’ll link up a bunch of my favorites below, and you can also check out my post on sandal trends for spring.

SHOP WEDGE SANDALS:

#8. Mules or Loafers

When it’s not warm enough for open sandals but you’re tired of wearing boots, mules are a great footwear option for spring. You can find them in all different heel heights. If you find walking in mules to be difficult, try a loafer instead.

SHOP MULES & LOAFERS:

#9. Fashion Sneakers

Fashion sneakers like Converse, Superga, or Adidas Superstar are essentials for every season, but they’re especially useful in the springtime. Slip-on styles are still trending, and the backless sneakers are nice for this time of year, but not as practical as a more traditional style. I recommend a lighter color such as tan, grey, white, taupe, or blush for spring.

SHOP FASHION SNEAKERS:

#10. Light Neutral Handbag

As you know, handbags are my jam, and I’m loving the structured and circular handbag styles that are trending this season. I’m totally crushing on this Rebecca Minkoff Christy crossbody in the white, and I also love this Kate Spade Justina leather satchel. It has such a ladylike silhouette, and the top handle with crossbody strap is trending right now.

Color-wise, white and pastel bags are definitely big. If you want to add one on-trend bag to your collection right now, I would definitely go with white or blush. If you don’t care so much about trends but want a good neutral bag you can carry for years, go with light grey or taupe. They’re still light enough to be on trend, but they are classic enough to last you for years.

SHOP SPRING HANDBAGS:

#11. Shades

A great pair of sunglasses makes a nice fashion statement, plus of course they protect your eyes. Round frames are trending right now, and while I hear that smaller styles are come back, everyone I see is still sporting the oversized look.

SHOP SUNGLASSES:

#12. Spring Dress

Springtime brings a lot of occasions that call for a feminine dress. Whether it’s a wedding, graduation, Easter brunch, or baby shower, you will want to have a versatile dress that works for whatever event might come up. Lavender is the color of the season, so that’s a good place to start, but ultimately you should choose something that you love and will want to wear again and again.

Also if you dress up at all for summer, be sure to have a pair of neutral pumps or strappy sandals to pair with your dresses or to dress up your white jeans.

SHOP SPRING DRESSES:

#13. Straight Leg Crop Pants or Jeans

Cropped pants or jeans are a great transition piece for spring. The straight crop style is the silhouette of the moment, but as always, you should wear what flatters you and not necessarily what’s trending.

I won’t lie, I haven’t had a lot of luck finding a pair of cropped straight pants that I like or that I feel is flattering on my hourglass figure, but I haven’t given up yet!

SHOP STRAIGHT LEG PANTS:

In Conclusion…

Obviously you’ll still need to fill in with a few sweaters and blouses, jeans and pants, a dress or two, and maybe a few skirts. It all depends on your lifestyle and what you already have in your closet, but I think this is a good place to start.

I focused this post on essentials that are the foundation of your spring wardrobe, but it’s also fun to add a few trendy pieces to your closet each season. Check out my Spring Fashion Forecast for some of the hot trends this spring!

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