Let’s talk August, shall we? There is something about the late summer days of August that fuel my creativity. Maybe it’s because I’m heading back into the school year. Or maybe because I am sick of my summer clothes and am looking for a refresher while still beating the blazing summer heat. Either way, this 20-piece capsule wardrobe for late summer is here to inspire you to take another look in your own closet and mix up what you already own.
20 Piece Capsule Wardrobe
For this capsule wardrobe, I settled on neutral colors of white, black, and light denim. I added in a few pops of this rust color I’m currently obsessed with and leather accents to add some depth. I followed my typical capsule wardrobe formula with more tops than bottoms, a couple of dresses, a few layering pieces, shoes & purses.
For jewelry, I really only own a few favorite pieces so I don’t count those in my 20 piece capsule wardrobe for August.
- Beaded Hoops
- Circle Pendant Necklace
- Simple Bar Necklace
- Raybans
- Daisy Sunnies
- Gold Apple Watch Band
Capsule Wardrobe 2023 Summer: 6 Tops
Black Bodysuit: I love bodysuits as they tuck in nicely to bottoms and give a clean, effortless look. This one is made of organic cotton that has held up for over 3 years!
Rust Tank: This piece has been a newly added piece to my capsule wardrobe and I am loving it! It’s easy to pair with any bottoms and gives a pop of color to an otherwise muted capsule wardrobe color pallet. The one used in the image is similar to the one I own that I linked above.
White Tank: This is a rental piece from Nuuly that I am so tempted to buy. It has clean lines and is not see-through which is a must-have for white tops.
White short sleeve button down: I knew that I wanted a dressier top in my capsule wardrobe 30 pieces and this one fits in nicely. It has a bit of texture which adds interest without being over the top.
Black Tee Shirt: I can’t create a capsule wardrobe without a basic tee shirt. This one is ethically made and drapes nicely. It’s one of my capsule wardrobe essentials no matter what type of weather I’m dressing for.
Pattern Blouse: This Nuuly piece was another fun addition to my summer 2023 capsule wardrobe. It adds interest while still being really versatile with the rest of my wardrobe.
Capsule Wardrobe Hot Climate: 4 Bottoms
Black Shorts: It is defiantly still summer here in Colorado so I knew that I needed a pair of shorts. These high waisted ones from Madewell are my favorite and satisfy my need for black bottoms in my cause wardrobe 30 pieces.
Straight Leg Jeans: Jeans are another capsule wardrobe essentials that I have to have. This pair is technically a crop style but I’m only 5’2″ so they hit at my ankle.
Rust Pants: These are the pants that started this capsule wardrobe hot climate edition. I’m obsessed with this color as I wore the rust tank a ton in June & July. When I saw these pants, I knew I needed them. They are really long on me and I might get them hemmed…for now, I’ll just wear them with wedges.
White Jeans: This is another item in my capsule wardrobe 30 pieces that is rented from Nuuly. I wear white jeans in May and August to school as my building cracks the AC. I went with a straight-leg style that can be worn with sandals or wedges.
Summer Layering Pieces
Denim Jacket: I know that late summer is still summer and that temperatures can reach the 100s pretty regularly. But, I need a jacket in my 20 piece capsule wardrobe. The AC is cranked in many buildings and when the sun goes down, so does the temperature. This denim jacket is slightly cropped with is perfect for pairing with pants & dresses.
Light Sweater: This item might belong more in the tops section but it also fits as a layering piece to toss over the tank tops or wear under dresses. This is very light so I don’t get too warm while wearing it. This is a similar one as mine is pretty old.
Must Have 3 Dresses
Denim Jumper Dress: This cutie was made for layering. Pair this with any top above or the light sweater layer for a cooler day. Similar options here and here.
Black Tee Shirt Dress: What do they say about the LBD being a classic? I make it a point to include some version in just about every capsule wardrobe. This 20 piece capsule wardrobe version is perfect for summer and teaching. I can dress it up or down with relative ease.
Stripe Dress: Wearing dresses makes getting dressed in the morning so much easier. Thrown one on and slip on some shoes and I’m ready to go. This Nuuly rental is perfect for the later summer heat.
Capsule Wardrobe Shoes & Purses
White Keds: Simple tennis shoes are perfect for dressing down outfits while being practical. I wore this pair a bunch in June & July and figured the trend would continue into August.
Brown Sandals: I wanted to add a bit of brown to my 20 piece capsule wardrobe and accessories seemed to be the easiest way to do it. These ones are comfortable and go with everything!
Neutral Wedges: I knew that I needed a pair of wedges to wear with the rust pants since they are so long. These ones are comfortable and neutral making them a capsule wardrobe basic. Similar pair are linked here.
Leather Tote: Since August is when I go back to school I knew that I needed a catch-all bag. This leather tote is gorgeous and is one of those investment pieces that I know I will have for years to come.
Black Belt Bag: From an investment piece to a trendy Amazon find this belt bag is perfect for a more casual look. I love being hands-free and often forgot I was even wearing it!
Capsule Wardrobe Outfits
Want to see this capsule wardrobe hot climate edition turned into outfits? This post has all 31 outfits I created with the same 20 pieces. I’d love to know, what are your must-have 20 piece capsule wardrobe.
