We’re well into spring, but if you’re struggling to put together great outfits it may be because you’re missing some wardrobe essentials. At the beginning of each season I can get a little overwhelmed by the new fashion offerings. But I’ve learned to prioritize my purchases so that I have what I need in my closet to create truly great outfits…in multiples! Today I’m sharing 5 essentials I prioritize that help me create the easiest elevated spring outfits over and over.
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Spring Wardrobe Priority #1 – Completer Pieces
The secret to creating great spring outfits is to wear a completer piece, like I talked about in this recent YouTube video. And the key to creating the most elevated but still casual spring outfit of all is having one or more versatile blazers in your closet. This one completer piece elevates any outfit from ho hum to oh wow in just one step.
Because I can and do wear this Veronica Beard Miller dickey jacket for most of all four seasons, I absolutely do not regret investing in this classic and beautifully crafted blazer. And the fact that I can zip and button dickeys (sold separately) in and out of it for even more versatility just adds to its value in my wardrobe.
If your style aesthetic is one in which you like for your outfits to look classic, pulled together and a little sophisticated, I’d say a blazer is a must-have. And if you work or ever serve in a capacity in which you need to exude a little extra confidence, authority or command of the room, you definitely need to consider adding a blazer (or two or three) to your closet. I started wearing blazers about 25 years ago when I began doing a lot of speaking at women’s events. Even then I would wear one with simple trousers or even jeans, and I always felt more confident and capable at the mic because I was dressed that way.
I’ve rounded up a few other great classic blazers I can recommend below.
Spring Wardrobe Priority #2 – White Jeans
While you can wear white denim year round, I’m one who prefers to pull mine out in the spring and enjoy them just through the summer. These classic jeans look so fresh and season appropriate. And you can create so many great outfits with them.
I’m wearing my J.Crew slim boyfriend jeans and they’re currently 40% off with code SPRING. They definitely run large. I’ve sized down to a 29 and you can see they are still roomy on me. Of course that’s how a boyfriend jean is supposed to be, but definitely take that into consideration when purchasing. I love the raw edge hemline, the straight silhouette and the high waist on these white jeans.
I’ve rounded up a few other great white jeans I can highly recommend in the shopping widget below. I know some of them don’t show up as white, but they do all come in white.
Spring Wardrobe Priority #3 – Versatile Tank Tops
I know it sounds crazy, but tank tops are trending this year. Yes, yes, tank tops have always been around. But that’s how it goes with most trends: they’re not usually new things, just the hot-at-the-moment things. And right now it is so on trend to wear a simple tank under a cool completer piece.
As much as I enjoy wearing bow neck blouses and even t-shirts under my blazers, I love wearing a simple versatile tank under them even more. There’s no sleeve to bunch up inside the blazer, they’re cool and they’re slimming because they are generally a little fitted. I have a variety of solid tanks in my wardrobe, but right now with stripes on trend I think it’s so smart to add one of these reversible striped tanks to your closet.
My reversible striped tank is navy and white, but it comes in other colors, too. It fits true to size and today it is 30% off. (Use code BLOOM to get 40% off your highest priced item at Talbots, and get 3x classic awards points with your purchase.)
I’ve gathered up some other tanks I can highly recommend below.
Spring Wardrobe Priority #4 – Nude Sandals
I love wearing sandals once the weather warms up a bit. Depending on where you live, you may already be ready to bare your feet or you may wait until summer. But it’s time now to buy a great pair of nude sandals. These will go with everything and they’ll help you create that long, uninterrupted line from waist to toe that gives you the best proportions.
Of course when I say you need nude sandals in your spring wardrobe, I mean your shade of nude. So look for a sandal (or a few!) in a tone close to your skin color. I like to have flat and heeled sandals in nude for the most versatility. And the Marc Fisher sandals above are extremely comfortable and stay on my feet really well.
I’ve collected several great nude sandals below. I’ve personally tried on all of these and found them to work nicely. Again, they’re not all showing as nude, but all of these sandals come in at least one or more shade of nude.
Spring Wardrobe Priority #5 – Soft, Neutral Tone Handbag
And the final of my top five spring wardrobe priorities is always a versatile handbag that is in a pretty, soft neutral. Just like the sandals above, this shoulder or handbag should go with most everything in your spring and summer wardrobe, making it so easy to wear it with the outfits you put together.
And make no mistake about it, that’s exactly what you do with a handbag: you wear it. The minute you pick it up, it begins part of your outfit. When people see you walk in the door, that handbag factors into the equation and they measure you up by the total picture you’ve created. So make sure you have a polished bag that adds to your outfits rather than detracting from them.
My Coach bag is one I purchased in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last summer and is no longer available. Notice it doesn’t exactly match my shoes, but it comes pretty close. So it helps create a very cohesive look that is easy on the eyes. I’ve gathered up some beautiful handbags to consider below.
Not only do these 5 prioritized items in my spring wardrobe work beautifully together, they also help me create other elevated outfits. Each of these items are essential in so many of the combinations I enjoy wearing through spring and even into summer.
Thanks so much for stopping in today. I hope you are set to have a great week!
Blessed for My Day
It did my heart so much good to look through my social media feeds yesterday and this morning and see so many people boldly proclaiming the meaning of Easter in their lives. “Happy Easter! We serve a Risen Lord who died to forgive us of our sins and rose to give us victory over sin and death. Hallelujah!” That was typical of the messages I saw over and over on Facebook and Instagram. How exciting to see these bold testimonies of faith in Jesus.
But let’s not reserve that boldness only for Easter. Wouldn’t it be great to see that kind of excitement day after day about the salvation we have been so graciously given? Let’s commit today to being bold proclaimers of our faith and hope on every day…the sacred holidays and the normal, average days, the victorious days and the harder days. Are you up for the challenge?
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:6-8
Would you please comment about wearing belts. You don’t seem to do it very often even when the slacks are a bit dressier. Thanks.
Hi Lisa. I actually wear belts a lot. I don’t generally wear them with white jeans however. And if the waistband hits low I don’t like to wear them either. It really just depends on the jeans/pants and the look I’m trying to achieve. But I’ll try to share more in an upcoming post.
Hi Kay! Your posts always inspire me and get me thinking about what new item I might need/want in my wardrobe. I love your VB navy blazer and have been wanting one. I have this blazer in black with gold buttons, yet believe I would wear the navy more in the spring and summer. My question is: does it make sense to get it with the silver buttons since my black blazer has gold buttons. I wear both gold and silver jewelry and bags mostly with gold hardware. How do you make these decisions? Thank you!
Wonderful. Yeah, I’m considering getting the black with gold buttons myself. I have a couple of VB blazers with silver buttons and enjoy them, too. I’d say maybe consider what you wear black with most often. What clothing colors do you like pairing with black? Then think about the jewelry you prefer wearing with those colors, if you have a preference. But since you wear both colors of jewelry I don’t think you will go wrong either way. Did I just muddy the water?! Ha!
Well, since you are thinking of getting black with gold buttons also, I guess it’s ok to have the navy and black blazers both with the gold buttons. I do kind of think the gold buttons add something special! 😊
Really love the words you said On your BFMD. How true That we need to be Excited everyday for what Jesus did for us. Thanks for reminding us
Really like your outfit with the navy and white. Look so springy And I know everybody is anxiously waiting for Spring weather. Cold and snowy long winter here in Minnesota. I thought it would never stop LOL
Have a blessed day
What a perfect Easter weekend you had. Lovely outfit today! I am going to try and add a really nice blazer to my wardrobe this Spring. I have a few but they are heavier and more for Fall and Winter. Thank you for the suggestions and can’t wait to add some to my wardrobe. 😀
Beautiful Outfit Kay ❤️And Beautiful Easter Blessing ❤️Xx
Love the blessed for my day message. Good advice.
The blazer is beautiful. I love blazers and jackets. It’s my favorite piece of clothing. Since I retired I don’t get a chance to wear them much in the summer except to church.
Hi, Kay:
I follow your blog because I shop for my wife and we are in your age bracket. I am a new Christian and we find your blog inspiring on so many levels. Thank you and God bless you.
Thanks so much for reading.