After months of dreary weather and dark mornings, it’s natural to be excited about spring’s arrival. However, as much as we’re enjoying the start of the new season, adjusting your wardrobe to accommodate the unpredictable forecasts in April and May can be tricky. But, there’s more to assembling your spring outfits than you might think; There’s a whole host of new trends to consider, and it’s important to get the balance of being warm but not swamped under thick layers just right.
So, I am here to help you streamline this process by presenting you with the pieces my knowledgeable colleagues and I consider to be the most versatile and classic spring fashion items you can own. Essentials, go-tos, wardrobe fail-safes—whatever you want to call them, these 12 timeless spring pieces will be the unshakable foundations of any capsule wardrobe for the season ahead.
You can throw practically any of the below items together, and you’re guaranteed they’ll work seamlessly together. They’ll also pair well with statement pieces in your wardrobe, helping you to carve a more elevated-looking aesthetic in the process. So which classic spring fashion items would I recommend? Scroll on to see all 12.
Style Notes: After opting for woollen textures for winter, one of the first spring style switches I make is transitioning to a lighterweight blazer. If linen feels too summery for you, consider another fluid material.
I’m considering investing in this versatile hue.
A staple for any wardrobe.
Style Notes: Although the square scarf is having a moment, I think it’s one of the most classic accessories you can wear any time of the year. For spring, fashion types are wearing theirs loosely around their necks with thin knitwear (more on that later).
This will go with every outfit.
This has gone straight onto my wish list.
Style Notes: While you can absolutely have fun with your denim, it always pays to have a pair of classic straight-leg jeans at your disposal. They’ll work best to offset bright and statement separates like Smyth’s chic electric blue blouse above.
Our editors have professed their love for this specific pair of M&S jeans over and over.
A slightly slouchier silhouette will earn you extra cool points.
Style Notes: Shirts are a year-round staple, but I think they look their chicest in spring, worn with either ankle boots or loafers, tucked nonchalantly into jeans. Leave the collar unbuttoned for a relaxed feel.
The oversized pocket further elevates this crisp shirt.
H&M always has a great selection of essentials.
Style Notes: As the brighter days begin to roll in, I tend to find that the black leather handbag I’ve been carting around all winter feels too stark against the lighter shades I seem to favour. To rectify this, I’ll be changing it up with a woven tote bag—the sort influencers dig out each spring.
Dragon Diffusion is a brand to bookmark for 2023.
If you want a non-leather option, look no further than this elevated style from Naghedi.
Lighter shades of stone will work better with cooler colour palettes of grey, navy, and black.
Camel-coloured trenches look fabulous with bright colours.
Style Notes: We all know the quote from The Devil Wears Prada, but florals are and will always remain integral to the spring aesthetic, and it doesn’t get more classic than a floral dress.
I can’t stop thinking about this beautiful dress.
Reformation’s dresses are always a hit.
Style Notes: Don’t get me wrong—I have a huge soft spot for chunky cable knits and fluffy cardigans, but by the time spring kicks into gear, I’m more than ready to wave goodbye to them until autumn. Instead, once temperatures start to rise, I start donning thin (most likely ribbed) knitwear.
I’m still really into knitwear with polo collars.
A beautiful cardigan is just the ideal layering piece for spring.
Style Notes: I’ve never been much of a trouser person, but this spring, it’s hard to ignore just how chic the tailored pairs on offer look. With more options than ever before, perhaps 2023 is the year I finally embrace them for myself after admiring them from afar for so long. When I do, I want to wear them exactly like Grace Ghanem.
One of the very best pairs of tailored trousers on the high street.
I have visions of wearing these with a racer vest and rectangular sunglasses.
Style Notes: We live in Britain, where boots remain a solid footwear solution year round. Still, when I get fatigued of my pairs—something I suspect is imminent—loafers become my go-to. Less flimsy than other flats, they have a practical feel to them but also look inherently classic.
The loafer that ignited the fashion world’s obsession with the shoe all those years ago.
Some of the best the high street has to offer.
Style Notes: Slip skirts might have started out as a trend, but after years of staying on the style agenda, they’re now a wardrobe classic. Come spring, I like to experiment with brighter hues, but I typically gravitate towards neutral versions of this modern staple.
This ankle grazer will work hard for you all year round.
This is sitting in my basket as we speak.
Style Notes: I know it’s borderline cliché, but I’m here for anything that makes my outfits feel more French. This is probably why my drawers are populated with Breton-stripe tops. Tucked into jeans or worn with the above slip skirts, they’re a spring-style staple I’ll never be without.
Relaxed shoulders loan themselves to the casual Breton stripe.
You know you’re in safe hands buying your Breton from a French brand like Sézane.
