A 12 Piece Warm Palette Summer Capsule Wardrobe

While I am often really drawn to the chicness that seems to go hand in hand with a cool palette, a warm palette always seems to bring a little more personality and wearability to me.

I am not sure why that is, and it isn’t true for every wardrobe, but it is just a trend I see and notice in this line of work.

So before I jump straight into what a warm colour palette entails I want to share a few pieces that were really standout for me this week

First, the Cyndi Lauper Girls Just Wanna Have Fun t-shirt. You don’t see Cyndi shirts often, and the print and colours are fantastic.

I own two t-shirts from this company and they are such good quality. This one is a real winner.

Next is the Frida Khalo bag. It’s handmade and is incredible. It comes in several colours, and I can’t decide which colour I like the best, but the brown integrated into this wardrobe well.

Never mind. They were on sale, so I got the black, because I liked how the image stood out against it, but I’ll probably wish I had bought the green.

Ugh. At times like this, I wish I was the kind of person who could afford to buy them in every colour.

Not only would it help a small business, but it would also help make me happy and cut down on my decision-making regrets which ultimately stress me out.

The third find I talk about farther down in more detail. Now on to the summer capsule wardrobe.

Warm colours are those that fall on the red, orange, and yellow side of the colour spectrum. This is where your colour wheel that I discussed would come in handy.

Some key elements, colour choices, and characteristics you might consider for a warm palette summer wardrobe are to understand warm undertones.

This is how you think about skin tone and makeup when you are trying to colour match your foundation.

Warm undertones are characterized by yellow, peach, or golden hues in your skin, hair, and eyes. Knowing your undertones will guide you in selecting colours that enhance your natural features.

Once again circling back to last week and knowing your colours so that you can use them for your own personal style toolbox.

I think having this type of knowledge, even at a basic level comes in so handy when you are shopping and building your wardrobe.

Even knowing these small things can take you from feeling completely lost when it comes to your wardrobe and style, to feeling slightly more informed and empowered.

It is always important to assess your existing wardrobe. I actually considered it to be one of the most important steps.

Take a look at your current wardrobe and identify the warm-toned items you already own. Determine which colours and pieces you enjoy wearing and would like to incorporate more into your wardrobe.

Most of us have a go-to colour. For many of us it is black because it is easy, chic, and wears well, but we often have a particular colour that we buy when we are looking to add more colour.

I have a few, starting with red, then blue, then green. But I am a sucker for a red shoe or accessory.

Build a foundation with neutrals. Neutrals are the backbone and are essential for creating a versatile wardrobe.

Choose warm neutrals such as beige, camel, tan, warm greys, and deep browns for your foundational pieces like pants, skirts, and blazers. These neutrals will serve as a backdrop for your more colourful items and really make them pop.

Like today I was wearing cognac trousers, and added a bright green sweatshirt and blue shoes.

Some may think it is colour overload, but the trousers are neutral, and they took over the majority of my body and were paired with a neutral matching bag and hat so then the colours flow harmoniously.

This made the top and sneakers really stand out.

Once you have your neutral base, this is where you start to introduce accent colours in warm tones to add variety and interest to your wardrobe.

And because you already have a solid foundation, all of these coloured pieces will integrate easily and mix and match with everything you already have.

Try experimenting with patterns and textures. Incorporate patterns and textures to add depth and visual interest to your outfits. Look for warm-toned patterns like floral prints, geometric designs, or ethnic motifs.

Play with fabrics like tweed, corduroy, knitwear, and suede, which can enhance the warmth of your wardrobe.

Obviously, the fabric varies depending on the time of year.

In summer try silks, linen, poplin, chiffon, gabardine, nylon, and seersucker. You can sprinkle in the heavier fall/winter fabrics in accent pieces like shoes, bags, hats, and accessories.

Always take into account your lifestyle and the occasions you dress for most often. This will be important for determining the kinds of things you need in your wardrobe.

It will help to cut out the unnecessary separate work and home wardrobes that just waste time, money, and space.

If you work in a formal environment, invest in tailored pieces in warm neutrals. If your style is more casual, focus on comfortable, versatile items like jeans, sweaters, and t-shirts in warm colours.

Accessorizing strategically is always the key, especially in the warmer months when your personal style can become a struggle with the loss of wearing layers and heavier fabrics.

Accessories play a crucial role in completing your warm palette wardrobe. Consider adding scarves, belts, jewellery, and bags in warm tones that complement your outfits. These small touches can tie your entire look together.

Don’t forget about outerwear even in summer. We call it the topper or third piece rule which is a finishing piece that ties the whole look together.

It will vary in different seasons but even in summer you can add a lightweight knit cardigan, linen blazers, denim jackets, or the short sleeve yellow tweed jacket that was another one of the fabulous finds from this week.

It gives me very retro 50s vibes and would make a great topper but also works over alone as a shirt.

Integrating little gems like this piece into your wardrobe will propel your look past basic and well into showing that you understand fashion and have great personal style.

Mixing and matching is my favourite part, especially when I get something new to add to my wardrobe.

The challenge of experimenting with different combinations and layering to maximize your wardrobe’s versatility is very fulfilling to me.

Mixing warm colours and neutrals creates a cohesive look, allowing you to create multiple outfits from a few well-chosen pieces. It comes to a point where you won’t even have to think about it.

You can pull out almost anything, and it should all work together.

This wardrobe would also make a great summer packing list with a few small tweaks. I also have a summer packing list that I just uploaded to the digital style guide shop, along with a bunch of heavily discounted older guides that you can use for style inspiration/outfit ideas.

Remember, building a wardrobe is a personal journey, and these steps are meant to guide you. Feel free to adapt them to suit your preferences, lifestyle, and budget.

Have fun exploring warm tones and building a wardrobe that reflects your style.

This post contains affiliate links. By using my links to shop I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks for supporting what I do 

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