A 12 Piece Romantic Spring Capsule Wardrobe

And then sometimes, which tends to be the most common is where I have no idea which direction it is going until there is a shift, and it makes itself clear.

This week, I had no idea which direction I was going until I found that floral embroidered handbag.

Then I thought, this is the piece that this wardrobe will be centred around which I didn’t decide on until yesterday, so I was really pushing it.

Right off the bat it gave me vintage vibes, which made me think of building a vintage wardrobe, but the bag isn’t vintage, so I vetoed that idea and dove deeper.

It is vintage-inspired, feminine, and dare I say…romantic.

Then, I realized that I neglected to do a romantic winter wardrobe this year, and to appease my romantic dressing people, I went with it.

This romantic capsule wardrobe for spring may appeal to you if any of your style adjectives are romantic, feminine, girly, vintage, sweet, or soft.

I tried to layer it with a modern feel, as well as keeping it less fussy and busy, but more minimalist to give the pieces longevity and versatility, which is an important part when building a capsule wardrobe.

But a quick summary would tell us that the Romantic fashion style has its roots in the Romantic period, which spanned from approximately 1800 to 1850.

This era was characterized by its emphasis on emotion, individualism, and the glorification of the past and nature, serving as a reaction against the Industrial Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment’s focus on reason and logic.

In fashion, the Romantic period marked a distinct shift from the more structured and restrained styles of the previous decades towards more elaborate, ornate, and expressive forms of dress.

The Romantic style has seen various revivals in the 20th and 21st centuries, reflecting the era’s emphasis on individuality, emotion, and the blending of historical elements with contemporary fashion.

These revivals often incorporate the Romantic period’s signature elements, such as ruffles, lace, and floral motifs, but reinterpret them in a way that resonates with modern aesthetics and sensibilities.

The Romantic fashion style’s enduring appeal lies in its blend of opulence, elegance, and emotion, offering a counterpoint to more minimalist or utilitarian fashion trends and allowing wearers to express a more whimsical, nostalgic, or individualistic side of their personality.

I wanted to take the overtly feminine romantic style and make it more modern and accessible to a larger audience.

By downplaying an excessive use of the traditional romantic flounce, florals, and laces my goal was to make the looks more simple and wearable and use the addition of fantastic shoes and accessories to bring in a lot of the feminine feel.

When we think of traditional romantic dressing, we tend to lean towards softer colours like pastels.

I wanted to bring in a bit of non-traditional colours to make a bolder statement.

Like red, for instance, the mary jane style shoe is very feminine and girly, but in a bold lipstick red we have a statement piece.

To tie it together I added a red knit vest with front ties for some peekaboo sexiness, and a red headband.

Burgundy and brown are also non-traditional romantic colours, as well as non-traditional spring colours. I discussed the use of off-season non-traditional colours last week in my trendy capsule wardrobe post.

The talk was about how I was a huge fan of this shift that we are seeing, and I am demonstrating that in this wardrobe with a burgundy handbag and some brown ballet flats.

The ballet flats were a topic of discussion in my Instagram stories today because I bought them yesterday and loved them.

As soon as I opened them, I knew that they would be perfect for the direction that I was taking this capsule wardrobe.

They also have a bit of a burgundy hue in person, so it makes them even more perfect.

But if you want to go with traditional colours, they also have them in light pink and tan.

With this shift into a modern romantic style, I wanted to make sure that we still had those key pieces and fabrics like a full ruffled skirt, and a delicate cardigan in peach fuzz which so happens to be Pantone’s colour of the year.

This modern romantic style evolved from traditional romantic aesthetics by incorporating contemporary trends and silhouettes, blending the old with the new for a fresh take on femininity and elegance.

We retained the core elements of romantic fashion but integrated them with modern trends, cuts, and styling techniques to create outfits that are both romantic and current.

In order to build a romantic style capsule wardrobe, I kept of few things in mind.

Mixed Textures: Combining traditional romantic fabrics like lace and silk with modern materials such as leather or denim for a juxtaposition of hard and soft.

Layering: Skillful layering of pieces to add depth and interest to an outfit, such as a lace top under a leather jacket.

I didn’t include a leather jacket in this look, but you can use this as an example if you have a leather jacket in yours.

Modern Silhouettes: Incorporating contemporary silhouettes, like cropped tops, high-waisted trousers, or midi skirts, while maintaining a sense of softness and flow.

Colour Palette: While pastels and jewel tones remain popular, modern romantic styles may also include bolder colours or minimalist neutrals, expanding the traditional colour palette.

Focus on Accessories: Choosing accessories that are delicate and feminine but with a modern twist, such as geometric jewellery, and minimalist, vintage, or futuristic style bags.

Prints and Patterns: Floral prints remain a staple, but modern interpretations might include abstract or digital floral designs, or the mixing of prints for a more eclectic vibe.

Footwear: Footwear ranges from classic heels and ballet flats to more modern choices like chunky boots or sleek sneakers, depending on the outfit’s vibe.

Overall, modern romantic style dressing is about balancing the soft, dreamy elements of romantic fashion with sharper, more contemporary pieces to create a look that’s both timeless and in tune with today’s fashion trends.

My goal was to show you how a wardrobe style can fall under different style adjectives without being 100% percent reflective and committed to that style.

It is a great lesson in how to build a wardrobe around your interpretation of the style that works for you, and not some boxed-in preconceived idea of what that style is supposed to look like.

Stay true to yourself, style and vision. And most of all, have fun.

Romantic Style Outfit Ideas

You might also like:
A 12 Piece Trendy Spring Capsule Wardrobe
A 12 Piece Starter Spring Capsule Wardrobe
A 12 Piece Preppy Spring Capsule Wardrobe
A 12 Piece Minimalist Spring Capsule Wardrobe
A 15 Piece Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Inspired Spring Capsule Wardrobe

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