17 Men’s Clothing Items Worth Considering For Your Spring Capsule Wardrobe · Effortless Gent

The weather is starting to warm up (slightly) and we’re getting a glimpse of better, less dreary days ahead.

Now’s the perfect time to evaluate your spring capsule wardrobe and make sure you have the necessities in your closet to adapt to swings in temperature—warmer days, cooler nights—from now and well into summer.

This is my list of spring- (and even summer-) worthy casual and smart casual menswear options to consider adding to your wardrobe.

Great Additions For A (Slightly) Warmer Weather Wardrobe

You probably have a few of these items already, and in that case, great! Hopefully the other clothes I’ve listed here inspires you and gets your gears turning as you put together your warm weather / spring wardrobe.

Bonus points: You’ll be able to wear many of these things well into summer.

linen / cotton blend Casual pants

An unstructured looser pair of pants in a linen or lightweight cotton (or a blend of both!) will be really comfortable in summer, but also in these transitional spring months. These will be your go-tos more and more as we get increasingly warmer weather.

In terms of fit, go for a straight or more relaxed fitting pair. You want your legs to move unrestricted and be able to breathe.

knit polos / knit button-up Shirts

I bought my first knit polos in 2018, and my latest ones as recently as last summer. I don’t think this “trend” is going anywhere anytime soon. This polo or knit button-down style is modern and of the moment, while at the same time, having a retro vibe.

You can go simple and unassuming (like one in a solid navy color), or a little bolder in color, or pattern, or both.

chambray shirt

In my opinion, chambray shirts are an all-season piece—I wear mine all year long. They’re one of my favorite shirts, and over the years I’ve had several different variations, from different shades of indigo, to short and long sleeve styles.

If you’re looking for one this spring, go for a more relaxed or traditional fit chambray shirt in a medium to light wash with casual detailing. You want it to be looser and not so slim.

espadrilles

Espadrilles are a great footwear option for warmer weather. They are the perfect alternative (as well as much more refined and interesting) to any sort of flip-flop or slide. They instantly elevate your spring outfit, and can be worn just as easily near a body of water as they can to an outdoor lunch with family or friends.

A (looser) Oxford cloth button down

It’s undeniable that looser and more relaxed fits are in style right now. But after 15 years of “all slim everything”, you should embrace this! It’s a good thing to have the pendulum swing the other direction.

While you don’t wanna replace all of your dressier and more formal clothes with looser versions necessarily, your casual wardrobe could benefit from more relaxed shirting.

I recently picked up the Big Shirt from GAP and it’s overall wider silhouette is incredibly comfortable. J.Crew also has the Giant Fit Oxford shirt for men. (There’s also a Giant Fit Chino at J.Crew, which has been wildly popular. Pretty sure I had one of the original versions in the 90s.)

In my experience, you may want to consider sizing down one for a more approachable fit that’s still forgiving and loose without being overly billowy. Or, just stick to your true size.

I actually sized UP in the Gap Big Shirt. You can see it in this video where I include it in an outfit… it doesn’t look as big as you’d expect. Plus I figured there would be some shrinkage over the first couple washes.

a lightweight sneaker

Lightweight sneakers are my go-to casual option in warmer weather. I start wearing them more and more around April, especially when there’s no threat of rain.

The Converse Chuck 70 is an easy-to-wear style that’s been around for decades and still looks great today. You’re never too old to wear a Chuck Taylor in my opinion (and the Chuck 70s are built slightly better and feel nicer, same with the Jack Purcell line).

You could also consider a knit fabric sneaker in a classic tennis shoe silhouette I’ve also seen unlined leather sneakers in that same silhouette, or in a runner style, which would be great for warmer weather as well.

wife pleasers

When I was in high school, I wore wife pleasers under my shirts all the time. I haven’t really worn them at all since, probably until last summer when I re-accepted, and even embraced, the wife pleaser as a go-to base layer.

Having an A-shirt (the real name of “wife pleasers”) allows me to wear my button up shirts with more buttons unfastened, without feeling like a 70s porn star wannabe. Also, from a stylistic standpoint, you’re visually layering when you have an undershirt peeking out from a loose-fitting summer-friendly button-up. That’s a good thing.

chore coat

Of course, spring and summer weather can sometimes be unpredictable, and you may find yourself needing a lightweight jacket. A cotton chore coat is one of the best jackets for transitional weather.

They are unlined, relatively lightweight, easy to wear, and they pair up well with a variety of different looks. Plus, they’re often designed with three to four exterior pockets, which comes in handy when you have to carry a few things and you don’t want to stuff your pants pockets.

camp collar shirt

Similarly to the knit polos in my life, I started picking up camp collar shirts about 5 to 6 years ago, and I bought my most recent ones this past summer.

They’re an easy and breezy style to wear in warmer months, and the relaxed vibe it gives off is a great addition to your spring wardrobe. Plan on wearing these throughout the spring months, and well into summer.

harrington or work jacket

This lightweight option is similar to a chore coat, in that it’s a great transitional outerwear piece to add to your wardrobe. You could wear it three seasons out of the year!

The Harrington jacket is a classic. The silhouette itself has been around since at least the 30s (originally called the G9, made by a company called Baracuta, who is still making them today).

A work jacket would be a more of-the-moment option, especially considering how popular workwear brands like Dickie’s and Carhartt are. I really love this plainly designed yet elevated option from Madewell, with tons of neat little details (like cinches at the hip, a double zipper, button cuffs, etc.

lightweight cotton sweater

If you only have one type of midlayer for the spring season, make it a lightweight sweater, preferably in a cotton or cotton linen blend. You can also consider a lightweight wool or wool blend option.

Lightweight cotton sweaters are great to throw on when the temps dip in the evenings and they also work great as an impromptu scarf, tied around your neck loosely. As far as color options, I’d suggest a lighter shade of blue, off white / cream, or heather gray, for starters.

This Oceano sweater from BR is a good example of what to look for.

Tan Suede loafers (Lug soles recommended)

This rugged twist on a standard tan suede loafer is one of my favorite options for spring and summer. The classic elements of a penny loafer matched up with a hardwearing (yet light) lug sole is one of my favorite looks.

I see many brands carry this style of loafer, but you can’t go wrong with a pair of G.H.Bass Weejuns. Their suede model may be running low, but they have a full leather version, plus several variations if you browse their site.

The Velasca loafers aren’t lug soled, but an awesome option with a more classic silhouette (slim leather sole).

trench coat

I picked up my first real trench coat this year, and I have to say, it’s a game changer when it comes to braving any sort of wet weather.

In case you’re worried about looking like a private investigator from a 1940s noir film, it really depends on what you wear with it. Trench coats have a slightly more formal vibe, at least when compared to a Barbour waxed jacket or a standard rain coat, for example.

One outfit I like to pair with my trench: dark jeans, a sweatshirt, and Chelsea boots. That way, the trench doesn’t feel so “dressy” and I achieve more of a high / low look.

The best part is, you can still wear the trench coat with a more traditional and dressier look if needed. Don’t be scared to mix casual and formal elements in one outfit; it’s one of the best ways to have a more visually interesting style.

a classic sweatshirt

I’ve picked up a few classic cut sweatshirts over the past few months, and they become one of my most worn items in my closet. Not only are they perfect for wearing around the house, but they’re also the perfect midlayer for spring, an alternative to a cotton sweater, especially for a more casual leaning outfit.

If you want to go the high / low route like I always suggest, you could always pair it up with dressier elements like the cotton linen easy pants I mentioned earlier and a pair of loafers.

denim jacket

A well-fitting, medium wash denim jacket is one of those pieces you’ll have in your closet for years, if not decades. And luckily, it’s great for spring and summer weather. You can wear this year after year and like the Harrington jacket or the chore coat.

My favorite is the traditional trucker style in a classic cut and a cropped length. The standard Levi’s denim trucker jacket is a good example of this. If you want something with more room, definitely size up, though in most cases, you can grab your true size.

unlined cotton sport coat

If I’m going for a smart casual sort of vibe, I’m reaching for a sport coat. And in the spring and summer, I grab a specific type.

Ideally my warm weather sport coat is:

• made from a cotton (or cotton blend) fabric
• unlined (or minimally lined)
• unstructured, with a soft shoulder and no interlining
• patch pockets, which helps with making a dressy garment more casual
• in a mid-blue / navy shade, or the opposite end, a khaki / off-white / cream color

Don’t be afraid to wear your sportcoat casually too. Think of it like a lightweight outerwear piece, instead of a formal garment that needs to be dressed up. So while, yes, you can wear them with trousers, a dress shirt, and a tie… you could also wear it with linen easy pants and a ribbed knit polo, two of the items I mentioned earlier in this article above.

striped t-shirt

Striped T-shirts, especially in a navy and white combo, always remind me of warmer weather, mostly due to them being historically synonymous with seafaring and coastal style.

The Breton shirt is what comes to mind first, and of course you can’t go wrong with the long sleeve classic. But I managed to find short sleeve alternatives at places like J.Crew and Gap that give off the same vibes.

What Makes It “Spring Clothes”?

There are few distinguishing features of spring clothes and summer clothes, as opposed to fall / winter clothes.

1) Lighter weight fabrics

As spring rolls in, you’ll want to put away the flannels and heavy wools, and swap them out for lightweight fabrics like linen, cotton, and modern synthetics. Linen offers unmatched breathability and becomes softer with each wash.

Cotton keeps things cool and casual; you’ll find cotton garments in both laid-back (T-shirts, shorts) and slightly more formal (sportcoat, trousers) styles.

And modern synthetics such as Tencel are known for its softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties. So not only are they more comfortable in warmer weather, they’re sustainable and eco-conscious too.

These three fabrics are your go-to for a season that’s all about staying cool while looking effortlessly sharp.

2) Lighter “menswear netural” colors and shades

If you’ve been an EG reader for a while now, you’ve probably heard me mention (what I like to call) Menswear Neutrals. The colors are black, grey, white, brown, tan or khaki, navy, army (or olive) green, and light blue.

Now if you’ve learned about colors in preschool, you may think, “Hol up, these aren’t neutral?!”

Technically they’re not neutral colors in the classic sense of the term, but from a menswear wardrobe and outfit perspective, these colors go really well with each other, and with basically any other color out there.

What’s the point? Well if you take a lighter shade of some of these darker hues, they automatically become more spring wardrobe-friendly.

For example, think:

• khaki instead of brown
• cream or off-white instead of khaki
• light blue instead of navy
• heather grey instead of charcoal grey

And so on!

3) Brighter and more vibrant hues

If you want to take it a step further, you could go for brighter and more vibrant hues overall. Those are your pastel shades, your neon shades, your brighter primary colors.

Of course I’d suggest doing this in small doses. You don’t want your entire outfit to consist of bright, vibrant, primary colors (unless you know what you’re doing, and you’re doing it deliberately).

But a more vibrant color or print paired up with menswear neutrals is a good way to go.

These Are My Suggested Wardrobe Additions For Spring!

And there’s a good chance you may have some of this stuff in your wardrobe already. If so, now’s the perfect time to pull them out and start wearing them!

And as always, buy just what you need and want. Experimentation is encouraged.

What are your favorite things to wear as the weather warms up? DM me on Instagram and let me know.