Wondering what you need to build a perfect toddler girl capsule wardrobe for your preschooler? Here’s everything your little sweetheart needs.
As you build a toddler girl capsule wardrobe for a preschooler, first consider the changing seasons, the season it will be when they first head to school, and the fact that they don’t necessarily need the vastest wardrobe. These considerations will make decision-making easier regarding what to buy and what not to buy.
With the changing seasons, bear in mind that it’s unnecessary to buy their entire wardrobe all at once unless you really want to get all that shopping done as soon as possible.
Summer will still be upon you at the start of the year, so you can first buy what you need for that season, then revisit purchasing additional fall clothing after the school year begins, then winter gear after a month or two, and so on.
These are items that would be great for building a little preschool girl’s wardrobe and can be done season by season instead of purchasing the entire wardrobe all at once.
But First:
I am a huge fan of clothing options for young girls at The Children's Place, not so much for babies (only because of the prices - I feel like they're a bit high considering how fast a baby grows out of things).
But the prices and options are fantastic for a preschool-aged child.
You can get a pretty substantial wardrobe for your child for about $200-$300, which is great!
Some places have the nerve to charge $30-$50 per outfit for a little one. That's insane!
I highly recommend you check out The Children's Place!
Foundational Wardrobe Items for a Preschool Girl:
First, let’s talk about the absolute essentials for your little girl’s wardrobe: we’re talking socks and undies.
1. Underwear - 2 packs of them (or 1 large pack)
Underwear is, of course, an essential feature of any and every wardrobe. You have the option of purchasing multi-packs that include anywhere from 6-10 pairs of little undies. There is a wide variety of styles to choose from for a little girl, such as bikini, hipster, boy shorts, and briefs.
Opting for at least two 6-packs will be a good start to the new school year, but I would opt for at least two larger packs of underwear, such as a 10-pack.
Choose whatever style your little girl likes best or whichever type you think she would find most comfortable.
2. Socks - 2 packs of them
When it comes to socks, I find it useful to have white socks and black socks.
Depending on the outfit, one color may look better than the other, especially when wearing shorts, which will expose the socks for everyone else to see. I also like that black socks look nicer longer since they don’t start to stain and look dingy in the way that white socks do.
Having a combination of ankle-length socks and calf-length socks in both white and black is good to have on hand. The ankle-length socks are more appropriate for warmer weather and look more flattering when wearing clothes that expose the leg or ankle. And the longer, calf-length socks are more suitable for colder weather.
3. Tanks
Tanks will provide a useful layer under some shirts that’ll be worn during cooler months or maybe more appropriate to wear beneath specific shirts.
Since it’s still summertime when school begins:
There is so much variety in the clothing options that are available for girls. You can buy just a few of multiple styles and types of clothing to create a pretty extensive wardrobe for a little girl. You can then mix and match different pieces to create a vast array of outfit options for your preschool girl.
During warmer weather, you can get a nice variety of short sleeve tops, shorts and capris, dresses, jumpsuits, and rompers.
These items can then be put to good use again when spring approaches and then shifts back into summer toward the end of the school year.
4. Short-Sleeve Tops - 10 of them
At the beginning of the school year, a base foundation of 10 shirts works well. You can then mix and match them with different shorts, pants, and capris to create variety in your daughter’s outfits.
You can always get more if you prefer, but I found that ten was a nice number to start with, and then I could add more later if I wanted or needed.
The Children’s Place typically has a 24/7/365 sale on kids’ clothes for 60-80% off. It seems like they have a never-ending clearance sale going on.
A variety of girl’s tops tend to be on sale for $2.50 - $5 each. I preferred purchasing my preschooler’s tops from TCP during these sales.
For a little girl, there is SOOO much variety beyond just a basic graphic tee. You can choose from that or off-shoulder tops, smocked tanks, cut-out tops, fringe tanks, tie front tops, and beyond.
Pick what you like from their vast array of options for a total of 10 tops to start the school year.
5. Shorts and Capris - 3 of each (for a total of 6 bottoms)
At least three pairs of shorts and three pairs of capris will create a nice foundation of bottoms to pair with the ten shirts you’re starting off the school year with.
6. Dresses - 5 of them
Having about five dresses, more if you desire, will help keep her wardrobe fresh and versatile. She can wear a dress here and there, and a short outfit or capri pants outfit here and there as well.
7. Jumpsuits and rompers - Combination of 6 of them
You can diversify your little girl’s wardrobe even more by adding a combination of jumpsuits and rompers for a total of 6.
You can select any combination that appeals to you, whether it be 3 of each or two jumpsuits and four rompers or whatever works for you.
These cute little outfits will provide convenience as they are one-piece outfits that do not require pairing and matching with other clothing articles. All you’ll need is a cute, basic shoe that will match easily with the jumpsuits and rompers.
8. Shoes
A few basic tennis-type of shoes will be ideal for your little preschooler.
When school begins, especially once she starts kindergarten, her school is quite likely to specifically request that she wear some type of sneaker at all times. They'll want to make sure she is always prepared for outdoor playtime (where they don't want delicate little feet exposed to harm) and for gym class.
But, when it comes to dresses (mostly concerning picture day), you will want her to have a pair of go-to dress shoes.
9. Raincoat and rain boots
Your preschooler doesn’t need a jacket for fall or winter yet, but rain could still be a factor.
I know it has been for us every school year. Not majorly, but it still happens.
A raincoat is useful for major showers, and so are the boots, so your little preschooler isn’t arriving at school with soaked clothing and shoes.
Additional Accessory - Umbrella
It’s possible to experience some of those hot, sunny, and shiny summer rains or just the dark, hot and muggy rains that are entirely too hot for a raincoat with school beginning in the summer.
An umbrella will be ideal for this situation.
Tip - Write your child’s name on their umbrella with a sharpie (use one of the metallic colored sharpies if it’s a dark-colored umbrella). Loose items like these can go missing easily with little ones.
As fall approaches, it will be wise to have jeans, pants, and long sleeves on hand. Seasonal items like a fall jacket will be necessary as well.
10. Long Sleeve Tops - 10 of them
As the weather cools, you’ll need some long sleeve tops. Another ten will provide a nice starting point for her fall clothing to match with different bottoms.
Including a cardigan will allow her to keep her short sleeve tops in rotation during this time as well.
11. Jeans - 5 of them
You can pair jeans with virtually anything. She can wear any of her shirts with jeans, and on days that aren’t as cool yet, she can still wear some of her short sleeves with them or add on a cardigan to keep her a bit warmer, if necessary.
12. Pants and leggings - Combination of 5 or 6 of them
Add a combination of pants and leggings to her selection. This will give her some nice bottoms aside from just jeans, and you can match all of her bottoms with warmer shirts that she will need when winter arrives.
13. Boots - 2 pairs
A basic boot that will be both stylish and durable for fall weather is ideal. You'll want two pairs, so you can select two different colors that will pair well with the bulk of her outfits while still providing a bit of versatility to her wardrobe.
Black, gray, and brown tend to be good options for matching the bulk of your outfit choices.
Or if she has lots of pinks, cute pink boots are a great option too.
14. Fall Jacket
As the temperatures begin to drop in the fall, you will definitely want a fall jacket for your little one.
A jacket that’s mildly weighted (of course not as heavy as a winter coat) with a hood to cover that little head and those little ears on days that may be a bit chillier or windier than initially expected will be perfect.
Additional Accessory - Windbreaker
A windbreaker may suffice at first, and if nothing else, it will be useful as spring approaches.
You will need to have some heavier shirts and seasonal additions such as coats and boots at the start of winter.
15. Sweaters - 10 of them
When the winter weather settles in fully, you’ll want to have sweaters to keep her cozy and warm. Again, 10 is the magic number that will get her through 2 consecutive weeks of school with a different outfit each day.
You can then reuse some of her long sleeves and let her wear a heavy cardigan with some of her lighter shirts, so she’s still dressed weather-appropriate while maintaining diversity in her wardrobe. You can also slip a lovely winter cardigan into the mix.
16. Winter Coat
Before the weather gets too cold and the temperatures drop too low, make sure your little girl is equipped with a durable, heavy winter coat with a hood to keep her nice and warm on her travels to and from school.
Tip - I like to buy coats a size up to allow room for growth. I didn’t want my little one to fit it perfectly at the beginning of the season and have it outgrown before it was over.
Additional Accessories - Hat and Gloves (or Mittens)
Keep those precious little fingers, head, and ears covered and protected from wind chill with a nice hat and glove set to provide them with extra warmth during the cold winter months.
Mittens are actually better since your preschooler's fingers are tiny and will fit more comfortably in mittens than the individual finger slots of gloves.
17. Snow Boots
During the winter months, you will want to be prepared to dress your little munchkin for snowstorms, and having a pair of snow boots for these occasions is an absolute must.
The cute, stylish fall boots will not provide the insulation your little girl needs to keep her little tootsies warm.
We don’t want her arriving at school with sore, frosty toes.
With these articles of clothing, you can be sure to mix and match multiple outfits for your preschool girl, be prepared for various weather conditions, and gradually build upon these items as each new season approaches.
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