<div class="wrapper">
  <div class="item">element</div>
  <div class="spacer small"></div>
  <div class="item">element</div>
  <div class="spacer"></div>
  <div class="item">element</div>
</div>

/* Inline implementation */
:root {
  --space-medium: 1rem;
  --space-small: 0.5rem;
}


.spacer {
  height: var(--space-medium);
  width: 100%;
}

.spacer.small {
  height: var(--space-small);
}



/* visuals (feel free to ignore) */
.item {
  background: #fef7f7;
  border: 1px solid #e8dce0;
  width: auto;
  padding: 0.5rem;
  color: #696161;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  text-align: center;
  box-sizing: border-box;
}
.wrapper {
  background-color: #f2a4ff;
  max-width: 300px;
}