When it comes to getting dressed everyday, I am a creature of habit. And I like it that way! While some might get bored looking at the same clothes every morning when it’s time to get dressed, I find it incredibly freeing to open my closet to a (small) variety of options that are easy to combine in dependable ways and consistently look good.
Now that it’s summer in earnest, I’ve been taking stock of my closet situation and making sure I’m well-stocked on summer staples. (I’m not a big shopper, which means that this year I realized I was lacking in shorts to wear … because I hadn’t bought any since 2018. I fixed that last week!)
I might not love to shop, but I LOVE to find options that work for me, and appreciate learning about the summer staples that work well for other women. Today I’m sharing my own summer wardrobe staples I rely on; I would very much like to hear yours in comments.
1. Great sunglasses. Perhaps it’s strange to start with accessories, but I wear these more than anything else mentioned in this list of summer wardrobe must-haves! My longtime favorites from Warby Parker are still going strong after ten years, though the exact style was discontinued several years ago. These Abe frames are similar.
2. All the sunscreen: If I don’t put this on before I get dressed, sometimes I forget altogether. That’s no good! That’s why I slather sunscreen on first thing in the morning and keep tubes by the back door for my face, neck, and hands. I have sensitive skin and it took me ages to figure out what works for me—that is, doesn’t irritate my skin—in this department. The Elta MD UV Clear sunscreen is often described as “the holy grail,” for good reason; I get mine via Dermstore subscription. I use Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen over my makeup.
For the rest of my body, I love Trader Joe’s basic $5.99 spray sunscreen, the one that comes in the blue can. It’s easy to use, works well, reasonably priced, and doesn’t irritate the sensitive skin of the women in my family.
3. A wide-brimmed hat. You can see where my summer priorities are, right? To continue our hiding-from-the-sun theme, we have this nice wide-brimmed hat I wear constantly in the summertime; it’s available in a slew of colors but mine are black and brown. My records show I ordered these in 2019 and they’re still going strong.
4. Finally, the clothes! My summer uniform often looks like some version of a lightweight pant, tee or tank, and necklace or tote. It gets hot and humid here in Kentucky where I live, so picking the right pant is crucial. These Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Linen Pants are cool and breezy and go with everything. (Many of the styles and colors are sold out right now, but I trust they’ll be restocked, as they have been for years!)
This year I tried the similarly styled Colette Denim Cropped Wide-Leg Jeans and find myself wearing them all the time. They’re comfortable on hot days, go with everything, and look great with a simple white tee or tank or any number of colorful blouses.
5. Sleeveless tops and tanks. I love a sleeveless top with a wide-leg pant on a hot summer day! But this silhouette look equally great with shorts or a summer skirt if I’m going casual. This lightweight sleeveless shell sweater wears like a dressy tee, and this slub vintage cotton tank reminds me of the J.Crew ones I had in every color in high school! (Anybody else?) It won’t be mistaken for dressy but they’re perfect with nice slacks or shorts on an especially hot day.
For a true slub tee, I’ve never found better than American Giant’s Premium Slub V-Neck Tee. The hefty fabric has a decidedly linen feel and texture, and these wear more like blouses than basic tees. I wear my bone and black v-necks constantly, and also really like their seasonal colors, like this gorgeous Southwest red. (American Giant is a longtime podcast sponsor so I have a code for you: save 20% off your first order with READNEXT.)
6. 5″ shorts. While I love pants in the summertime, I definitely turn to shorts for casual wear on hot hot days. (Or on not-so-hot days, I love a short with a long sleeve top. Anyone else?) The 5″ style has been my favorite length for a decade (or two?), and while these are widely available in a rainbow of colors and gorgeous prints, the ones I wear most are white, black, navy, and denim. I like these 5″ chino shorts from J.Crew Factory (though I wouldn’t order from this brand in white, they’re see-through) and these Gidget Denim Cutoff Shorts from Kut from the Kloth.
7. Straw or rattan tote. These styles feel quintessentially summer, and perhaps because my regular wardrobe tends to be pretty simple, I enjoy mixing up my bags in the summertime. My go-to large tote from Chloe and Lex isn’t available online, but this large Target straw tote is awfully cute and similarly sized to hold All The Things. I was delighted to discover Madewell now makes a Straw Edition of their Small Transport Crossbody, though I imagine I’ll stick to my brown leather version (like this style, but smaller) for my summer travel and errand-running.
8. Sandals and sneakers. This year I find myself constantly reaching for two pairs of shoes: my trusty Saltwater sandals, which I’ve had and loved for years. They’ll always be in style and go with everything, plus I can’t believe how well they’ve held up! This year I searched out a cute pair of sneakers that I’m wearing all the time: you can even see them in action right here!
What do you most enjoy wearing in the summertime? What summer staples do you rely on and find yourself turning to constantly? We’d love to hear all about them in comments!
P.S. Want to see the 2017 version of this post? It’s right here—and it’s not that different!
12 comments
Just FYI the link for the 2017 list takes us to the Insta photo of you wearing the Adidas sneakers.
Whoops! Thanks for the heads up; it’s fixed now.
I love the Colette wide leg cropped pant for summer. Same great cut as the denim in lighter weight fabrics. And some fun colors and prints! While you’re at Anthro, pick up a Somerset maxi dress. Another stylish summer staple.
I have horrible feet to the Birkenstock Bends in pale pink go with most of my clothing. I can insert my custom orthotics. Another staple for me is a slub cotton midi tank dress from Anthropologie. Bought it in 2 colors last year and added a third this year. Prefer arm coverage so pretty kimonos are also part of my summer staples.
I can’t explain why, but my whole life I did not like wearing tank tops. I don’t even like cap sleeves. My summer staple is a basic short sleeve t-shirt in a variety of colors.
I have found the coolest and easiest are dresses. I go to Tommy Bahama for simple straight shift dresses. I can always add a cropped jacket for air conditioned places.
Those Colette pants are popular!–not a pair in any color I could wear in my size! I have a pair of Madewell cropped wide leg pants and love them!
You commented that J. Crew Factory shorts in white are see -through. Can you recommend a different brand of white shorts that are not see-through? I have been looking and can’t seem to find any!
My old white J.Crew shorts are great! But I tried the new ones and … nope. Until I find great white chinos I’m relying on white denim shorts, which are readily available (though finding the brand that fits you best can still be a bit of a project).
Thanks for a great post Anne. I like simple, not fussy, dresses. I just bought a great black striped one at JCrew and one from Costco. I was in Austria last summer and I noticed many of the women wearing casual dresses,.
I keep hearing great things about Costco’s apparel but haven’t tried it yet myself. Maybe it’s time to take the plunge?
Ripstop Hawaii has the most comfortable and fun wrap skirts. Check them out online. For footwear Archie’s flipflops and Lissom Flytes are pricey but worth it.