Once upon a time, you would have heard me saying that fall is my favorite season to dress for. Boots, blazers, burgundy, oh my! And okay, though it still is, I’ll admit, summer is a close second. Linen, long skirts, leather sandals, oh my! On this site, you’ll always find attainable outfit ideas, but if you want a peek at wardrobe essentials in action, here’s a week of my real-life classic summer fashion to inspire your very own summer style.
1. off the shoulder top + maxi skirt + sandals + straw bag
I love my neutrals, but when it comes to wearing a pop of color, red is my #1 pick! Whether it’s red lipstick, a red top, or both, there’s something about this shade that’s fun and flattering. In the warm months, it pops against white – perfect for pairing with your white jeans and white skirts.
To me, the combo of red + gold + white + straw accents is *chef’s kiss*. Though this particular white skirt from Dissh is no longer available, I strongly encourage you to pick up a white skirt for your own summer capsule wardrobe. It’s the wardrobe staple gift that keeps on giving.
2. gingham midi dress + woven flats + straw hat + straw bag
When I saw this dress online on Quince, I was instantly smitten. There’s just something so sweet and nostalgic about a gingham print. It’s giving summer, it’s giving vintage, it’s giving the style that reminds us of a better time. Whether it’s a gingham dress, skirt, or something else, I don’t know how you can get much more classic than that!
I wore my dress to The American Club in Kohler, WI, and think it would be charming to wear for a pretty picnic or barbecue. What I love about this dress is that you could style it in a chic way (like I did above), dress it down with sneakers, or dress it up even more with espadrille wedges. So versatile!
3. linen tank + midi skirt + lace up sandals + straw bag
Am I the (self-appointed) queen of black and white outfits? Maybe that’s not for me to decide. 😉
This is a color combo I wear endlessly, but never tire of, because there are so many different ways to reinvent it. In the summer, I stick to lightweight fabrics like linen, and I almost always add gold, light brown, and woven accents. The straw material adds texture, the gold adds a certain type of polish, and well, I just think light brown looks so classy with this color combination!
4. one piece swimsuit + linen button-down + shorts + lace up sandals + straw bag
When I go to the beach, I channel French style. (And not just at the beach!) Taking inspiration from what a French woman would wear on vacation, I built my beach look around a red one-piece swimsuit. There’s that red again!
I personally don’t believe that a beach look means throwing on old clothes (though that’s okay if you believe that!). Instead, I love the opportunity to still look chic, and to me, that means styling a swimsuit with a linen button-down, shorts, and sandals. Can’t forget the beach bag!
5. linen vest + mini skirt + woven block heels + straw bag
Here’s this combo again that is easily one of my favorite go-tos for summer: black, white, straw, and gold. This is a look I wore into the office (yes, it’s my office, so my hemline length doesn’t matter, ha).
This black mini skirt is one of my all-time favorite wardrobe pieces, and I’m a big believer in wearing as much of your wardrobe year-round as you can. To give it a summer update, I paired it with a linen vest – another extremely versatile summer staple I believe everyone should have.
6. linen shirt + floral skirt + mary jane flats
Summer is for linen. Case in point: another linen outfit. Linen can be styled for a beach, a vacation, and even for a pretty office outfit! I paired my light blue linen top with a floral skirt. This top is the equivalent of fall’s chambray/denim shirt, and I like how this solid balance pairs with different prints.
Related: How to Wear Linen Pants: 13 Essential Tips for Effortless Style
7. maxi dress + sandals + straw bag + sunglasses + straw bucket hat
When it comes to hot summer days, give me a sleeveless dress and I’m happy. Maybe it’s just me, but when it’s roasting, I don’t like having something on my arms – it makes me feel too restricted! That’s where a sleeveless dress like this comes in handy. I got this for our vacation to Mexico, and it’s been in a constant outfit rotation ever since. (I’m a big believer in not buying clothes just for one event!)
For farmer’s market, I paired it with a large tote bag and my favorite ways to keep out of the sun in style: a cute straw hat and black sunglasses.
A Week of Classic Summer Outfit Ideas
We talk about re-wearing what you have and how to make the most out of your wardrobe plenty over here (it’s our favorite subjects), and now I hope you are inspired to do that yourself! From shoes to bags to accessories, I am not afraid of a rewear. In fact, the more I can wear what I have, the happier I am.
Looking for more summer outfit ideas? Here are 13 Summer Outfits We’re Wearing This Season Using Clothes We Already Have
First of all, you are so adorable and cute! Did I mention adorable?? Second, I’ve been following you for awhile and you have helped me completely revitalize my wardrobe; now I have everything I need to feel like a pretty, pretty princess 🤩 FR, I have gotten so many compliments at my office (and while on vacation) from outfits your posts inspired – just wanted to thank you for helping us all look and feel our best on a budget, because I legiterally had no idea what I was doing til now lol. Anyway, love your content and hope you have a super cool & chic summer 😎🥂
Aww thank you so much, Ashley! I appreciate your kind words and I’m thrilled the outfit ideas and posts have helped. Have a great summer!