Summer Outfit Formulas

Come high summer, with my kids off school for 11 weeks and the heat and humidity of Spain, and the decision paralysis that comes from both… I’m reaching for a rotation of the same pieces from my closet.

This summer I’ve had some combination of these outfits on repeat and they can be easily styled in various ways over and over again using items you already have in your wardrobe.

What’s your go-to summer outfit? Let me know in the comments!

Drawstring bottoms with a basic top

This outfit formula reminds me of the early 2000s celeb street style, the Jennifer Aniston effortless look. It’s comfortable and versatile, and the subtle addition of the drawstring detail gives off this “I’m not trying too hard” look.

It works with trousers, shorts or skirts and you can either keep the colors classic with a neutral top or add a pop of color.

Click here for my selection of drawstring bottoms and basic tops.

Button-down shirt as the anchor

I love shirts all year round and high summer is no exception. Teaming a crisp cotton poplin or lightweight linen shirt with a pair of short shorts or a silk skirt is a perfect heatwave option. I love it when the shirt is slightly longer and more oversized with the shorts peeping out the bottom, but if you prefer a little more coverage, this look also looks great with longer-line shorts, or something I’ve been loving lately is a sheer organza skirt with an underlayer giving the illusion of shorts but with more coverage of the leg.

Click here for my selection of button-down shirts and shorts.

Romantic dresses, and skirts

I’ve spoken before about how I love romantic dresses and skirts. I think they look great on everyone and you should definitely have a variation of this style in your wardrobe to whip out for a minimum effort/maximum impact whimsical summer’s outfit. If you aren’t sure what style suits you best, I talk more about this style in a previous Substack post here.

Click here for my selection of romantic dresses and skirts.

Romantic tops

My most asked about summer top is a vintage French cotton top I found on Vinted a while ago (pictured here, bottom left). It’s the kind of piece I will wear for years to come and will still work in my wardrobe as my style inevitably changes and evolves. The level of “whimsy” depends on how you style it; I like to pair mine with denim or a cleaner more contemporary bottom so that it doesn't feel too feminine and pretty.

Click here for my selection of romantic tops.

Oversized fit

Oversized clothing works great in summer as long as you are choosing lightweight and natural fabrics like cotton and linen. Oversized clothing is also great for layering looks once the weather starts transitioning into autumn. The great thing about this look is it is so versatile, it can be a dress, a t-shirt, a trouser, a shirt; anything really as long as it is loose fitting. I usually go for block color rather than prints with oversized items to stop it from totally swamping me.

Click here for my selection of oversized summer pieces.

Color blocking

I’ve added this as a formula, but I actually think it can be applied to most of the others above as it is simply pairing different colors together. I love pairing clashing colors for a statement look like red and chartreuse or blue with pink, however if you prefer more neural tones this works too. Keep the accessories simple when wearing lots of different color so that it doesn't distract from the outfit.

Click here for my selection of color pop pieces.