You all have probably picked up by now that I like to get dressed quickly and easily—but still look decently put together! Especially these days. We’re feeling the fullness of three kids + moving + saying our goodbyes to friends, which has made me want to get dressed even more quickly than ever! Yet, I still want to put on a cute outfit because when we hang out with San Diego friends for the last time, I want to take pictures to remember it all (and look decent in those pictures 😄).
I’ve said before in my free class, 6 Common Style Mistakes + 3 Keys to Fix Them, as well as in Simply Put Together that having the RIGHT pieces is the first and foremost key to being able to get dressed quickly and effortlessly. (BTW, if you want to know when the free class is happening again and when Simply Put Together opens again, you can sign up for the waitlist HERE. I also recently offered free 1:1 style coaching to everyone on the waitlist, so there are other reasons to join that list besides the classes!)
There are three things right now that have kind of been lifesavers to my summer style, and I’m sharing them today! If you have these in your tool belt, it makes feeling stylish in the summer way easier.
1. Statement Tops
When it’s too hot to use layers to pull outfits together or make outfits look interesting, I start relying on statement tops more and more to provide that visual interest. That way, you don’t have to add a whole lot more to the outfit for it to be stylish or pulled together.
When I say “statement tops,” I’m simply referring to any type of top that has more details than a plain basic tank, and the more eye-catching details it has, the more of a statement it makes. Sometimes—especially the tops that make more of a statement—I can’t mix and match them as well as with other types of tops, but I am totally okay with that if it makes summer style easier and more enjoyable. 😊
Here are some examples from the last couple of months:
This one has adorable embroidery all around, plus ruffle sleeves, and an empire waist. I really love this top, but I’ll admit that sometimes it feels too fancy for some of the low-key settings I’m in. So, I reserve this one for when I want to be a little dressier. Adorable, though! It comes in a red version, HERE, and a really pretty sort of periwinkle blue, HERE. I wear size S.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: c/o Old Navy (exact—wearing size S)
Shorts: c/o Old Navy (exact—wearing size 8)
Sandals: (super similar, similar, similar)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (exact—wearing size M)
I actually reach for this printed handkerchief tank more than the red embroidered top above because it doesn’t feel quite as dressy as the red one, but it still makes a cute outfit that’s more elevated than basics. I’ve worn it several times already to hang out with friends. This tank has printed and knotted straps and is very lightweight, so I love that I have a cute option for really warm weather. Find it HERE. I wear size M.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: c/o Old Navy (exact—wearing size M)
Shorts: c/o Old Navy (exact—wearing size 6)
Sandals: (super similar, similar, similar)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (exact—wearing size M)
This is another tank that doesn’t make a huge statement, but it is a step up from a basic tank with its material, big buttons, and square neckline. I like this a lot for everyday life as, again, it’s more elevated than basics, but it’s not super dressy at all. For instance, I would wear this to the zoo and not feel overly dressed up, whereas I would feel a little fancy wearing the red embroidered top to the zoo. (But hey, if that’s your style and you’d wear that to the zoo, then seriously, more power to you!) Find it HERE in several colors and prints. I wear size XS.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: c/o J.Crew Factory (exact—wearing size XS)
Shorts: c/o J.Crew Factory (exact—wearing size 28; similar, similar—I wear size 11)
Denim Jacket: (exact—I wear size M)
Sandals: (super similar, similar, similar)
Bag: Bag: (similar)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (similar—I wear size M)
I’ve really been liking this crochet lace button-front top to look a bit nicer for appointments. It pairs well with denim shorts and jeans. I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again: It’s made of a woven cotton and rayon blend, which keeps it somewhat casual while details like its buttons, sleeves, lace trim, and square neckline elevate it.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (exact—wearing size S)
Shorts: Nordstrom (exact—wearing size 6; similar)
Sandals: (super similar, similar, similar)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (exact—wearing size M)
Statement tops like these have been KEY for me to be able to throw together outfits easily. I usually pair them with medium or dark wash or white shorts and am able to feel good without a lot of fuss and thought!
You can check out a few more statement tops by scrolling through the widget below:
2. Statement Earrings
Next up is statement earrings! I rely on statement earrings year-round, but even more heavily in the summer. But of course, we’re not talking about heavy earrings. They’ve gotta be lightweight and not fussy! I’ve been wearing Nickel & Suede earrings since 2013, and if you haven’t heard me talk about them before, I love them because they are sooooo lightweight and really, really comfy to wear all day. You get the benefit of a statement earring without it painfully dragging down your earlobe. These are so lightweight that I often forget I have them on, and I even take naps in them—that’s how little you feel them. EVERY pair of earrings I’ve worn since 2013 is Nickel & Suede. They have soooo many styles and are constantly coming out with more!
They are pricey, but they are genuine leather and extremely good quality. Cheaper knockoffs tend to twist and show the back of your earrings, but that never happens with N&S. Plus they have great customer support, so if you have trouble with your earrings, reach out to them and let them take care of you. Last, there is no nickel in them. The ear wires are sterling silver.
My most-worn pair during the summer is the Blank Canvas Novas. They work with a ton of my summer clothes and the colors I tend to wear, and they pop well against my dark hair. I’m pretty content to just throw those on easily, truly without having to think much at all, and feel decently put together. I also tend to wear the London Tan Cut-Outs since I often wear tan sandals, so they are easy to pair together. Another pair I wear quite a bit is the Leopard Print Teardrops, in particular when I wear an outfit full of solids and want to add some visual interest with a print.
That said, Nickel & Suede has like a billionnnn colors and different shapes and styles. Check them out HERE. Or shop some through the widget below:
3. Versatile Sandals
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: pull together your outfits by wearing real shoes. And I don’t mean that you have to wear super fancy shoes. I just mean please, please, please don’t wear rubber flip-flops. Even if you trade those rubber flip-flops for a pair of fashion sandals, it’ll add the right finishing touch to your outfit and turn it into a cohesive, pulled-together look.
The types I love wearing in the summer are ones like THESE and THESE because they go with a lot of my clothes, match my skin tone, and I don’t have to think much at all when trying to put together my outfits. I love the sleek ones that have thin or no straps around my ankles, which otherwise tends to cut off my leg line and not work with certain skirts or shorts. I like them in a color that is close to my skin tone to help them blend in, which helps them work more easily in more outfits.
THIS pair of flip-flop-style sandals are literally flip-flops 😃, but they look way more polished and finished than rubber flip-flops. They are VERY comfortable, too! They have soft faux leather, soft straps, a soft footbed, and a little cushion. Find them HERE. I wear size 8.5.
THESE sandals are similar to the ones that have been my go-to pair for years (which are no longer available). These are also very comfortable with soft straps and a little cushion in the footbed. Find them HERE. I wear size 8.5.
These colors may not work for you, depending on your skin tone and the colors in your wardrobe. But the main point is to figure out some go-with-everything sandals that you can throw on without having to think much—the same way you might throw on rubber flip-flops without thinking much—that still look polished and put together. 😁👏🏽
If you ever want to bust out the statement shoes, then of course you can! But, when I want to get dressed super fast without thinking and still look good, I am soooo grateful to have simple sandals like these.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: JCPenney (exact—wearing size S)
Skirt: JCPenney (exact—wearing size S)
Denim Jacket: Nordstrom (exact—I wear size M)
Sandals: JCPenney (exact—I wear size 8.5)
Bag: (similar)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (similar—I wear size M)
Necklace: c/o Dear Mushka (exact)
Those are three things that have made summer style SUPER easy for me. If you aren’t using some of these strategies yet and you want to make it easier to feel stylish and put together this summer, try them!
(Pssst—You can also use the Summer Starter Kit Wardrobe Guide to help you with a more robust and step-by-step plan for great summer style. See below for details!)
There’s PLENTY of summer left, and if you haven’t built an easy-to-use summer wardrobe yet, it’s not too late! Grab the Summer Starter Kit Wardrobe Guide to feel put-together and stylish, even for the most casual outfits, and even when it’s suuuuuper hot!
