While I'm not currently living with a capsule wardrobe, I do keep my wardrobe on the smaller side with constant evaluation of what I'm actually wearing, what needs to be rotated out, and what might not fit anymore. With that in mind, I tend to stick to the basics for summer dressing. Give me a white tee and denim short combo any day. With a versatile wardrobe, I'm able to match up outfits much easier without feeling like there's nothing to wear in my closet.
If you're feeling stuck or uninspired for the summer weather, consider looking at the basic building blocks of your wardrobe and ask yourself the following questions:
- do these pieces fit me right now?
- what holes do I have in the basic pieces of my wardrobe?
- are these pieces in good condition? (i.e. no rips, stains, stretches, etc.)
7 Essentials of My Summer Wardrobe
- Wrap Dress – the easiest piece to put on and look put together
- Denim Shorts – I style my favorite denim shorts in this video
- White Tee – read this comprehensive brand by brand review of the best white tee shirts for women
- Birkenstocks – absolutely essential
- Swimming Suit – this post walks through my favorite swimming suits for women
- Silk Tank – iconic and supremely versatile
- Light Sweater - my first Jenni Kayne piece and absolutely the first of many future purchases
Madewell
A forever favorite for summer styling, Madewell comes through year over year with classic styles at a great price point (especially if you're an Insider). A few of my favorite items include denim shorts, linen tops, and impressive leather shoes that create a fantastic combination of outfits for the hottest of heat waves.
Discover my top picks below
Everlane
Another fantastically priced brand, Everlane is a go-to for summer staples. I do find they have been leaning into trends a bit more recently, so I tend to shop within their basics collection to keep the items versatile and wearable year over year.
Discover my favorite picks from their site
Reformation
Known for their whimsical collection of dresses and their beloved basics, Reformation falls at a slightly higher price point than Madewell or Everlane - especially since they rarely run sales - but their quality is unmatched. This recent YouTube video highlighted some of my recent purchases from the brand, but a roundup of other favorites for summer are below.
J.Crew
I've had my J.Crew moments in the past (let's not forget this was the brand that we all bought our first trench coats from) but had fallen out of love with J.Crew up until this year. From what I understand they recently brought in a new creative or design director and I've seen a big improvement in the clothing style since then. They're now a go-to for browsing summer pieces.