Summer Closet Essentials for the Stylish Woman

That’s you! Yes, you absolutely can look and feel stylish even in everyday, comfortable and cool summer outfits. During the summer looking stylish is not about layering on completer pieces. Instead the key is to have a few summer closet essentials at hand to add polish and interest to even the most basic outfits. Here are the must-haves I lean into to create stylish outfits in the heat of summer.

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Breezy Drawstring Pants

You may already have these summer closet essentials in your wardrobe. But this blog post may serve as a reminder to pull them to the front of your closet and enjoy them. Wear these on repeat; no shame in that!

This year drawstring pants are so on trend. And I find that they tend to be easy, breezy, especially if they’re constructed in cotton or linen or maybe Tencel, which is a brand name for a type of lyocell or modal fabric, both of which are regenerated cellulose fibers made from wood pulp. So we’re talking natural fiber fabrics for the coolest wear.

I love wearing my drawstring linen pants, but these cotton blend relaxed utility pants are the ones I find myself reaching for over and over lately. I love the juxtaposition of combining them with a silk blouse like I did above. But they also look great with just a basic linen tee, as shown below.

And I have a similar pair of navy pants in Tencel that give me a slightly more elevated look.

What about just pull-on elasticized waistband pants? Aren’t they the same? I definitely have a wide assortment of those in my closet, too. But the reason I’m calling out pants with a drawstring is that they give you a little more versatility. You can leave your top untucked, give it a partial or front tuck or tuck it in all the way. That drawstring acts as a belt visually. Whereas I’m more prone not to tuck at all with a pant that just has an elasticized waistband.

I’ve collected more options in the shopping widget below.

Light Wash Denim

I’m not necessarily advocating for wearing jeans in the summer. But when you do need to – or choose to – wear denim, make them light wash pieces. Denim is definitely not the coolest fabric to wear this time of year, but the lighter wash will at least give you a cooler appearance.

Another option is to wear white or ecru jeans, of course. Those definitely look seasonally appropriate and they’re so versatile this time of year.

And it’s smart to have a light wash denim skirt in your wardrobe, too. This summer closet essential will give you outfit options for days.

I’ve collected more light wash denim options in the shopping widget below.

Colorful, Lightweight Summer Tops

You’ll look bright and beautiful when you walk in wearing a colorful, lightweight summer top. Sure I still wear a lot of neutral tops in the summer. But when I need a lift, I reach for a pretty colored or print top to cap off my outfit.

Choose a color that works best for your personal coloring or simply one that makes you smile. And remember, colors never really go out of style. Some may be trending this year, but you can wear any color that flatters you and you’ll never look out of style.

Solid colored tops may be the safest purchase, but I definitely enjoy wearing colorful prints during the summer, too. Wear what makes you happy! Just choose options in lightweight, cool fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk.

I’ve collected additional options in these summer closet essentials below.

Summery Sandals of All Sorts

While some will tell you to stick to the thinnest, strappiest sandals you can find, I’m an advocate for wearing sandals that are both stylish and comfortable. Especially if you have finnicky feet, you know that choosing the right shoes is not just a matter of fashion, but also health and walkability.

I personally believe that even chunky, supportive and cushioned sandals can look chic and modern…if chosen carefully. If I need sandals with a thick, cushioned sole for all day walking, I choose something in my flesh tone, like my Frankie4 Thomspon sandals…

or something in a trending, rich-toned cognac, like the Vionic sandals shown below.

Choose wisely. Comfort sandals can sometimes look clunky and very unattractive. But I find that several brands do a great job or creating options that strike a stylish balance between comfortable and supportive and attractive and modern.

When I don’t necessarily need the most comfortable sandals because I’m not doing a lot of walking, I do indeed opt for a sandal with a smaller profile, something a bit more feminine and enhancing. And often when I’m wearing dresses, skirts or even those flowy drawstring pants, I choose to wear heeled sandals.

A little bit of a heel is actually more comfortable for me than a flat, since I have metatarsalgia. And when I’m dressing up a bit more in the summer, I reach for a dressier sandal in a flesh tone like the trending Dolce Vita Mylee heels. They’re surprisingly comfortable (for a few hours!) and so chic on the foot.

I’ve collected more of these summer closet essentials in the shopping widget below. I have both comfort sandals and strappier options.

Cool, Comfortable Dresses

And finally (for this list at least!), it’s smart to have a few cool, comfortable dresses at the ready in the summer. This one-and-done summer closet essential is perfect for vacations, casual summer outings, church, lunch out and so much more.

I find myself reaching for dresses more and more frequently this summer. There’s just no better way to look and feel cool and classy in the heat of summer.

While some dresses are more appropriate for outings like church or dinner at a nice restaurant during the summer…

many of those same dresses can be styled multiple ways so that you can wear them for more casual occasions as well. On the other hand, some dresses are more decidedly casual. But they definitely has space in my summer closet because they’re often cooler than shorts or other casual options.

This year it’s very on trend to wear something like a sporty tennis or golf dress for everyday fun. The golf dress below would be perfect on the course, but it’s also a nice option for a picnic with the grandkids or coffee with a friend.

And my favorite summer dresses are those that can be worn both casually or “styled up” for a slightly more elevated look, like the linen dress below.

I’ve got more of these summer closet essentials in the shopping widget below. Oh, and if you enjoy wearing dresses in the summer, you may want to make sure you have these wardrobe essentials, too. I don’t ever wear a dress in the summer without them! (Cooling slip shorts, that is)

Do you have your summer closet essentials? If so, take the time to get dressed stylishly today. You can still look casual and feel comfortable, but you’ll show up so much better for the people in your life. For a little summer outfit inspiration, check out these summer fashion posts, which you can always access through the top drop down menu, too. Have a great day!