The Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year… met with me forgetting to set my alarm and being awakened by the bright sun shining in our room, haha.
But with summer officially upon us today I started to think ahead to July’s capsule and opted to do things a little different this time around. I decided to compile a list of what I consider to be my summer wardrobe essentials. Pieces that can seamlessly, and effortlessly, take me through the summer season…. items that were included in June’s capsule, and others that have been styled here and there along the way….
So here’s the goal with this post. I will likely pass on selecting “new” pieces for July’s capsule, and instead will provide styled outfits for the month of July with the pieces you see here. There are 24 pieces, 25-27 if you include a few duplicates of the same item due to having the same color (and I do for several of them), which I believe is more than enough to complete a true capsule summer wardrobe. There are pieces that easily dress up, items meant for lounging and traveling, and pieces that will get you through your day to day. Of course, you might want to add some items into your summer wardrobe as you see fit… I probably will here and there… but for the most part, as I mentioned above, with these items (or similar), you should be set! A few items I do have my eye on to fill in some possible gaps include this knit dress, lightweight pullover (15% off with code Natalie15), and this two piece shorts set.
I’ve included a description of each item below as well, and again, will be creating 31 outfits out of them for the month of July…
And with that, I hope everyone has a wonderful day ahead!
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BOTTOMS
NASHVILLE LINEN SHORTS: I’ve shared these so many times before, but they really are my favorite pair of linens shorts… and after 3 seasons, they just keep getting better. They’re airy and breathable, so great for the summer heat, and they are incredibly versatile as well. I own them in the oatmeal and the striped colors. If you’re between sizes, I do recommend sizing up.
MIKOH STRIPED SHORTS: I purchased these for our trip to Hawaii and love them… they have a looser, slightly oversize fit, without looking sloppy and they are versatile enough to be worn as a coverup or a great basic, everyday short. I’ve worn them both ways and I love how they easily elevate a basic outfit. They fit tts.
AGOLDE PARKER LOOSE FIT: The AGOLDE Parker loose fit jeans are my go-to pair of cut-offs and I own them in the black and white as well. They have a longer inseam, so my booty doesn’t hang out (at almost 40, I’ll pass on that, thank you…), and the looser fit doesn’t make them look like biker shorts in disguise. I did find these to run big, but if you’re between sizes, your regular size should work…
SEZANE PAPERBAG SHORTS: If you’re not a fan of cut-offs and like the denim look, then these are such a stylish option. They have a looser fit, and feel pulled together and chic with the oversized belt. Sizing is. a bit tricky, but I took my regular size… but have heard from some people that the regular size was a little too big, so sizing down might be the best option here.
RUFFLE SKIRT: I love a flirty skirt for the summer season, and this one had been on my wishlist since last season… so when I found it on The RealReal I decided to add it to my wardrobe. It’s fun for the summer season, and I love that it can act as a bathing suit coverup, a casual daytime look, or could even be dressed up for a night out. I found another option here and here.
AGOLDE 90’s JEANS: I purchased these back in February and think they’re a great pair of denim for every season… they’re not a true white, more of a soft ivory, and they’re not see through, which I appreciate. I think when the temps get really warm, they will be reserved for the evenings, but I still think white denim is an essential for the summer season.
AGOLDE 90’S JEANS: A favorite since last summer, and I think I’ve included them in each capsule for over a year now. They’re loose, so they don’t feel restricting in the summer heat, and they also have the laid back look of the summer season. I do recommend going down two sizes in these as they run large.
GAUZE AND/OR LINEN PANTS: If you’re not a fan of denim in the summer seasons, then a pair of gauze or linen pants are an excellent option. I have these gauze pants from last season and they’re lightweight and airy (albeit slightly see through, so you have to be careful). I also found this linen pair and think they would be a great staple for summer as well. You can wear them as a swim cover-up, or for a casual evening/daytime look.
DRESSES
WHITE DRESS: I bought this dress in pink last summer and loved the fit and feel so much, that went it was 20% off this season, I purchased the white. For me, it’s the quintessential summer dress- airy, lightweight, and flowy. I plan on taking it to Italy at the end of July, because I know I can wear it during the day with sandals and dress it up at night with a pair of low heels. You can get 15% off this one with code Natalie15, and I also found this similar option.
REFORMATION TWO PIECE SET: I purchased this last spring, and it’s still a staple for me when I need something a little dressier. It’s soft, not constricting, and you can pair other tops with the skirt as well.
TOPS
WHITE FLOWY TOP: Love an airy and flowy white top for the summer season- it’s versatile and can easily manage the summer heat. This one is a newer piece, and love the metallic hints it has throughout.
STRIPED HENLEY: When it’s a cool morning or evening, but not cool enough for a sweatshirt or a cardigan, I love this striped henley… it can be worn so many different ways and it’s the perfect level of thickness for the summer season… I also add the dimension it adds to my otherwise fairly solid and neutral wardrobe.
FLORAL TOP: Another top that adds some dimension to my wardrobe, but is still versatile enough to create multiple outfits… I can easily pair this top with the white ruffle skirt, cut-offs, linen shorts, and white jeans to create different summer looks depending on the occasion.
ONE SHOULDER TOP: I’m always looking for basic tops that i can easily dress up, but are also comfortable enough for a casual everyday outfit, and this one shoulder top fits the bill. It’s super soft, stretchy, and can be worn with any of the “bottoms” I shared above to create varying looks.
STRIPED BUTTON DOWN: Alright, so this top is so versatile… it can be worn fully buttoned down to make a dress, as a cover-up, buttoned and tucked into shorts, or worn as a lightweight top layer over other summer basics (as seen above).
WHITE PLAYA BUTTON-DOWN: Another top I selected for it’s versatility- it works as a swim cover-up or buttoned and front tucked into shorts. It’s laid back, casual, and such a great top for the summer season.
WHITE COURIER SHIRT: Love this top for just about anything… wear it as part of a coverup outfit like I did over the weekend, as a lightweight top layer over a ribbed tank, or fully buttoned and tucked in with one of your go-to bottoms. It’s clean and crisp, but can also be styled in a laid back look.
BASIC WHITE TEE: I feel as if this doesn’t need much explanation other than it’s basic and so versatile, and therefore a great closet staple.
LINEN TOP: I first shared this back in March, and just think it’s such a beautiful option for warmer months. I shared a few ways to style it here, but they were for spring… but you can see a few more ways to style it in this post.
RIBBED TANK: I love this tank so much- it’s stretchy, lightweight, and the ribbing elevates it from basic and boring to great. I have it in the black and marble color and it’s the perfect summer essential for those warm summer days. It works with any bottom listed above, and with the right accessories you can easily wear it out at night.
STRIPED TANK: Another great summer basic that I’ve had since the spring… it’s lightweight and, as I mentioned with the other striped items, really elevates an outfit.
SUMMER LOUNGE SET
LOUNGE SET: Alright, so summer isn’t complete without a lounge set to get you through the warm evenings at home… I bought this top and shorts combo (I actually have these shorts, but this is a slightly different color than what I have so I’m not sure if the pieces will be as exact of a match) last year and still absolutely love them (I wear the top for almost all my travels…)…. but I recently purchased these shorts and this top and it’s the softest thing I’ve ever worn in my life. Either will work, and if you toss on some sandals they are ready to go for everyday, casual, life…
SWIMSUIT
BLACK ONE PIECE: A one piece suit is such a great staple because not only does it work for the beach/pool, but you can wear it as a bodysuit as well, so it works for just about anything. I love this one because of the low back, but here is another option as well.
CASHMERE CARDIGAN
OVERSIZED CARDIGAN: I’ve sung this cardigan praises so many times, but it really is an all season piece…. especially for cool evenings by the water. I styled it 16 ways for summer in this post in case you’re looking for a few ways to wear it. 15% off with code Natalie15 or this is also another great option.
