Summer Casual Wardrobe Essentials

I know I talk about essentials a lot, and at this point you might be hearing yada-yada-yada every time I utter those words, but they are so important.

I don’t want to sound like that mom that repeats herself so many times that no one listens to her anymore.

I’ll end my therapy session there, and just repeat myself one more time:

Summer essentials are a slightly different breed, however. We need clothes that are cooler and a little more casual, and so many capsule wardrobes and essentials lists seem to cater to dressy lifestyles and cool climates.

This one is different.

These are not your mother’s essentials. LOL. I just made that up. These are cool, crisp, chic pieces designed to get you through a casual summer in style and comfort.

Here, casual summer pieces you will wear on repeat. The items featured here are all in my catalog, and they’re all available at Garnet Hill, although versions of these items are available almost anywhere.

Each of these pictures is linked for easy shopping. 🙂

Pull-On Shorts

If you wear shorts, you probably have classic Bermuda’s or chic simple tailored chino shorts, but let me introduce you to a whole new breed of shorts. The style I’m referring to is not the “soft” shorts of seasons past, but a slightly more structured, tailored look in linen or cotton that happens to have a smocked or elasticized waistband.

Pull-On Skirt

A close cousin to the pull on shorts, and a great alternative for the non-shorts wearers, a pull on skirt in linen, cotton, or a gauzy material is a casual but versatile summer staple. Dress it up with espadrilles and a blouse for evening, or wear it with flat sandals and a tank or tee by day.

Breezy Button-Down

This is not the crisp and tailored button-down you might wear in the fall. This version is in a lightweight cotton gause or linen, and is designed to be worn casually and even a little bit rumpled for that effortless summer look.

Pretty Top

This top is still easy and breezy, but a bit more detailed and therefore dressier than the others. This can be worn with shorts or jeans for a smart casual look, or dressed up for evenings or church.

Pretty Sleeveless Top

This summer-friendly style is sleeveless and basic in shape, but features a pretty print or an elevated detail that makes it more of an outfit-maker and less of a staple.

Versatile Pants

These transitional pants are designed to go from work to weekend with ease, and many brands and retails have a version. They are generally made of a high performance material that looks polished, stays unwrinkled, and offers true versatility, especially in a dark neutral color.

Printed Palazzos

These are like your solid linen beach pants, but in a printed version. The palazzo style is fresh and trendy and very flattering, and these are an easy throw-on-and-go silhouette to pair with all your solid summer tops.

Versatile Dress

A Little Black Dress (or any dark neutral) is only truly valuable in your wardrobe if it is truly versatile. The best LBD (or little Navy, Chocolate, or Charcoal) dress is comfortable, flattering, and can be dressed up with accessories or worn casually on the weekends. This version is travel friendly and looks polished and relaxed at the same time.

Casual Jacket

A casual topper is essential both from a style perspective and also to ward off chills from overly air-conditioned interiors. Choose a casual yet polished piece that works with many of your favorite summer outfits. This cropped style is a trendy update on the utility jacket in my essentials catalog, while the linen blazer is a timeless summer staple that never goes out of style.

Kimono or Duster

A colorful or patterned kimono or light duster can be a great wardrobe accent that adds coverage and style to many summer looks. A kimono with 3 or more colors is a super versatile addition to your wardrobe, but so is a neutral patterned version.

I hope this helped you focus your summer shopping efforts so that you can make those choices in the store that will help you create a beautiful and practical summer wardrobe!