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Summer dressing is all about ease and elegance, but should also prioritize versatility — from day to night, work to vacay, and everything in between. Although cute summer outfits evoke effortless style, curating your summer capsule wardrobe requires a bit more behind-the-scenes forethought, so we styled five on-trend looks to lend a healthy dose of summer outfit inspiration.
The dog days of summer are often the busiest time of the year, as may find yourself flitting from the office to rooftop dinners, scrambling a suitcase together for a weekend getaway, or moving through a stacked roster of summer weddings. And, as new summer fashion trends continue to roll in, there’s far less time to shop, so it can feel overwhelming to cover all your bases. Where to start? Determine the occasions you’re dressing for and then dive in to the fresh aesthetic you’re craving. Need an outfit that can take you from a workout class to brunch in style? Lean into preppy tenniscore. Looking for chic and lightweight pieces for your vacation overseas? Replicate Euro-summer style with one-and-done summer dresses that are flattering, feminine, and blissfully comfortable.
After you pick versatile pieces made of breezy cotton, linen, or even sweat-wicking performance fabric, you can dive into trendy accessories, like canvas tote bags, cute summer sandals, minimalist jewelry, and timeless watches. No matter if you go for a casual summer outfit or something more dressy, investing in the finer details will bring instant polish, and will go on to serve a range of outfits during travel or the day-to-day.
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Below, discover five cute summer outfit ideas we curated with fresh trends and new releases of the season.
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In-Office Ease
During the summer, it can be a drag to be in the office while the sun is shining and your WFH friends are taking calls beside the pool. You deserve to take it easy, too, so shop for relaxed-fit pieces in soft, breathable fabrics that also don’t skimp on polish. We pulled together a linen set from Banana Republic that ties in the vest top trend with pinstripe blue pants for a lighter, nautical vibe, which carries through to Bottega Veneta’s bestselling fisherman sandals as an airy swap for loafers. A classy silver and rose gold Bulova Surveyor watch ties in all the shiny buttons and buckles and instantly takes the look up a notch, while also serving as versatile jewelry box staple for summer and beyond.
Banana Republic Lina Linen Vest
Banana Republic High-Rise Relaxed Linen Pants
Bulova Surveyor Watch
Blue Nile Petite Love Knot Earrings
Cuyana Classic Easy Tote
Bottega Veneta Alfie Leather Fisherman Sandals
Tenniscore Athluxury
Sweltering summer days are officially upon us, which can make it incredibly hard to dress comfortably. Pro tip: Opt for stylish activewear that can double for daytime, that way you’ll never feel weighed down or underdressed. The “old money” tenniscore trend is a great place to start for casual summer outfits — think rich greens, crisp whites, and sporty-chic pieces that can play from a workout class to errands and a coffee date. Lululemon’s new reversible bra top is a prime example of the “athluxury” trend with its contemporary strapping and reliable support, while the brand’s wrap skort looks put-together while providing hidden coverage and utmost comfort. Rest a wide-weave sweater over your shoulders to nail down the preppy vibe, then complete this casual summer outfit with green accessories and retro walking shoes.
Lululemon Bent This V and Racer Bra
Lululemon Wrap-Front Mid-Rise Golf Skirt
J.Crew Pointelle Crewneck Sweater
Lululemon Mini Shoulder Bag
Clare V. Baseball Hat
Vince Oasis Sneakers
Euro Summer Chic
Whether you’re being whisked away to Positano or simply embracing your “la dolce vita” fantasy, the Euro summer style aesthetic brings color, function, and ease — considering coastal Europeans tend to dress quite minimally with solid colors, organic textures, and high-quality pieces. For this transitional, casual summer outfit for vacation, we’re starting the morning at the beach and then heading to brunch. After you soak up all the sun (while still wearing sunscreen, of course), slip on an airy white midi skirt — a supremely versatile breakout star in summer 2024 street style — and a sleeveless knit top to block the ocean breeze. Then, play with raffia and gold touches from your beach bag to your sandals.
J.Crew Perfect String Bikini Top in Limoncello
J.Crew String Hipster Bikini Bottom in Limoncello
Madewell Cutaway Sweater Vest
Gap × Dôen Eyelet Midi Skirt
Vanessa Bruno Cabas Large Tote
Celine Triomphe 54MM Oval Sunglasses
Picnic in the Park
This look forwards that Euro summer vibe with a New York City twist. Cottagecore gingham prints are trending in feminine frocks this season, and our editors have heart eyes for this number from Dôen that seamlessly pairs with the new Shopbop-exclusive 3.1 Phillip Lim tote. We added elements with a bit more edge to play with the bag’s city-girl feel, like buckled mesh Mary Jane shoes, for a complete summer outfit that’s comfortable and not too precious for a picnic in the park or a trip to the botanical garden.
Dôen Emmaretta Gingham Cotton Maxi Dress
Le Specs Metagalactic Gold Sunglasses
Emi Jay “Cherry Pie” Sweetheart Clip
Glossier Balm Dotcom
3.1 Phillip Lim We Are NY Market Tote
Reformation Bethany Ballet Flats
Vacay Date Night
There are few things as heavenly as a sunset dinner date on vacation. You want to look and feel sexy, but you’re likely worn down after a full day of activities. Keep it simple with a comfortable maxi dress, like this knit number from Abercrombie that’ll also look great during the day as a swimsuit cover-up, along with kitten heel sandals and a chic shoulder bag. Before you head off to your reservation, shower yourself in a healthy spritz of a summery body spray and toss on glistening hoop earrings that match the hardware on your shoulder bag.
Abercrombie Crochet-Style Maxi Dress
Jennifer Fisher Law 10K-Gold-Plated Hoop Earrings
Prada Re-Edition 2002 Small Leather Shoulder Bag
Tory Burch Capri Low Heel Sandals
Diptyque Citronnelle and Geranium Summer Body Spray
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Meet the Author
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes and edits shopping content across fashion, beauty, footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Cigliano received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She is currently based in New York City. Cigliano regularly reports on seasonal fashion trends and new fashion releases at WWD.
