Styling for summer is like grapefruit flavored anything: you either love it or hate it, because it either comes naturally to you or dressing for heat and humidity is a never-ending struggle for an entire season. And that’s no way to live for at least 25 percent of the year.

I get that summer attire might amplify concerns and insecurities you have about your body, but that doesn’t mean that you are stuck with long skirts/pants or wearing a cardigan every damn day. To me, this quote from Nicole Byer is STELLAR.

 I just woke up one day and was like, ‘People know you’re fat whether you have a cardigan on or your arms are out, so why not just let your arms be out because you’re hot.’

Nicole Byer

Why risk giving yourself heat stroke just because you don’t like your arms. If you’re not cold, take off the damn cardigan. Going to the pool or beach? Wear the damn bathing suit. Anyway, you get it. Let’s get on with the actual, actionable suggestions. 

Summer is a fabulous time to go bold with color and silhouette to help you feel stylish while you’re still needing to commute, or actually enjoy your time outside. Don’t worry about your body shape, or scars, or stretch marks, or veins, or any other “imperfections”. You having a gorgeous day in an outfit that feels good and feels like YOU makes all of that shit not matter in the moment, both to you and to other people.

With her permission, I’ll share something personal: my marketing assistant, Maddie, spent years not wearing dresses or shorts during the summer unless they were full-length, or she would actually wear tights or leggings– even when it was 90 degrees and as humid as it gets in Philly!! Due to genetics, she has had prominent veins from a very early age, and a couple of dumb comments in her adolescence made her feel like she had to completely cover them while out in public. If it was so hot that she had to wear shorts or she was at the gym, she felt like her veins grabbed everyone’s attention and it made her act differently. Just like Nicole Byer, Maddie had her “oh, fuck it” day, because it’s a million times more comfortable to wear a breezy skirt and some thigh-protecting shorts. Now, several years later, she forgets that her veins are there and *gasp* even visible to others. She may not love mini skirts, but she’ll rock the hell out of a gorgeous sundress, and actually looks forward to getting dressed during the summer months instead of prioritizing hiding in air conditioning all summer long.

So with that pep talk in mind, let’s take a look at some summer trends that you can incorporate in your wardrobe and feel great about.

Super Soft Summer Denim

I’m seeing all kinds of cute soft, chambray-style denim dresses and shirts that will help keep you cool while still giving you some structure – plus, these are so easy to dress and up and down to be closet staples all summer long! Denim dresses can either have a super retro 90s look if you’re into that, explore different cuts that combine more modern styles. Cloth & Stone makes the softest denim tops and dresses, so I made sure to include a few of my current favorite options by that brand.

(Pictured) Cloth & Stone Linen Tie Front Dress ($148)

(Pictured) Cloth & Stone Halter Top ($80)

Boden Belted Denim Midi Dress ($150)

Marée Pour Toi Fringe Chambray Top [Plus Size] $89

Pop of Color: Summer Sunset

Pinks, oranges, golds, and reds: going bright for summer is nothing new, but sunset tones are driving bold color trends right now, both for formalwear and more casual everyday looks. Look for these colors in a classic floral or bold pattern to stand out even more. 

(Pictured) Ulla Johnson Mix Media Cotton Dress ($425)

(Pictured) Elyse Bias Cut Slip Dress in Bright Red ($120)

(Pictured) Eloquii Cutout Tie Detail Dress ($109.95)

&Other Stories Printed Halterneck Midi Dress ($149)

SNDYS x Revolve Pluto Jumpsuit ($75)

Matching Set Moment

Matching sets haven’t gone away, and they can be a gorgeous (and effortless) way to look super put-together for anything from a casual shopping day to something semi-formal like a rehearsal dinner. Look for stores where you can select different sizes to make sure that each piece fits and flatters you!

(Pictured) GUESS Dexie Pants & Top (Prices vary)

(Pictured) Eloquii Bustier Top & Skirt ($170 for both pieces)

Lost + Wander Marbella Crop Top & Pant Set ($166)Miss Selfridge Daisy Burnout Skirt & Top ($96 for both pieces)

Matching sets haven’t gone away, and they can be a gorgeous (and effortless) way to look super put-together for anything from a casual shopping day to something semi-formal like a rehearsal dinner. Look for stores where you can select different sizes to make sure that each piece fits and flatters you!

(Pictured) GUESS Dexie Pants & Top (Prices vary)

(Pictured) Eloquii Bustier Top & Skirt ($170 for both pieces)

Lost + Wander Marbella Crop Top & Pant Set ($166)

Miss Selfridge Daisy Burnout Skirt & Top ($96 for both pieces)

Matching Set Moment

More than just beach coverups! This early 00’s trend is coming back with a little more sophistication. These super breathable knits are a great way to stay cool while protecting your skin from the sun with some additional coverage like a longer sleeve or midi skirt. (Or, live your best 2000’s teen drama fashion moment and find a crocheted crop top or halter/handkerchief top… yes, they’re out here too.) 

(Pictured) Everlane Crochet Knit Midi Skirt ($88)

(Pictured) Rag & Bone Aleah Crochet Knit Top ($375)

Donna Morgan Crochet Puff Sleeve Dress ($148)

Tularosa Finley Midi Dress with Crochet Flowers ($278)

Color Blocking

More subtle color blocking never truly went away, but we’re seeing more of the totally split or “checkerboard” color blocking style coming back. This can be a great way to incorporate more color in your wardrobe, or the variety of dresses available are a fantastic away to draw visual attention away from parts of your body that you feel self-conscious about.

(Pictured) English Factory Colorblock Tiered Maxi Dress ($90)

(Pictured) NA-KD X Ida Zeile Color Block Boxy Shirt ($49)

Eloquii Knitted Tank Dress ($99.95)

This post is all about fun trends for summer, but I have another post coming soon about dressing while emphasizing comfort during the summer that’s especially designed for my fellow northeastern USA-dwelling folks. But if you want to get some styling on your summer wardrobe ASAP, don’t hesitate to reach out.