Summer Style
Summer time is here and I am loving it.
I’m generally a fall/winter gal but now that I have a kid in the public school system, I’m really leaning into summers as a time to slow down, create a lot of free time for play and exploration, and impromptu picnics with family and friends.
Along with all this, I’ve lined up some staple outfits for this summer that are affordable and practical for moms like me who need to be ready for any kind of action at any given moment (from a work meeting to wiping up urine off the floor to being a lava monster). Most importantly, the outfits are actually cute! I feel really great about myself in these outfits. Don’t get me wrong, I still love me my mom uniform of leggings and a shirt that covers my butt, but I pull that out a lot less frequently than I used to because I have these staples.
Note that this is not a sponsored post, I’m far from being a model standing at 5’3”, usually wearing a size 6. This is precisely why I felt compelled to write this post, because these are outfits for normal people with far-from-model bodies and on-the-go-but-not-glamorous-lifestyles.
Another note, that some of these pieces were purchased years ago so they’re no longer sold but I was able to find similar options for you to check out. Let this be a lesson that as you update your closet, not all old pieces need to go! Go through your closet and keep the quality ones that make you happy and fit your body well.
Enjoy! I hope some of these pieces either join your closet or inspire you to refresh your wardrobe so you look as good as you want to feel this summer.
The first and favorite summer outfit is at the top of this post. I got this jumpsuit as a part of my Stitch Fix box (which, I only subscribed to for two months to experiment). It’s breezy, light, flattering, and super comfy.
Shop the outfit:
Kaileigh Rica Knit Crop Jumpsuit in Petite Red.
The sandals were purchased years ago and have held up but unfortunately, are no longer sold. It’s the Jellypop Kirara Leather Slip Sandals if you want to google it to see what the company has released for the summer.
On the left is another Stitch Fix skirt, which is also really comfortable and pairs well with a regular t-shirt or tank top for warmer days. The top is a hand-me-down from a friend, just a plain cotton J.Crew black long-sleeved shirt with puffed sleeves. On the right is a fun J.Crew factory top (great bang for your buck) with the best jeans I’ve ever worn. I have a love/hate relationship with jeans because of my petite apple body shape but this one trims and tucks in all the right spots without sacrificing comfort.
Shop the outfits:
My sandals on the left are Ralph Lauren sandals that are no longer sold but this one is a lovely alternative.
J.Crew Factory Linen-Blend Button-Front Tank Top with Ruffle Straps in Petite
The jeans are no longer sold in the wash I’m wearing but the style is the Rachel High Rise Fab Ab Mom Jean.
The bag is a Fossil cross-body purse from many years ago but I found this one that’s similar and then, of course, a more affordable option.
The sunglasses are the Rayban Classic Erika in Polished Tortoise, which I just saw are now on sale!
The chambray button down shirt never seems to go out of style so the one I’m wearing on the left is at least four years old. Those army-green linen shorts have also lasted me for a solid two summers and I see many others wearing them, which is why J.Crew made another batch for this season. The outfit on the right is another go-to for work and play and I’ll say more about it in the list below.
Shop the outfits:
I got that chambray button-down at Ann Taylor and it is no longer sold but if I were to buy another one today, this Cloth & Stone one is the one I would get.
The sandals I’m wearing aren’t the most stylish compared to birkenstocks that are super trendy this season but they’re a lot less expensive and I swear, I can walk for miles in them. Crocs Swiftwater Sandals in brown.
For the outfit on the right, I’m wearing a Cloth & Stone button-down sleeveless shirt I bought three years ago and it feels like air because of how soft Cloth & Stone fabrics tend to be. They don’t sell this style anymore but here’s a similar one in a different color.
As for the pants on the right, okay, I’m just going to put it all out there even if I feel a bit embarrassed by revealing this. Every few years, I renew my Spanx tummy tucking panty. This is the one I get. When I was on the website a few months ago to get a new one of those, I saw they started selling pants and I was really drawn to the one I’m wearing above. I bought it and now, live in them. It’s the Stretch Twill Cropped Wide Leg Pant. I got it in petite and they’re now on sale!
Those red shoes on the right are another practical purchase that ended up feeling surprisingly stylish. My daughter calls them my church shoes since I wear them to church almost every Sunday. It’s the Dansko Rowan in red.
Those large red teardrop earrings were a gift so I can’t tell you where she bought them but there are tons like it online.
Alright, onto accessories!
Once again the Rayban Classic Erika in Polished Tortoise sunglasses (now on sale!).
On the right, I’m wearing a sweater from Banana Republic that’s definitely out of stock since I bought it in the fall but the real reason why I took that photo is because I recently discovered I have wavy hair. My whole life, I assumed I had frizzy hair that I hated because it wasn’t straight and sleek. Turns out, I just didn’t know how to take care of it and bring out the waves! This product, Curlsmith Curl Defining Souffle, is the only product I use to bring out my waves.
Since we’re on the topic of hair, let’s move on to makeup. This summer, my go-to products are the Supergoop CC Screen, which I just place on top of my bareMinerals primer. Since both are mineral makeups, it feels light and natural instead of heavy and cakey. I put the primer on with my fingers and the CC screen with this makeup egg, which spreads the foundation a lot more evenly. Then with a little blush and a subtle yet flirty Glow Recipe Lip Pop in Watermelon, I’m ready for the day! Of course, on mornings with more time, I add some eye makeup as well.
For finding the right CC screen shade, I recommend going to Sephora and asking one of the beauty advisors for help. They have a whole system for this.
Finally, because I couldn’t help myself, here are some other summer shots. On the left is my daughter in all the wrong things that make everything so right. She’s really into dressing herself and one afternoon, she put on her bathing suit (backwards), gardening gloves, some cheap sunglasses for adults, and crocs (again on backwards). On the right are my kids with their good friend at a local carnival doing what all kids should be doing this summer: eating snow cones.
Happy summer, everyone!
