An 8-Piece Summer Wardrobe at Every Budget
A dress, lightweight pants, a woven bag, sandals, a lightweight top, shorts, sunglasses, and a one-piece—separately, they may not mean much, but when you combine them, you have a recipe for the ultimate summer starter pack. Sure, you won't exclusively wear these items, but collectively, they're the perfect foundation for a versatile summer wardrobe. Simply integrate them with the seasonless pieces you already own, and you'll have a functional wardrobe for the next few months and even beyond. Consider it the light seasonal update your wardrobe needs to prepare it for sunny skies, tropical vacations, outdoor dining, and whatever else summer's arrival may mean to you.
Whether you need one, own none, or have them all but are simply in the mood to refresh your look, today, I've assembled my favorites for each category at four different price points so your closet can get the seasonal update it deserves. Shop all of my curated picks, starting at less than $50, below.
Under $50
Versatile Sandals
The idea of everyday sandals is that you never really have to take them off. These are miraculously under $50 and are minimal enough to work for every occasion.
Shorts
Denim shorts can stray juvenile quickly, but the tailored shape and longer length add a grown-up appeal.
Dress
Since sleeveless everything is a big trend on the rise, why not take advantage of the trend with this expensive-looking dress?
Woven Bag
Sunglasses
Lightweight Pants:
Since it's way too hot to think critically about layers, you'll want to go for easy pants in an effortless neutral hue.
Swimsuit
Lightweight Top
Go for cotton in the summer—it won't feel so sticky and feels so lightweight against the skin.
Under $100
Versatile Sandals
Shorts
These look more elevated, but you can still pair them with a variety of tops.
Dress
Woven Bag
For casual errands, vacation getaways, and everything in between.
Sunglasses
I'm continually impressed by the quality of Le Specs sunnies.
Lightweight Pants
Swimsuit
Lightweight Top
Under $200
Versatile Sandals
Fashion people are currently buzzing over casual, cool sandals like these, so you know they're good.
Shorts
Crisscross is always a fun detail. Plus, Agolde is an editor favorite for denim.
Dress
As far as I'm concerned, linen is a requirement during this time of year.
Woven Bag:
No one will expect a woven bag with green accents, which is precisely why it's so fun.
Sunglasses
Although the shape is decidedly modern, this pair is still timeless.
Lightweight Pants
Swimsuit
Lightweight Top
Under $300
Versatile Sandals
Shorts
Shorts you can actually wear to work.
Dress
Woven Bag
Sunglasses
If you're looking for something unique, these frames will fit the bill.
Lightweight Pants
Despite the knitted material, these pants feel like a cloud against your skin.
Swimsuit
Lightweight Top
Next up: The Summer 2022 Starter Pack: Every Cool Thing to Buy This Season
Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.
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