Brainstorming Outfits Is My Favorite Hobby—12 Summer Pairings I'm Loving RN

Sylvie Mus wearing a black camisole and white capri pants with a brown bag.

(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

It's really no wonder that I went into fashion given how I like to spend my time when I'm not working. My hobbies are pretty much identical to what's listed in my job description: shopping, brand discovery, and, of course, brainstorming outfits. Whether it's between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (work hours) or 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ("me" hours), I scroll on Instagram, and no matter what time it is, I'm bookmarking looks in my Instagram Saved folder for later use in Who What Wear stories and my own wardrobe.

Today's to-do list is proof that you really can love what you do for a living because my number one work priority at the moment is rounding up summer outfits that are worth pressing copy and paste on. Though it's technically for all of you, I went about curating the list of 12 enviable and easy-to-mimic ensembles below from a purely selfish standpoint since I, too, need to dress myself in a chic and effortless manner throughout the season ahead. We might as well all benefit from my research, right? Scroll down to see and shop my favorite looks for the season ahead.

Camisole + Capri Pants + Low-Heel Sandals

Sylvie Mus wearing a black camisole, white capris, a brown shoulder bag, and black kitten-heel sandals.

(Image credit: @sylviemus_)

I know capri pants can be intimidating, but once you buy a pair and start dabbling in the trend, you'll find that they're far easier to style than you'd think.

White Tank + Wide-Leg Jeans + Large Tote Bag

A woman wearing a white tank top, wide-leg jeans, sunglasses, and a large Bottega Veneta Andiamo bag.

(Image credit: @iliridakrasniqi)

A really good bag can go a long way in making an otherwise simple outfit feel special. Next time you're feeling uninspired, throw on a tank and jeans and then pull out your best handbag.

Fitted Waistcoat + White Skirt + Strappy Sandals

Anouk Yve wearing a tan Liberowe waistcoat, brown suede tote, and white skirt.

(Image credit: @anoukyve)

Anything paired with a white skirt will look chic and relevant in the summertime. Pair it with a waistcoat and some strappy sandals and your outfit will be taken to an unbeatable level.

White Linen Dress + Thong Sandals

Imani Randolph wearing a white J.Crew sundress with thong sandals and sunglasses.

(Image credit: @champagnemani)

When in doubt, throw on a white linen dress when the temperatures rise to a point that anything related to pants would be unbearable to wear. Some thong sandals will only help to combat the heat.

Muscle Tee + Miniskirt + Low-Heel Mules

Eliza Huber wearing a white sleeveless T-shirt with Prada shorts and black shoes.

(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

Speaking of high temperatures, when it gets super hot in New York, I live by the rule of the less clothes the better. That's why I stock my closet with sleeveless tops and tiny skirts and shorts. It's summer—you can wear anything, even if it is short.

White T-Shirt + Red Wide-Leg Pants + Cat-Eye Sunglasses

Dawn Tan wearing sunglasses, a white T-shirt, and red wide-leg pants.

(Image credit: @dawn.tan)

When I think of summer, I think of wearing all white, but this year, I'm searching for ways to get outside of my comfort zone by investing in a few fun, colorful pieces. These red pants are at the top of my copy list for that exact reason.

Brown Blazer + Long Denim Shorts + Loafers

A woman wearing a brown blazer, white T-shirt, jean shorts, and brown loafers with a brown Bottega Veneta Andiamo bag.

(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

Give me a long pair of jean shorts over short cutoffs any day, especially when they're paired with a blazer and socked loafers.

Trench Coat + White T-Shirt + Black Miniskirt

Leia Sfez wearing a trench coat, white T-shirt, black skirt, and loafers with socks in Paris.

(Image credit: @leiasfez)

You might get a little steamy by July wearing a trench, but it'll make even a simple tee-and-mini combo look so intentional and cool (visually at least).

Baseball Cap + White Linen Pants + Ballet Flats

Alaina Imperio wearing a navy blue hat, white long-sleeve T-shirt, white pants, and black Margiela Tabi flats.

(Image credit: @alainaimperio)

I practically live in white linen pants in the summer, so I always search IG for ways to style them that feel interesting and different. I love this monochrome option paired with a baseball cap and Margiela Tabi ballet flats.

Black Maxi Dress + Braided Bag + Jelly Shoes

Sasha Mei wearing a black high-neck maxi dress with sunglasses, a braided bag, and blue jelly shoes.

(Image credit: @sasha.mei)

Take this fun LBD combo from day to night by ditching these adorable jelly flats for strappy kitten heels.

Chambray Shirt + White Trousers + Fisherman Sandals

Marina Torres wearing a denim shirt with white pants and brown shoes.

(Image credit: @marina_torres)

I feel like the fashion world is kind of sleeping on chambray shirts. They're far more fun than a white button-down shirt and never wrinkle. Plus, they pair perfectly with white trousers and elevated fisherman sandals.

Cardigan + Halter Midi Dress + Vintage Sneakers

A woman wearing a navy blue cardigan with a green polka dot dress and Onitsuka Tiger sneakers.

(Image credit: @tamaramory)

If you're traveling to Europe this summer, France especially, you need to copy this exact look, which consists of a polka-dot halter dress, a cropped cardigan, and vintage Onitsuka Tiger sneakers. It's perfect.

Senior Fashion Editor

Eliza Huber is a New York City–based fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and celebrity style. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 after almost four years on the fashion editorial team at Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. She has since launched two monthly columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled the likes of Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top trends from fashion month, season after season. Eliza now lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, running in Central Park, and scouring eBay for '90s Prada and '80s Yves Saint Laurent.