I Just Assembled My Ideal Summer Wardrobe—These Were the 5 Key Pieces

After months of shopping without rhyme or reason, my summer wardrobe is in need of a fix. It's the classic trope of having too many options without having anything to truly wear, so in light of my situation, I'm getting more strategic. While I don't need to go overboard with a whole new closet, I do want to invest in a few essential pieces that will do the heavy lifting and reduce how long I sit and stare into the abyss that is my closet. Since the runways are always a source of discovery, I went back and combed through the spring/summer collections for fresh inspiration. Now that these collections have finally trickled from the shows into the retail stores, it made even more sense to give them another look. Hours of clicking and scrolling later, I finally arrived at my dream summer wardrobe, and it came down to five key pieces. 

From prep-school miniskirts (thank you, Miu Miu) to happy-hour halter vests and cocktail-hour crochet, these were the standouts among the host of florals and linen pieces on the runways. The point is that I can incorporate them into my current wardrobe as a focal point with my existing staples as the supporting act.

They're ready to set the tone and define the mood of the summer—keep scrolling to see the buys energizing and unifying my summer vibe.

Statement Sets

Two pieces are better than one. Designers proved that on the season's runways with two-piece matching sets in an array of lightweight fabrics and eccentric shapes. ACNE Studios is always one of my favorites, so as soon as this midi skirt and matching cropped jacket appeared during its spring/summer show, they didn't leave my brain. I'm no stranger to the power of a matching set, but this one was different. The wired hem, the semi-sheer wool, and the slightly distressed composition were all a statement that you couldn't glance away from. The look fully convinced me that eye-catching sets were nonnegotiable for the warm months ahead, and thus far, they've proven useful. It seems like someone is throwing a party for something every weekend, and a statement set like this takes the guesswork out of getting dressed. Plus, the whimsy makes compliments inevitable.

Shop the piece:

Puffball Dresses

Sandy Liang's spring show was filled with plenty of hits—sleek schoolgirl skirts, cool cutout vests, and itsy-bitsy bralettes—but the standout moment for me was this khaki-colored A-line dress. It's a silhouette I've seen countless times, but Liang's version, with a slightly dropped waist, felt special. It also signaled a bigger moment I'm currently seeing a lot of now: modified puffball and A-line dresses. Slimmed at the bodice and spreading into a full skirt, the shape feels sophisticated but with an edge.

Shop the piece:

Summer Vests

Leaning a less conventional, we have the halter vest aka the summer vest. Coperni's pinstriped version paired with billowy tan cargo pants is a look I'd like to wear this very moment. It's an outfit that means business but doesn't take itself too seriously (hence the very Y2K-inspired cargos). A halter vest is also something very new to my white tank top– and linen pant–dominated closet, so it's an opportunity to change things up—maybe it will be my new staple.

Shop the piece:

Preppy Miniskirts

Until a few months ago, I feverishly swore off miniskirts. The recent abundance of Miu Miu micro miniskirts changed my tune. This year, I'm giving them a try, following London-based label 16Arlington as the blueprint. The brand sent an off-white pleated miniskirt with a long-sleeve crystal-embellished top that felt like something Britney Spears would've worn in 2003. For its faithful adaptation of early aughts fashion (which we've already seen a lot of at this point), I'm still transfixed by this outfit. And thus, I'm currently ordering every pleated miniskirt my fingers can scroll through.

Shop the piece:

Cocktail-Hour Crochet

Crochet is so synonymous with summer that it would be more of a surprise if it wasn't mentioned within the context of summer fashion. However, this crochet is more fit for an occasion with a little more pomp and circumstance. Jil Sander was one of the many names that presented elegantly fancy crochet (or openwork) pieces within their spring/summer collections. Proenza Schouler and Ferragamo also followed suit with heavyweight crochet dresses that could function as worthy options for a fancy aperitivo. The Michelin-starred rooftop restaurants aren't ready.

Shop the piece:

Up next: These Are the 6 Biggest Shoe Trends for Fall 2023