Sofia Richie's Stylist Told Me the 8 Best Summer Buys to Invest In

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(Image credit: @sofiarichiegrainge)

In our Ask a Stylist series, we're tapping a new expert each month to weigh in with their style insights. Return for a professional's perspective on what to know in fashion.

Sofia Richie Grainge's wedding at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in the South of France took the internet by storm several weeks ago, with many dubbing it this year's royal wedding. From three Chanel looks custom designed for Richie's wedding weekend to the designer-infused outfits she wore leading up to her big day, Richie's style was particularly eye-catching. The stylist behind Richie's new fashion aestheticLiat Baruch.

"A couple of years ago, when Sofia had initially approached me, she had a very pointed conversation with me about where she wanted to go style­-wise—how she wanted to present herself, how she wanted to dress," Baruch says of how her partnership with Richie began. "Words like elevated, timeless, and longevity are what we were focusing on. It aligned with me and what I do as a service, but it also aligned with me personally because of how I dress."

Baruch emphasizes it's her and Richie's shared aesthetics and fashion references that make their collaboration so successful. "I've always liked a classic, more timeless sense of style," she says. "I dress trendy also sometimes, but it's never been what I start with." Instead, Baruch says she approaches curating closets by starting with core pieces you never need to get rid of. "You do that by buying quality pieces," she adds. "I mean that. There's no way around it." This isn't to say that purchasing high-quality fashion items requires a big budget. "You can buy things secondhand that are not worn and priced well," Baruch says, noting this strategy can help you add well-made items to your wardrobe at lower price points.

Curious to learn her top summer shopping staples, I asked Baruch to share the pieces she'd recommend to clients. Shop the eight items that made the cut below.

Khaite Sandals

The new shoes to add to your closet this season? "[Khaite] just came out with thong sandals with a little gold hardware. They're super chic," Baruch explains. The shoes are a sleek take on leather sandals and are set to be big this summer since they were already spotted on Richie during her wedding weekend.

Vintage Levi's Jeans

"I've been really into vintage Levi's. Always, always," Baruch explains. "You can wear them with a ballerina [flat] and a white T­-shirt, and you're good." Though there are many sources to get your hands on vintage Levi's, Baruch's top recommendation is Scout in L.A.

Chanel Ballerina Flats

"Obviously, a pair of Chanel ballerinas," says Baruch when I ask what other shoes she considers important to own. It's no secret that both Baruch and Richie are fans of Chanel. Richie's wardrobe for her wedding weekend included three custom Chanel dresses, as well as shoes, bags, and an archival runway look from the fashion house. 

Khaite T-Shirts

If you're looking for the ultimate investment tee, look to Khaite. "Khaite makes these T­-shirts that are amazing," Baruch explains. "I tell everyone to get them. They're just the most amazing white-and-black T­-shirts."

Sophie Buhai Jewelry

When it comes to jewelry that's both timeless and cool, Baruch turns to Los Angeles-based brand Sophie Buhai. "I love Sophie Buhai for jewelry," she explains. "Just a pearl necklace or a gold earring from Sophie Buhai—I love her stuff."

Saint Laurent Heels

For shoes that feel trend-forward and directional for summer, Baruch has her eyes on two-tone designs from Saint Laurent. "I love all the heels that Saint Laurent is doing with the different color heels," she says. "They have a toe-point with a mustardy velvet and square toe­­—I like that for summer." These feel set to be huge amongst the wedding guest set this season.

Khaite Knits

The brand Baruch can't get enough of? Khaite. "I know I keep saying Khaite, but I love her knits," she says. "They're really cozy, they're elegant to me, and they don't pill or wear too badly."

Celine Chain Jeans

If you already have vintage Levi's in your closet, there is a wide range of other denim options to choose from, but Baruch has one recommendation at the top of her list. "If you're gonna go to designer denim—the Celine ones with the gold hardware on the waist," she explains. Popular with the fashion set, the Trimomphe gourmette gold chain detail on the waistband sets these apart.

Next: Sofia Richie's Wedding Weekend In France Is Defining Cool Summer Style

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.