I’m a Stylist—These Are the 10 Summer Pieces I Recommend to All of My Clients

Year after year, my dread about summer fashion approaching surprises me, and after doing a quick pulse check online, it’s clear that I’m not alone. Be it that you can’t figure out how to dress for high temperatures or spend the season missing your trusty layers, let’s face it: Figuring out a few summer wardrobe staples you can rely on is hard. 

As a NYC-based stylist, I spend countless hours shopping online and in-person, staying on top of trends, and tracking down the best pieces for clients. After a while, I’ve built up a sort of internal catalog, noting which brands I recommend repeatedly and which pieces I see earn the status of closet staple. Though it can be easy to get carried away with summer trends, my advice to clients is always to focus on the items that you can still see yourself wearing for at least another season or two. That way, you can start each summer with a collection of pieces that you know you love and are excited to reach for.

These are the 10 summer wardrobe staples I recommend to all of my clients.

1. A Perfect White Tank

A white tee is the answer to the majority of my wardrobe woes throughout the year, which naturally transitions to a white tank in the summer. I like to keep multiple in my closet—U-necks, crewnecks, you name it—so I know I’ll always have one at the ready. Day or night, a white tank can go with literally any summer outfit. A current favorite combination of mine is a cropped tank paired with baggy shorts and a slinky sandal.

Aritzia

HomeStretch Rib Vinyl Tank

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Abercrombie & Fitch

Bra-Free Rib V-Neck Tank

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Old Navy

Snug Crop Tank Top

sizes XS — 4X

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Old Navy

Rib-Knit Cami Tank Top

sizes XS — 4X

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2. A Beaded Necklace

I’m biased when it comes to jewelry. I have a large collection, and am usually sporting half-a-dozen statement pieces at a time. Summer jewelry, however, is an entirely different beast. Woven into my mixed-metal stack is a strand of summery beads (the literal string that ties my neutral-based outfits together). A beaded necklace looks great on its own, too, especially when paired with a white dress or a ribbed tank. To up the ante, you can also pair a beaded necklace with a coastal-inspired piece, like a pair of shell earrings or a starfish-shaped pendant.

Baublebar

Joyce Beaded Necklace

10 colors available

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Baublebar

Janette Beaded Ring Necklace

10 colors available

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Anthropologie

Rainbow Stone Necklace

10+ colors available

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Amazon

Chunky Beaded Necklace

10+ colors available

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3. A Fun Bag

A statement coat is to winter as a trendy accessory is to summer: extremely critical and highly transformative. In a season marked by barely-there styles, the will to get dressed is dismal at best. My trick to turning things around? Investing in a well-rounded arsenal of accessories—fun and colorful bags included. Those closest to me know that I’m rarely spotted without a red or yellow bag as soon as the temps warm up.

Madewell

The Signature Woven Mini Tote

4 colors available

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Anthropologie

Fringe Hobo Bag

5 colors available

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Anthropologie

Wood Bead Top-Handle Mini Satchel

4 colors available

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Cuyana

Mini Dia Bag

5 colors available

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4. An Easy Dress

I’ve accumulated a handful of summer dresses that I consistently reach for in the warmer months. Dresses are easy, one-and-done outfits that handle most of the styling work for you. All that’s left to figure out is the accessories. Although I’m more of a maximalist, come summer, I lean heavily into neutral minis and maxis, which are the perfect foundation for a colorful bag or a trendy shoe.

Z Supply

Cornelia Poplin Maxi Dress

5 colors available

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Gap

Denim Midi Dress

2 colors available

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Abercrombie & Fitch

Tiered Flowy Maxi Dress

3 colors available

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Abercrombie & Fitch

Sydney Smocked Midi Dress

4 colors available

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Madewell

The Peyton Midi Dress

4 colors/patterns available

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Old Navy

Fit & Flare Smocked Midi Dress

6 colors/patterns available
sizes XS — 4X

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5. Everyday Sandals

I own upwards of a few dozen pairs of shoes, and I rely on them to do most of my styling heavy-lifting throughout the year. When it comes to sandals, however, I find that as long as I have the essentials—a light pair, a dark pair, a slip-on, a flip-flop—I have all that I need to make it through the summer.

Matisse

Leo Suede Flip Flops

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Vagabond

Zaida Thong Sandals

3 colors available

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Dolce Vita

Jony Leather Sandals

2 colors available

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Old Navy

Strappy Faux-Leather Sandals

4 colors available

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6. A Pair of Statement Shades

Years ago, I was afraid to venture past my classic black and brown sunnies. On a whim, I purchased a red pair last summer, and quite literally never looked back. Out of shock that it took me so long to indulge in a pair of statement shades, I’m looking forward to rewiring my summer wardrobe with a couple more additions this season. If you’re not into a colorful pair, opt for a funky silhouette or cool metal hardware for a similar elevating effect.

Otra

Cameron Sunglasses

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DIFF Eyewear x Rachel Kirkconnell

Naomi Sunglasses

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Amazon | SOJOS

Retro Oval Sunglasses

8 colors available

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Quince

Cartagena Sunglasses

3 colors available

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7. Drawstring Pants

After months of alternating between jeans and trousers, it’s a near shock to the system to survive the summer without them. That’s where elastic-waist pants come into effect. They’re lightweight, breathable, and ultra-versatile when it comes to styling them from day to night. You can find your fair share of linen and silk pull-on styles, but for a less fussy option, I prefer a crisp poplin pair.

J.Crew

Luna Pant

9 colors available
sizes XXXS — 3X

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H&M

Linen-Blend Drawstring Pants

2 colors available

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Madewell

Pull-On Pants

4 patterns available

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Aerie

Daydream Denim Pull-On Pant

2 colors available

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8. A Midi or Maxi Skirt

I bought a beige, elastic-waist midi skirt at a designer liquidation sale years ago, and it’s a piece that I keep coming back to season after season. It’s one of the more comfortable pieces in my wardrobe, but somehow still looks elevated with simple combos like a tank and flip-flops. If a client doesn’t own a summer maxi skirt, I recommend starting with a versatile option in black or white. If they want to add to their existing collection, I recommend opting for a midi in a bright color.

J.Crew

Pull-On Poplin Midi Skirt

4 colors available
sizes XXS — 3X

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Gap

Linen-Blend Maxi Slip Skirt

9 colors/patterns available

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Quince

Poplin A-Line Maxi Skirt

4 colors available

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Banana Republic

Poplin Drawstring Midi Skirt

2 colors available

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9. A Versatile Top

Warm-weather tops should be versatile, comfortable, and most importantly, breathable. To get the most bang for my buck, I focus less on colors and prints and more on materials and silhouettes. If you were to peek into my closet today, you’d find a healthy dose of sleeveless vests, oversized button-downs (that can also double as cover-ups), and airy blouses.

Gap

Pintuck Top

2 colors available

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Gap

Oversized Shirt

10+ colors/patterns available

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Old Navy

Linen-Blend Loose Button-Down Shirt

10 colors/patterns available
sizes XS — 4X

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Banana Republic

Tie-Front Shirt

2 colors available

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10. Long Shorts

In a season where jeans are off the table and denim cut-offs are up for debate, long shorts make for an undeniably versatile alternative. I generally like to keep a long shorts-centered look simple by pairing them with a loose tee and sandals or with a blazer and kitten heels for the perfect summer office outfit.

Old Navy

Mid-Rise Baggy Jean Shorts

3 washes available
sizes 000 — 30

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Aritzia

The Effortless Short Long

8 colors available

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Banana Republic

The Everyday Bermuda Short

3 colors available

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J.Crew

Pull-On Short

3 colors available
sizes XXS — 3X

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tinsley Crisp, Former Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer

Tinsley Crisp was formerly the Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer at The Everygirl and specialized in reporting on the season’s latest trends and hottest products. As a New York City-based stylist, she’s committed to injecting joy into the art of getting dressed and delivering attainable yet aspirational content to our readers.

READ TINSLEY’S FULL BIO

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Welsh, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor

Jessica oversees and edits all fashion and beauty content on The Everygirl. She also writes in-depth styling stories, trend reports, capsule wardrobes, and more. She was previously the Commerce Editor for The Everymom, where she oversaw all shopping content on the site and social. She has created editorial content for major brands such as Nordstrom, Old Navy, DSW, and Kohl’s.

READ JESSICA’S FULL BIO

Products included in graphics linked within article. Feature graphic images credited to: Anthropologie, Z Supply, J. Crew, Madewell, Gap, Anthropologie, and Mary Ellen | Dupe.

The post I’m a Stylist—These Are the 10 Summer Pieces I Recommend to All of My Clients appeared first on The Everygirl.