Summer dressing is all about ease and elegance, but should also prioritize versatility — from day to night, work to vacay, and everything in between. Although cute summer outfits evoke effortless style, curating your summer capsule wardrobe requires a bit more behind-the-scenes forethought, so we styled five on-trend looks to lend a healthy dose of summer outfit inspiration.

The dog days of summer are often the busiest time of the year, as may find yourself flitting from the office to rooftop dinners, scrambling a suitcase together for a weekend getaway, or moving through a stacked roster of summer weddings. And, as new summer fashion trends continue to roll in, there’s far less time to shop, so it can feel overwhelming to cover all your bases. Where to start? Determine the occasions you’re dressing for and then dive in to the fresh aesthetic you’re craving. Need an outfit that can take you from a workout class to brunch in style? Lean into preppy tenniscore. Looking for chic and lightweight pieces for your vacation overseas? Replicate Euro-summer style with one-and-done summer dresses that are flattering, feminine, and blissfully comfortable.

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After you pick versatile pieces made of breezy cotton, linen, or even sweat-wicking performance fabric, you can dive into trendy accessories, like canvas tote bags, cute summer sandals, minimalist jewelry, and timeless watches. No matter if you go for a casual summer outfit or something more dressy, investing in the finer details will bring instant polish, and will go on to serve a range of outfits during travel or the day-to-day.

In-Office Ease

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During the summer, it can be a drag to be in the office while the sun is shining and your WFH friends are taking calls beside the pool. You deserve to take it easy, too, so shop for relaxed-fit pieces in soft, breathable fabrics that also don’t skimp on polish. We pulled together a linen set from Banana Republic that ties in the vest top trend with pinstripe blue pants for a lighter, nautical vibe, which carries through to Bottega Veneta’s bestselling fisherman sandals as an airy swap for loafers. A classy silver and rose gold Bulova Surveyor watch ties in all the shiny buttons and buckles and instantly takes the look up a notch, while also serving as versatile jewelry box staple for summer and beyond.

Banana Republic Lina Linen Vest

$140

Buy Now at banana republic

Banana Republic High-Rise Relaxed Linen Pants

$140

Buy Now at banana republic

Bulova Surveyor Watch

$318.75 $425 25% off

Buy Now at Bulova

Blue Nile Petite Love Knot Earrings

$380

Buy Now at Blue Nile

Cuyana Classic Easy Tote

$268

Buy Now at cuyana

Bottega Veneta Alfie Leather Fisherman Sandals

1,250

Buy Now at saks fifth avenue

Tenniscore Athluxury

Sweltering summer days are officially upon us, which can make it incredibly hard to dress comfortably. Pro tip: Opt for stylish activewear that can double for daytime, that way you’ll never feel weighed down or underdressed. The “old money” tenniscore trend is a great place to start for casual summer outfits — think rich greens, crisp whites, and sporty-chic pieces that can play from a workout class to errands and a coffee date. Lululemon’s new reversible bra top is a prime example of the “athluxury” trend with its contemporary strapping and reliable support, while the brand’s wrap skort looks put-together while providing hidden coverage and utmost comfort. Rest a wide-weave sweater over your shoulders to nail down the preppy vibe, then complete this casual summer outfit with green accessories and retro walking shoes.

Lululemon Bent This V and Racer Bra

$48

Buy Now at lululemon

Lululemon Wrap-Front Mid-Rise Golf Skirt

$98

Buy Now at lululemon

J.Crew Pointelle Crewneck Sweater

$98

Buy Now at j.crew

Lululemon Mini Shoulder Bag

$68

Buy Now at lululemon

Clare V. Baseball Hat

Buy Now at Clare V. $60

Vince Oasis Sneakers

$250

Buy Now at nordstrom

Euro Summer Chic

Whether you’re being whisked away to Positano or simply embracing your “la dolce vita” fantasy, the Euro summer style aesthetic brings color, function, and ease — considering coastal Europeans tend to dress quite minimally with solid colors, organic textures, and high-quality pieces. For this transitional, casual summer outfit for vacation, we’re starting the morning at the beach and then heading to brunch. After you soak up all the sun (while still wearing sunscreen, of course), slip on an airy white midi skirt — a supremely versatile breakout star in summer 2024 street style — and a sleeveless knit top to block the ocean breeze. Then, play with raffia and gold touches from your beach bag to your sandals.

J.Crew Perfect String Bikini Top in Limoncello

$69.50

Buy Now at j.crew

J.Crew String Hipster Bikini Bottom in Limoncello

$59.50

Buy Now at j.Crew

Madewell Cutaway Sweater Vest

$54.50 $72 24% off

Buy Now at madewell

Gap × Dôen Eyelet Midi Skirt

$99.95

Buy Now at gap

Vanessa Bruno Cabas Large Tote

$495

Buy Now at shopbop

Larroudé Milan Flat Sandals

$290

Buy Now at Larroudé

Celine Triomphe 54MM Oval Sunglasses

$550

Buy Now at Saks Fifth Avenue

Picnic in the Park

@daws0namanda

Gingham dress ootd ❤️

♬ There’s Your Trouble (should’ve fit like a glove, it should’ve fit like a ring) – The Chicks

This look forwards that Euro summer vibe with a New York City twist. Cottagecore gingham prints are trending in feminine frocks this season, and our editors have heart eyes for this number from Dôen that seamlessly pairs with the new Shopbop-exclusive 3.1 Phillip Lim tote. We added elements with a bit more edge to play with the bag’s city-girl feel, like buckled mesh Mary Jane shoes, for a complete summer outfit that’s comfortable and not too precious for a picnic in the park or a trip to the botanical garden.

Dôen Emmaretta Gingham Cotton Maxi Dress

$298

Buy Now At Saks Fifth Avenue

Le Specs Metagalactic Gold Sunglasses

$85

Buy Now at Le Specs

Emi Jay “Cherry Pie” Sweetheart Clip

$34

Buy Now at emi jay

Glossier Balm Dotcom

$16

Buy Now at glossier

3.1 Phillip Lim We Are NY Market Tote

$295

Buy Now at shopbop

Reformation Bethany Ballet Flats

$268

Buy Now at reformation

Vacay Date Night

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There are few things as heavenly as a sunset dinner date on vacation. You want to look and feel sexy, but you’re likely worn down after a full day of activities. Keep it simple with a comfortable maxi dress, like this knit number from Abercrombie that’ll also look great during the day as a swimsuit cover-up, along with kitten heel sandals and a chic shoulder bag. Before you head off to your reservation, shower yourself in a healthy spritz of a summery body spray and toss on glistening hoop earrings that match the hardware on your shoulder bag.

Abercrombie Crochet-Style Maxi Dress

$130

Buy Now at ABercrombie

Jennifer Fisher Law 10K-Gold-Plated Hoop Earrings

$315 $450 30% off

Buy Now at Saks Fifth Avenue

Prada Re-Edition 2002 Small Leather Shoulder Bag

1,950

Buy Now at Saks Fifth Aveny

Tory Burch Capri Low Heel Sandals

$248

Buy Now at tory burch

Diptyque Citronnelle and Geranium Summer Body Spray

$58

Buy Now at diptyque

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Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.

Meet the Author

Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes and edits shopping content across fashion, beauty, footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Cigliano received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She is currently based in New York City. Cigliano regularly reports on seasonal fashion trends and new fashion releases at WWD.

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