When it comes to summer sometimes its touch to look structured and sophisticated because we all mostly love wearing tank tops or t shirts and shorts, all things very casual and laidback. But if you are looking incorporate some sophistication and classiness in your outfit while still keeping it casual, then checkout some timeless essentials that I am sharing in this post.
I always like comfort with structured, so these pieces are my personal recommendations and items that I live by everyday. And all of these pieces are timeless no matter which color you choose to buy them in.
So, lets get to the details:
Linens
My first set of essentials are linens because they are the best material you can wear in summer to stay cool in the heat. As well as they look luxurious compared to jersey or cotton in summer which do not hold sweat as well.
If you don’t own any linens, now is the time to do so.
Button Down Linen Shirt
This is my absolute essential, no matter what color you choose. I love wearing both black or white because both of them look crisp and structured because of being the primary color.
I created a post where I shared some ways you can wear a white button up shirt casually, which looks sophisticated and comfy.
And when you pair them with skirts or even shorts, you can easily get away with looking polished and sophisticated without having to wear a suit. If you have to buy one, I would always recommend starting with a full sleeve one which you can always wear as a short sleeve one by folding the sleeves.
But if you can buy two, do a combination of one full sleeve and another one short sleeve. This way you have variety in your closet and you can mix and match them.
Linen Pants
Honestly these are so much better than jeans, joggers or jersey pants. They are so breathable, but most of the time with the structured look, they add some dressed up look to any casual top you are wearing.
But when choosing them, make sure to check for pockets. The pull on linen pants that don’t have pockets usually don’t look as structured since they give a more casual vibe.
I love wearing wide leg ankle length ones which have pockets and I have also shared what to wear with linen pants for summer on the blog. And if you are looking for nice ones, check out our round up of the classiest pull on linen pants.
My favorite way of wearing them are with crewneck tshirt which are also one of my favorite tops for summer and we will get to later.
I again, prefer black or white linen pants because they honestly go with everything. And they naturally look great.
Linen Blazer
Blazers have now become an essential and I can absolutely see why. Just by wearing them you can look more put together in the most casual outfit as well. And most linen blazers are designed to be more relaxed and oversized so they can feel more comfortable compared to work blazers.
This is where you do not have to buy a basic white or black blazer, a fun colored one will add some structured and brighten up any outfit that you will be wearing this summer. This year with my Capsule Wardrobe with colors, I have picked up a Blue linen blazer and a yellow one. And I have worn both of them so much.
Shorts
Shorts are key for summer. A lot of us probably cannot survive summer without it. But, they can also make us look super casual and frumpy. When it comes to these essentials, I pick pieces that are more structured and at the same time comfortable.
Since I have a short torso, short shorts look really tiny on me. And for the longest, I could not find good shorts for my body type till I found the below ones.
Straight Leg Bermuda Shorts
These are the best shorts made out there which you can easily wear to work as well if you have a laidback business casual work look. And because they are not super tight on your thighs making them really comfortable.
The straight legs itself look really elevated and you can add a linen blazer and make the outfit look way more structured and sophisticated without wearing pants.
Pleated Bermuda Shorts
Another loose fit shorts, they come in many colors and the primary reason I love them is because of the relaxed style. They don’t hug my legs and because of the pleated style, hey look absolutely structured.
You can create a work look with these shorts without any problem. I honestly prefer them in black because in lighter color these shorts might be a bit see through.
Straight Leg Jeans
This year I have gotten obsessed with these style of jeans, but I have to tell you there is a good reason for that. The straight leg style makes the jeans look more relaxed as well are really flattering on any body type.
And because they don’t hug your skin that much compared to skinny jeans, they look more sophisticated and effortless as well. Levis makes the best straight leg jeans and they come in variety of colors, I have review the Levis Ribcage jeans as well and shared different shade comparison and color options.
Crew Neck T shirts
If you love wearing T shirts, then go for crew necks compared to V neck. The banded neckline adds a detail to the simple style of a t shirt which in turn makes them look more sophisticated and elevated.
These are must haves for a Business casual work look as well. So, you can wear it to work as well as everyday as well. These days there are T shirts who have stitching details on the sleeves as well which also adds more to the structured style of these tees.
It does not matter which color you wear, but a plain crewneck t shirt always looks way more sophisticated and stylish compared to sloganeer printed t shirts. And you should have a couple in your closet to swap out when you want to look a bit more effortless chic.
Loafer Mules
These footwear style came as a huge trend with Gucci Princetown Leather mules, but now they have become an essential in a lot of our closet and for a good reason.
The primary reason loafers look structured is because of the stitching detail and the design of the footwear.
But the loafer mules make them extremely comfortable as well. You look elevated and stylish wearing them because of the stitches and hardware details on the front, but because you can easily slide into them, they are super comfortable to wear as well.
You can swap your every flats with these beauties and easily elevate your casual everyday outfit.
Mule Slide Sandals
These are a newer style of footwear that are a hybrid of mules and slides with heels. The heels that I am wearing are only around 3 inches which are high enough to elevate any outfit.
A good pair of white one or even a black one can last you a long time and because of the primary color they will be timeless which means you can wear them again next year.
These white ones have a woven detail to them but I love them because they bring in a bit of detail to the over all look and when I pair it some casual outfits like shorts, they still look effortless and chic.
I Hope this post gave you some ideas on what to look for when you are creating your summer outfits that will make you look structured and sophisticated. Let me know which one clothing item you love to wear the most in summer and what is your go to outfit with them.
