How To Build Your Summer Wardrobe

Personally, when summer rolls around, I really lean into simple styling and easy, breezy outfits. The summer should be slow and carefree, and that sentiment should extend to your wardrobe as well. At the beginning of each season, I always take the time to assess my wardrobe, strategize my purchases, and build my seasonal closet in a thoughtful way. Doing this at the beginning of each season reduces the time it takes to get dressed and saves me money in the long run because I tend to make less impulse purchases (note here I said less, not zero!) In this post, I’m breaking down the steps for building a summer wardrobe. I’ve also included a list of my summer essentials that should form the foundation of your summer wardrobe.

See the bottom of this post to links to my outfits.

How To Build Your Summer Wardrobe

FIND YOUR INSPIRATION

The first thing I do when building my summer wardrobe is to look for inspiration from others on social media and blogs. I often take to Pinterest to pin outfits that I want to recreate or that I think fit my personal style. I use the keywords ‘Parisian summer outfits’, ‘minimal summer outfits’, and ‘summer capsule wardrobe’ to get started. When searching add the current year in your keyword search to find inspiration that is current.

I do think there is room for creativity and creating outfits on your own; however, my guess is that you are reading this blog because you are looking for outfit ideas and ways to simplify the process of getting dressed.

I prefer timeless style, outfits that, in general, can be worn for a few years without looking dated. However, I also like to pick and choose a few trends that align with my personal style and will last for a few seasons. I ignore micro trends which I think are a waste of money.

You can find tons of summer outfit ideas here on Stitch & Salt.

TAKE A WARDROBE INVENTORY

Pull pieces from your spring wardrobe that will also work for summer and dig out those warm weather clothes from your storage bins. Assess what you have and make sure those items still fit. Here is a list of summer pieces that I recommend as a starting point for your summer wardrobe. Note that this list will depend on your lifestyle and weather.

SUMMER WARDROBE ESSENTIALS

Ribbed Tanks In Neutral Colors
Quality Tees In Neutral Colors
Striped Tee
Striped Tank
Feminine Blouse
Linen Or Cotton Button Downs
Cotton Cardigan
Lightweight Trousers
Denim Shorts
Tailored Shorts
Linen Shorts
Slip Skirt
Flowy Dresses In Neutral Colors
Footbed Sandals
Strappy Sandals
Kitten Heels
White Sneakers

Note that I didn’t include accessories in this list, but I like to have a few bags, especially in a woven material, a few pieces of jewelry, a sun hat, and a couple pairs of sunglasses.

MAKE A SUMMER WISHLIST

After taking an inventory of what you already own, use your inspiration photos and the Summer Essentials list I shared above to make a summer wishlist. Your wishlist should consist of gaps in your wardrobe plus possibly some trendy items you are wanting to try this season. Sometimes my list includes exact pieces from a specific brand or a general item that I need to shop for like ‘linen button down’ for example.

MAKE PURCHASES BASED ON YOUR BUDGET & NEED

My strategy for making purchases based on my wishlist is to first identify my budget. I have a monthly budget that I try to stick to, and I tend to make most of my purchases at the beginning of the month. This helps to decrease impulse purchases because I’m not shopping all the time. I almost always purchase my basics first (I often find I need to replace my white tee due to stains) then I pick a few more trendy clothing or accessory purchases that I really want.

TRY ON YOUR NEW PURCHASES WITH ITEMS IN YOUR CLOSET

An important step after you make your purchases is to try on each item with other pieces in your wardrobe. Personally, I make sure that every item I purchase can be styled at least four ways with pieces I already own. If you don’t love it or if the fit is off, return it! I often have to cut my jeans or take my pants to the tailor to get the perfect length.

EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT OUTFITS + TAKE PHOTOS

Once you have your new purchases sorted out, it is super helpful to take an afternoon to try on different outfits and take photos of the ones that work. I promise this will save you time over the long haul. When you are staring into your closet with no clue what to wear, refer to your outfit photos for inspiration. It makes getting dressed quick and simple.

OPTIONAL: PUT TOGETHER A SUMMER CAPSULE

This isn’t necessary, but I love the way a capsule wardrobe makes getting dressed a breeze. Make a list of pieces to include in your summer capsule and put them in one spot in your closet. Make sure those items can be mixed and matched. I like to stick to a specific color palette which ensures pieces go well together. A capsule wardrobe reduces decision fatigue and makes summer dressing so easy.

SHOP THIS LOOK

Parallel51 Aria Knit Tank Dress, Izzy Contrast Tank, & Willow Wide Leg Pants (ASHROHR15 for 15% off)
Dolce Vita Leanna Sandals
Clare V. Bag (old; similar linked)
Quince Ryder Polarized Sunglasses
Parker Necklace & Makena Hoops from Sela Designs | ASHLEYROHR10 for 10% off

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