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These Summer Capsule Wardrobe Items Are All I’m Bothered About Wearing

Real talk: warm-weather dressing isn’t always as effortless as throwing on a summer dress and sandals, but a summer capsule wardrobe can help you stylishly navigate the very hot and humid spaces — and the most refrigerated ones — with ease.

The trick to building out the ideal summer capsule wardrobe is focusing on fabrics and silhouettes. Just as in spring you gravitate towards wardrobe essentials that lend themselves well to layering, for peak temperatures you want breathable, lightweight materials, like linen, cotton, and silk, that move easily and feel good on skin — and don’t trap heat. When it comes to fit, anything loose and flowy usually works. (It’s little surprise that one of the most popular summer fashion trends is relaxed suiting). And don’t sweat the length: Midi and maxi styles tend to be just as — if not more — comfortable than minis, while tailored shorts (and jorts) read more appropriate than cutoffs in semi-formal settings.

The best part about dressing for the season, though, is all the colourful accessories that come out to play. A great beach bag, funky belts, and stackable jewellery — these are small staples that pack a punch with a simple look—and tend to get a ton of wear.

To make the next few months as fuss-free as possible (at least when it to comes dressing for the heat), we rounded up all the warm-weather essentials you need for a stylish summer — check them out below.

The Tank Top

White tank tops are a dime a dozen but a great one always stands out — and GLAMOUR editors agree that Free People and SKIMS have some of the best around.

We The Free Kate Tank

Cotton Rib Tank

The White T-Shirt

Ditto for white T-shirts. Our editors can get very particular about the small details that set a good white tee apart from an excellent one. Here are a few at various price points we like to stock up on.

Amazon Essentials Women’s Slim-Fit Short-Sleeve Crewneck T-Shirt (Pack of 2)

Clean Cut T-Shirt

The Summer Sneakers

Whether you’re at home or vacation, summer fashion trainers are a must for 10,000-plus-step days — and these kicks are current hits at the moment for a reason.

Axel Arigato Eris Trainer

Gola Elan Suede Trainers

The Strapless Bra

Along with sticky bras, the best strapless bras can help you pull off a tricky summer ’fit. We’ve tried dozens to find ones that stay up and hidden for small breasts and large busts alike — Wacoal and SKIMS never disappoint.

Wacoal Halo Floral Lace Wired Strapless Bra

Fits Everybody Bandeau

The Tube Top

Somewhere between a longline bandeau and strapless top — this late-’90s, early-’00s staple has made a quiet comeback, managing to look both timeless and modern when paired with relaxed trousers or high-waist jeans.

Ribbed Tube Top

GAP Red CloseKnit Cropped Tube Top with Removable Straps

The Swimsuit

Long sleeves, with tummy control, crinkle — we love a one-piece swimsuit around these parts. And not just because it takes the guesswork out of shopping for swimwear; it can also double as a bodysuit with denim shorts or a cute sarong.

Damson Madder Betty printed smocked swimsuit

Hunza G Strap Bikini

The High-Waist Two-Piece Swimsuit

Those in the market for a two-piece will appreciate the variety the best swimwear brands have to offer. Gone are the days of finding only triangle bikinis and low-cut briefs; this new generation of bikinis has everything from interesting cutouts and strap placements to high-waist bottoms with cheeky coverage — all in a bevy of fun prints and colours.

Dora Larsen Phoebe High Waist Bikini Bottom

Hunza G Jamie Twist-Front Metallic Seersucker Bikini

The Statement Shades

Sunglasses are always a good idea — especially ones that can get coated with sand and seawater without you being too precious about them.

Polaroid PLD 7047/S Sunglasses

Outta Love Sunglasses

The Linen Button-Down

Naturally lightweight and breathable, linen is a quintessential summer fabric—and the best linen shirts look a little (or lot) lived-in.

With Nothing Underneath Boyfriend Shirt

The Linen Relaxed Shirt

The Floral Dress

Sleeveless, puff-sleeved, smocked or strapless — the perfect summer day dress instantly ups your level of excitement for getting dressed in the morning. It’s also a holiday must-have.

Farm Rio Floral linen-blend maxi dress

Rat & Boa Casablanca Oversized Floral Maxi Dress

The Denim Shorts

Like an on-off relationship, feelings towards jorts have been hot and cold for the past few summers, but it seems the internet’s finally reached a consensus: they can stay. Blame it on Hailey Bieber and Gigi Hadid, who make them look so good with Sambas — but you’ll want to embrace these longer hems, ASAP.

Citizens of Humanity Marlow High-Rise Recycled-Denim Shorts

Citizens of Humanity Ayla High-Rise Raw-Hem Denim Shorts

The Everyday Sandals

If you don’t already own a comfortable pair of walking sandals, now’s the time to get one. Birkenstock’s Arizona silhouette are the classic go-to pair, but consider something a bit quirkier – like Teva’s – if you fancy a change.

Birkenstock Mogami Terra Tech

Kurt Geiger orson cross strap sandal

The Beach Tote

A sturdy basket bag is a nonnegotiable for carrying towels, sunscreen, books, and snacks with style.

Dragon Diffusion Santa Croce Big woven leather tote

Chloe Summer Banana Logo Raffia Tote

The Extra Sun Protection

The window for wearing a straw boater is a short one, so make the most of summer hat season while you can.

Fendi Blue viscose and cotton hat

9FORTY New York Yankees Womens MLB Linen Adjustable Cap

The Beach Coverup

The best beach coverup is an outfit unto itself. We love the way an oversized shirt looks over a cozzie, or a printed sarong with a matching bikini.

Zara PRINTED KAFTAN DRESS

Alexandra Miro MINI KARA KAFTAN – MIDNIGHT LACE

The Summer Skirt

Slip skirts will always have a place in our wardrobe, but there’s something about structured midis— in linen and denim — that we’re really into right now.

LEEM Asymmetric Panelled Satin Maxi Skirt

Brie Maxi Skirt

The Linen Trousers

Linen trousers may be a bit of a cliche for summer, but if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. Right? Our favourites at the moment are from M&S and Massimo Dutti.

Linen Blend Wide Leg Trousers

COS WIDE-LEG LINEN DRAWSTRING TROUSERS

The Waistcoat

Equal parts cool and sophisticated, a waistcoat is what you wear when the vibe is put-together but not super fussy. Skip layering and wear it sleeveless.

ARKET Linen-Blend Waistcoat

Tie-Front Waistcoat

The Linen Blazer

Blazers get the linen treatment for summer too. Black always works, but it’s hard to go wrong with an off-white version slung carefree over a T-shirt.

The Linen Oversized Blazer

& Other Stories Single-Breasted Linen Blazer

The Summer Knit

Perfect for windy beaches and A/C-filled offices, a lightweight knit you can toss in a big tote bag goes a long way.

Boden Collared Henley Jumper

Remain Knitted Sweater Creme

The Event Dress

A special-occasion dress should make an impact — and have life beyond a single wear. You can find the best summer wedding guest dresses across all budgets and styles, though RIXO and Kitri have some our favourite printed ones.

Rixo Meena Silk Dress

Gretchen Pastel Floral Jacquard Mini Dress

The Heeled Sandals

Perfect for after-work events, weddings, or date nights, a mule or kitten-heel sandal is a versatile addition that’ll get plenty of wear.

Manolo Blahnik Callamu 50 patent-leather mules

Malone Souliers 45 Penn sandals

The Hair Accessory

Cute claw clips and scrunchies to the rescue in the unrelenting heat and humidity.

Roop Melissa scrunchie in red rose mesh

ASOS DESIGN oversized scrunchie with contrast stitching in pink

The Summer Jewellery Stack

Pile on the campy pieces — we love Pandora and Edge of Ember’s playful pearly creations — or mix metals for a colourful, layered look; celeb-loved brands like Missoma and Mejuri have great pieces for every day.

Pandora Organically Shaped Wired Open Bangle 14k gold plating

Pandora Organically Shaped Link Necklace 14k gold plating

The Belt

All eyes are on belts right now. Invest in a luxe leather one you’ll own for years to come, or have fun with a chain style that’ll pair nicely with slip dresses and denim skirts.

Dehanche Meri leather waist belt

Amanu The Grumeti Belt


This article originally appeared on Glamour US.

For more from Glamour US Senior Commerce Writer Talia Abbas, follow her @_taliaabbas on Instagram. For more from GLAMOUR UK Senior Commerce Writer Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd.

LP Staff Writers

Writers at Lord’s Press come from a range of professional backgrounds, including history, diplomacy, heraldry, and public administration. Many publish anonymously or under initials—a practice that reflects the publication’s long-standing emphasis on discretion and editorial objectivity. While they bring expertise in European nobility, protocol, and archival research, their role is not to opine, but to document. Their focus remains on accuracy, historical integrity, and the preservation of events and individuals whose significance might otherwise go unrecorded.

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