24 late spring/early summer outfit ideas
giving you all of the outfit inspo
I spent 45 minutes playing around in my closet, and have put together 24 late spring and early summer outfit ideas which I hope will inspire you. Quick caveat, I live in Sydney, so a standard summer’s day would typically be in the low 30s. But, we’re two weeks’ out from a seasonal shift and I’m still wearing lightweight jackets (go figure), so it’s anyone’s guess what summer is going to look like. Each outfit comes with notes; little styling tidbits you can apply to any look.
There’s two main criteria I try to apply to my summer clothing, and they aren’t always mutually exclusive. Firstly, prioritising natural fibres. This allows your body to breathe and regulate your core temperature so you’re not overheating (a necessity when the mercury hits 38-39 deg C. Secondly, I try to seek out clothing that moves. Creating air flow as you move, and not clinging to the body.
Another thing. Try to consider how items work in your wardrobe as a whole, rather than planning in “outfits”. You’ll get more bang for your buck, and if my 10 item capsules are anything to go by, you don’t need a large wardrobe to create a lot of looks.
Lipstick I’m wearing throughout is MERIT’s Signature Lip (my fave lipstick) in the shade L’Avenue, and earrings are these opal Huggies from Linjer (code MADEMOISELLEJAIME saves on your order), and these chunky hoops from Quince (US only shipping - I use this mail forwarding service to access the brand).
Oh, and one last word before we get into it, a completely unrelated side note but I’m not planning to curate any Christmas gift guides this year. The biggest tip I can share for nailing Christmas, is to buy the recipient a nicer version of something they already use. Basically, the thing they wouldn’t think to buy for themselves, but that they’ll love and actually use. That said, if you do want some extremely well curated ideas, I always love the edits Jasmine puts together every year.
Everyone will have access to the first five outfits, then the remaining 19 will be for paid subscribers only, in case you’d like to consider upgrading your subscription (which works out to $1.25 USD per week).
What I’m wearing: top (also here), trousers, sandals (on sale - few sizes left), and bag
The definition of neutrals that I “grew up” on tended to focus solely on whites, greys and blacks for the most part, with navy and camel smattered in there too. The difficult to describe neutrals are IMO the most interesting, and can add real depth into your outfit without feeling stark.
What I’m wearing: top is old Marle (similar here), shorts, belt, sandals, bag
Never underestimate an all black outfit. Shape and texture help to keep things interesting, which can be helped along by defining the waist. I’ve opted for a dainty sandal here with a wide footbed but you could do something chunkier to create more visual balance.
What I’m wearing: top, jeans, shoes (on sale - under $50), bag (15% off with JAMIELOVESSABEN15)
A red shoe accent acting as a vibrant pop that really draws the eye down, while the white top and jeans create a vertical column that implies visual length. The thing I like about this tee in particular is that the knotted effect hits at the waist helping to define, where as the hem falls just below the widest part of my hip. Flattering! This is the kind of thing that acts as a basic, but the details make it something truly special.
What I’m wearing: dress, trench coat (I sized up), shoes (on sale - last sizes), and bag
The devil’s in the details. Again using that trick from the previous look to imply visual length, and the tartan lining in the trench gives a little ‘something something’. A little peek of personality. That je ne sais quoi, as the French would say.
What I’m wearing: linen blend vest, denim shorts, sandals, bag (AU/NZ only)
When it’s super hot and all you want to do is revert back to your denim shorts, try pairing them with something other than a singlet. The style of the top can instantly level up the formality of your outfit. Case in point; just add a tailored vest.