8 Smart(ish) Outfits for Summer
Not quite casual. Not quite occasion wear.
Day-to-day, my style errs on the side of casual. I’m self-employed and mostly work from home, and any activities beyond that mainly revolve around my local yoga studio and laid-back dinner and drinks.
I don’t have a lot of need for fancy outfits, but there are times when I want to feel like I’ve made more of an effort and take things up a notch. I’m not talking about occasions, like weddings (but if you’re looking for that, I’ll direct you here and here), but rather, dinners to mark a birthday, drinks to celebrate a friend getting that promotion or a long, fancy(ish) lunch because hey, you’re an adult and you don’t always need a reason.
Tips for smart(ish) summer outfits
Tailoring will always look smart, but you don’t want to go too heavy or structured (hello, heat). Lightweight cotton or linen are good fabrics to look for.
A suit is always a fail-safe option, but pair it with a casual top such as a T-shirt or tank top to loosen it up a bit.
Flip-flops are acceptable! Sleek leather pairs will look smarter than rubber ones. I just ordered this pair from FitFlop because let’s face it, feet need proper support too.
There are lots of smart sleeveless top options out there — great for the heat, great if you want to wear something other than a cotton tank. A waistcoat or light knitted vest is a good thing to reach for when you want to smarten things up a bit.
Classic colours like black, navy and white/cream will always look smart. But you can have fun with a bit of extra colourful and summery accessories to make those looks more seasonally appropriate.
Look 1
I love the pairing of this waistcoat with a wide linen barrel-leg. It creates even more shape in the outfit and adds contrast in a way that is slightly unexpected (vs. traditional suit trousers that are often worn with a waistcoat). A touch of gold jewellery and the chocolate brown bag bring more contrast again, without it feeling like it’s too much — for this minimalist, anyway.
Look 2
I don’t wear suits very often. I love them, but they often feel too formal for most days and occasions. But like with a lot of items, the cut, fabric and shape of a blazer and pair of trousers can impact the formality level hugely. This is definitely a summer suit, and one that’s easy to put a casual spin on. The jacket (now on sale) and trousers are both made from a cotton-linen blend, and they have relaxed, rather than structured, fits. I could smarten it up with a shirt, but where I’m going, a classic white tee and leather flip-flops do the trick.
Look 3
It was only at the beginning of this year that I really got into waistcoats (it was that black one above that changed my mind about them, in case you’re wondering). Now? I can’t imagine smart(ish) summer dressing without them. They’re such an easy way to add a touch of tailoring to a look, and when they’re lightweight with a boxy fit like this one, they still carry that air of effortlessness that I love in summer dressing.
Look 4
I’ll never tire of wearing dresses over trousers. It helps you get more wear out of your dresses (especially if you live somewhere like the UK, where it’s rarely bare leg weather), plus you can play with shapes and silhouettes a bit more. You can’t see in this image, but this dress has a deep scooped back (not great for bras, but hey, we’ve got NOOD for that) and makes for a great piece on its own. But on the occasions that don’t call for a mini dress? I love pairing it with these black twisted seam trousers. (Side note: I find the colour of the dress is more of a muted sage than it appears on the website.)
The rest of this post is for paid subscribers. Behind the paywall, you’ll find smart(ish) linen trousers with plenty of shape, a way to elevate your camp collar shirt, and the LBD that is a truly versatile blank canvas.