Everyday Smart Outfits to Wear With Loafers This Summer

Every season is a great opportunity for cleaning up, re-organizing your closet, and maybe do a little shopping to ensure your wardrobe remains aligned with your lifestyle. Shopping for apparel can be a fun undertaking, but it often turns into an overwhelming experience when you consider all the choices that are out there, the different silhouettes, and the ever-changing trends. Having options is a good thing, but too many options can also get in the way of making solid, efficient buying decisions. For example, it's easy to go for that cute white top we stumble on, even when it doesn't really fit our lifestyle, or we just don't have the pieces to style it with. Building an efficient wardrobe requires an intentional approach to purchasing clothing, shoes, and accessories. Wondering where to start? I have done the work on several closet items so you can get more bang for your shopping bucks.

Dresses and Jumpsuits

Who doesn't love a good dress or jumpsuit? These one-and-done pieces make getting ready a breeze! But unless you want to overstuff your closet with all the dress cuts and styles that are out there, you need to shop very intentionally. A rule of thumb when investing in your wardrobe is to make sure you can wear the pieces multiple ways for multiple occasions, the ones that fit your lifestyle. As a corporate leader, entrepreneur, content creator, and mom, I like a piece that I can wear to work, to a school meeting, weekend sporting events, Sunday brunch, and dinner too. That's a lot of boxes and checking most of them requires clean and versatile silhouettes. Sheath dresses, sleeveless midi dresses, fit-and-flare dresses, bold maxi dresses, strapless floral dresses, and shirt dresses – among others – are all options. And same on the jumpsuit side, there is a variety of styles and silhouettes to pick from, from structured utility jumpsuits to relaxed wide-leg jumpsuits. 

The most versatile picks: go for a clean shirt dress and a wide-leg jumpsuit. A shirt dress is a never-fail closet staple that can be styled for just about every occasion. Going to work? Pair it with a leather belt and leather pumps. For a wedding, add a brooch and dressy sandals. Running errands? Opt for comfy loafers and a large soft tote. You just can't go wrong with a shirt dress! For a modern spin, I recommend looking for updated details such as drop sleeves.

For the jumpsuit, I recommend one in a softer, wide-leg silhouette and a classic top (a jumpsuit like this or this or this). A high neckline will always give a modern and more versatile look that you can style for work, for special occasions, and even for casual outings too.

Check out my Summer dress edit here.

White Shirts

Everyone needs a white shirt. Everyone. And the good thing is that there's no shortage of styles to pick from. Whether you're into longer, tunic-lengh white tops, more casual eyelet materials, boho styles, or crisp and classic, you'll have no trouble finding a white shirt. The key is picking the one or ones that you'll be able to pair with most of your closet staples and for multiple occasions. 

The most versatile picks: go for a clean, classic, and crisp white shirt in a quality cotton fabric that will be comfortable year-round, and also pick a more relaxed option (other relaxed option here) so you can interchange the two depending on your mood. A crisp white shirt works well for classic workwear, and also elevates casual pieces such as jeans and shorts. The cleaner silhouette is also best for layering under other pieces such as blazers and vests. On the other hand, a more relaxed shirt with a longer hem and wider sleeves lends a contemporary flair to business and weekend looks alike. Think black dressy slacks with a relaxed white shirt to create a chic, balanced outfit you can wear to work and happy hour. A relaxed shirt also works well with jeans and the on-trend fitted capri pants. 

Check out my white shirt edit here.

Tank tops

Nothing beats a tank top on a hot Summer day. But just because you're focused on staying cool doesn't mean you can't be chic! Shopping for a tank top can sprawl into many directions: spaguetti straps, halter necklines, open necklines, bodysuits, there are tons of options and in so many color ways.

The most versatile picks: go for a tank top with a high halter neckline and one with an open square neckline (other options here and here). These two options are easy to style with jeans and shorts for casual feats, and also look more structured and put together. Even for work, these styles will pair effortlessly with dressy pants, pumps and a belt. For a cleaner fit, opt for a bodysuit construction.

Pants

Of all the wardrobe pieces, I think pants are the ones that have undergone the most trend shifts in recent years. We've bounced around skinny and cigarette pants, bell bottoms, wide-leg pants, barrel and balloon silhouettes, and more recently, fitted capri pants. And it's tempting to want to jump on each one of those trends. But maintaining an intentional and capsule wardrobe you can easily pull from requires a more studied approach, one that considers the styling range that each type of pants offers.

The most versatile picks: go for a wide-leg silhouette and a straight-leg pair of pants. I have found those two options to be the most versatile, easy-to-style, and timeless! Timeless is key when you're investing in pieces you want to wear for many years, ones that don't fall in and out of trends but remain relevant regardless of what the fashion editors say. Wide-leg pants are a must-have for Spring and Summer. They look elevated yet breezy and fit well with office outfits and casual looks. Wide-leg pants are my most worn style because they look posh with everything: a tank top, an oversized blazer, or a shirt. And wide-leg pants are also flattering to most body types making them a worthwhile investment. Straight-leg pants have also stood their ground when it comes to timeless style. Straight-leg jeans in particular are super versatile and can be dressed up depending on the wash you go for. The darker the wash, the more places you'll be able to wear your jeans to. When shopping for pants, wide-leg or straight-leg, I strongly recommend a high waist to elongate the legs and give a more elevated allure.

Shoes

If you're like me, you want all the shoes! It is hard for me to decide which ones to get or not get when I'm shopping for shoes. I definitely prioritize comfort but when it comes to styles? Tough choice! Similar to pants, we've seen a lot of trend shifts with shoes in recent years, going from slingbacks to maryjane ballet flats to mesh mules, platforms and others.

The most versatile picks: go for leather pointy pumps, dressy sandals, and something more casual like loafers or low-top sneakers. Pointy pumps go with everything. They give structure and a dressy vibe to all your looks and are truly timeless. Dressy sandals are also good to have in your Spring and Summer arsenal. For both sandals and pumps, a mid heel is sure to provide more comfort and that is not to be overlooked if you want to move around confidently. For weekend or casual activities that require more walking such as errands, a flat option is the way to go. You could go for sneakers or loafers though I'd recommend loafers for their versatility. Those can be dressed up or down and make a better choice if you want to streamline your wardrobe.

Check out my full shoes edit here.

This is just scratching the surface of Summer shopping! There are many other categories to explore such as skirts, shorts, tops and others. The goal is not to shop till you drop. It's instead to dial down the over-consumerism and make deliberate, considered, and sustainable buying decisions – because the more streamlined your wardrobe, the easier it is to assemble outfits. Let me know in the comments which category I should do next!

Spring and Summer are big event seasons. From graduation parties to large reunions and alfresco wedding celebrations, there are plenty of occasions to gather with friends and family and enjoy life's milestones. Most of those events call for a little more dressing up than we tend to do in our day-to-day. And one way to look the part for those occasions, weddings in particular, is to go for a special dress and special dressy shoes. But if you're like me and seldom have to go to those types of events, then you're better off shopping your closet for a look that is in line with your everyday style, while giving posh event vibes. This is exactly what I've done and here are some outfits that I created from my wardrobe and that I would wear to a Summer wedding:

A Full Skirt With A Fitted Bodice Top

Have you noticed how a lot of occasion dresses have a fit-and-flare silhouette? Well, I came across this Mac Dugal dress and was inspired to recreate the look using pieces in my closet so I reached for my favorite full printed skirt and an old strapless bodice top (similar here).

A black and white color combination never fails, and it's even better with bold and mixed prints! To play up the party vibe and stay true to my original inspiration, I added a large gold flower brooch. I've had that one for a few years now and love it for adding a fun and statement touch to an outfit.

A Statement Shirt Dress

Spring/Summer is dress season, and who says dress season also says shirt dress season! As I shared in this post, a shirt dress is a staple for any trend-proof wardrobe, whether you go for a solid color, or a bold printed option (other options here, here and here). I stan both but would go for printed options if I were dressing up for a wedding ceremony. Prints, especially bold prints, create contrast against the typical backdrop of solid hues and neutrals. A bold print is an effortless statement and is sure to set you apart from the crowd.

I have had this multi-colored batik printed shirt dress for almost five years and still can't get enough of it! The silk material gives it a luxurious allure while the relaxed silhouette makes it effortless. For a polished touch, I would add a wide leather belt and matching strappy sandals. And for even more punch, I would go for a colorful leather clutch bag. 

A Midi Skirt With A Ruffle Blouse

You need a ruffle blouse in your closet! It's a versatile and feminine staple that you can reach for for work outfits, date night looks, and even wedding events. I wore this polka-dot ruffle blouse with a layered mesh midi skirt (similar here) to create a soft and textured look that would check the occasionwear box. I finished the outfit with strappy heeled sandals (other option here) and a small yellow bag for a playful touch.

This is a look you could also wear to the office by simply swapping the small bag with a work tote, and wearing pumps instead of the sandals (though sandals are also appropriate for Summer workwear).

Wide-Leg Pants With An Oversized Blazer

If you love a blazer outfit, rest assured that you can rock one to a wedding ceremony! I love a good blazer and am always looking for opportunities to throw one on. During the Spring and Summer, I like them longer and in breathable materials such as linen. I also like them in bold colors because those really dial up the seasonal mood. The key to making a blazer work for a Spring or Summer daytime event is to wear it in a more relaxed way, think an oversized linen blazer with wide-leg pants. This combination creates a breezy yet elevated look that fits effortlessly into the Summer event dress code. I built this look starting with my Ronny Kobo purple strong shoulder linen blazer (other colorful linen blazer, similar purple blazer). I wanted a colorful and statement piece. I then added my off-white wide-leg pants to create a striking color combo.

When it came to accessorizing, I was torn between two options: belting the blazer with a soft belt, or wearing the blazer open and belting the pants with a wide leather belt. Tough choice, right? 😃 It all comes down to preference and for a wedding ceremony, I would go with belting the blazer to emphasize the color-blocking and not distract from the bride's white attire. To finish the look, I wore platform sandals and a small handbag that matched with the pants to really keep the focus on the blazer.

A Sleeveless Jumpsuit

Jumpsuits really take the guessing game out of dressing and who doesn't love that? I love a good jumpsuit, one with an easy-to-wear silhouette, a good color, and made from quality material. I scored this sleeveless black jumpsuit last year and am so glad I went for it! The wide-leg cut and halter neckline are super flattering, plus the black linen fabric makes it a versatile Summer piece. I've worn this to work, to casual weekend activities with sneakers, and let me tell you, I would also wear it to a Summer wedding party! To dress it up and give it a lighter allure, add colorful accessories such as a green leather belt and green strappy sandals. This gives the look a real Summer vibe and a polished touch thanks to the belt's stand-out gold buckle. For even more party flair, I added gold earrings and a small metallic gold leather bag. 

Shop a similar jumpsuit

As these outfits show, no need to go shopping for a new formal or cocktail dress when you're invited to the next wedding ceremony. Simply shop your closet and mix and match pieces to create elevated occasionwear that will still have you turn heads. I hope you're inspired and I would love to know which look is more your core. Chime in in the comments!