Summer '26 Style POV

At the beginning of every season, I flip a rolling rack in my room with pieces that feel relevant for the next few months. I think of my closet as a living inventory I’m constantly editing.

 

I’m working with roughly ~600 pieces total (clothing + accessories). About half are year-round foundations, and the rest feel more season specific depending on weather, travel, special occasions, and mood.

 

The Summer experiment is roughly 90 days of outfits, June through August, and is a chance to refine what I already own, need, and wish I owned.

 

My Seasonal System:

 

I like breaking it down using my merchant brain…

 

As I’m a few years into this approach, most of my foundations are in place. So instead of building, I’m usually working with:

 

  • ~100 seasonal pieces in rotation

  • 5–15 intentional new additions per season

  • And an equal amount of letting go

Some seasons I don’t hit that number of newness—and I let it roll into the next, or not. The point is about meaningful curation. The options are endless out there but thankfully, I’ve found the more I dial into what I like, the more “nos” there are.

 

Current Closet Reflections:

This is what’s already working in my closet going into summer:

 

  • Statement printed tops, dresses, and sets from last year still feel relevant

  • White denim, light blue denim, medium wash denim shorts, and linen bottoms cover the foundation

  • Simple dresses, swim, and coverups are ready for East Coast travel

  • Layering options(cardigans, poplin shirts, linen, blazers, jackets) are always ready to go in San Francisco

  • Lots of layerable tanks, shift dresses, and maxi options available

  • White tanks and tops are in a good place (for now…)

  • Footwear and accessories feel broadly covered across categories

Across the board, I would love some more expressive prints, texture, and color.

 

Recurring Summer Themes:

 

For an effortless way of moving through summer without chasing the latest trends. I like to call it comfort with some personalized spark!

Images via Pinterest, Julia Berolzheimer, Sam Boskey, Ashley Kane, Julie Sarinana, Carmen Montero Mundt

  • Key Items

    • Easy dress + skirt silhouettes (shift, slip, maxi)

    • Flowy, breathable silhouettes overall

    • Printed tops, tanks, dresses as core expression pieces

    • Lightweight sweaters for layering and transition weather

    • Linen pants + shorts in solids

    • Raffia + canvas bags for summer utility

    • Strappy sandals, slides, + block heels as the core shoe logic

    • Colorful shoes, bags, jewelry + scarves as the finishing layer

  • Color Mood

    • Brights (coral, cobalt, magenta, orchid, lemon, red, kelly green), worn through either color contrast or solids

    • Navy, white, cream as grounding neutrals

    • Black + white for contrast and structure

    • Turquoise and lime as accent tones

    • Earth tones introduced later in summer (stone, muted browns, jewel tones

  • Print & Pattern Direction

    • Classic stripes (clean + nautical)

    • Sporty / retro stripes

    • Floral prints (especially oversized graphic versions)

    • Eclectic boho prints

    • Graphic prints, geos, watercolor

    • Occasional tie-dye / ombrĂ© as an experimental layer

  • Material + Texture Direction

    • Linen (ease, airiness, lived-in texture)

    • 100% cotton basics

    • Chambray

    • Poplin (crisp structure, contrast to softness)

    • Crochet + ribbed knits for texture

    • Gauze + washed fabrics (heat + travel friendly)

    • Raffia + natural materials (seasonal grounding texture)

    • Smooth soft stretch knits for dressing up or down

 

Summer 2026 Direction:

Stripe Shorts, Green Boho Maxi, Sage Crochet Sweater, Neon Stripe Top, Linen Blazer, Brown Sandals, Prada Clutch, Brown Strappy Dress, Athletic Shorts, Pucci Tote, Stripe Linen Maxi, Floral Maxi, Turquoise Necklace, Pink Sweater, Graphic Shirt Dress, Stripe Pants, Chanel Pendant, Green Sunnies, Tie Dye Pants, Navy Sweater, Gingham Top, Stripe Cashmere T-Shirt, Beaded Necklace, Floral Earrings, Fendi Wallet, Red Tank

This season here’s how I want to lean into a more expressive, color-forward summer:

 

  • Reclaiming gingham, seersucker, and simple ticking stripes as modern classics

  • More bold and vibrant solid colors to ground light colored bottoms

  • Playing with hits of turquoise and neon where I can

  • Pucci-esque bright prints and more joyful, high-impact prints

  • Prioritizing black and white dress silhouettes to personalize with accessories

  • Bright workout sets and better-fitting athletic shorts

  • Exploring crochet, tie-dye, space-dye, and rainbow stripe knits for texture and color variation

  • Introducing colored and printed denim as a more playful base layer

  • Experimenting with multi-colored striped bottoms

  • Personality pieces through bags, beaded necklaces, scarves, belts, card holders, and pouches

  • Simple stone, hoop, and drop earrings for easy elevation

  • Scarves styled as belts over dresses or pants as a fresh detail

I may or may not get around to all of these this year, but that’s okay. It really takes time, patience, and repetition to build a closet that feels like you. And I keep reminding myself that each season brings me closer to something more coherent!

 

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