30 Cute Outfit Ideas to Add to Your Summer Wardrobe Right Now

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What does summer 2024 have in store for you? A gorgeous vacation, afternoon brunches, rooftop soirees, a summer romance perhaps? Whatever the season brings, be sure to have a weather-appropriate outfit prepared. From sweating in the city to sparkling in the sea, we might not have your itinerary handled for the summer, but we’ll surely do our best to make sure you look good doing it (whatever it may be) in a cute summer outfit.

In the age of character dressing—clean girl, office siren, rocker girlfriend, etc.—choosing your aesthetic for the summer can seem overwhelmingly compartmentalized. Not to knock the aesthetics of the moment, but your personal style is an ever more important way to stand out from the other mob wives. This summer, try out different characters for different activities or, better yet, create your own complex and nuanced character: you. To help you get started writing your summer story, we’ve analyzed street style, social media, and runway trends to help build out your warm-weather wardrobe. Whether you’re nautical or nice, Wild West or heading east, or anything in-between, scroll on for your dose of summertime fit-spiration:

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Pop of Red

Jeremy Moeller

You might’ve seen this phenomenon on the streets of New York or all over your Instagram feed. Red accents are nothing new, but the pop of red has become synonymous with a sleek, on-trend aesthetic in recent months. To meet the requirements of this trend, just a pop is all you need. Nothing more, nothing less!

Mediterranean Summer

Edward Berthelot

Whether you’re living it up in the Greek Islands, Mallorca, or St. Tropez, or you’re just trying to make it to work every day, you can still manifest the Mediterranean lifestyle. Dress for the life (or at least the vacation) you want!

Hot Pants

Claudio Lavenia

A trend we’ve seen season after season, the appropriate season for hot pants is finally here. You won’t have to freeze your butt off (literally) anymore for this summer ’fit. Pair with boots or loafers and an oversized blazer or moto jacket.

Scarf Tops

Jeremy Moeller

Nothing says summer like a flirty printed scarf worn as a top. Scarf tops can go with anything, from loose jeans to mini skirts, and look perfectly cool and casual. They’re also a great way to even out (or show off) your summer tan lines.

Boho Chic

Edward Berthelot

If you paid attention at all during the recent fall/winter 2024 runway shows, you’ll know that boho is back and better than ever. That means fringe bags, flowy dresses, and slouchy boots will dominate the summer and last well into fall.

Animal Prints

Jeremy Moeller

Animal prints are, in some fashion tribes, a neutral. Glamorous winter prints aside, summer is the best time to have fun with prints, from zebra to snakeskin. Mix and match or wear your print of choice as a single statement piece with true (a.k.a. other) neutrals.

Brunch-Ready

Christian Vierig

This one goes out to the Sofia Richie Grainge wannabes of the world (so…most of us). For an elegant summer look that you can wear from brunch to boat (read: yacht), go for more skin coverage, minimalist colorways and patterns, and ultra-flattering silhouettes. Hamptons home not included.

Nautical or Nice

Michael Campanella

We should all be around some form of water this summer, whether it’s a beach, lake, pool, sailboat, you name it. For this particular outfit trend, a port town is recommended but not required. We know boat shoes are making a big comeback thanks to Miu Miu, but stripes are fair game here, too.

Fresh Off the Beach

Edward Berthelot

Even if you live nowhere near a beach, why not look like you do? Go for a carefree, California vibe with a beach-to-outdoor-dinner look: bikini top, denim shorts, and easy sandals, bonus points if you have gorgeous, glimmering jewelry to elevate the ’fit. In summer, the rules are what you make them! (Disclaimer: If you’re actually going from the beach to dinner, do make sure to bring dry bottoms to change into post-swim!)

Going West

Melodie Jeng

Thanks to Beyoncé (and Lana del Rey’s upcoming country album, lest we forget), it’ll be a cowboy kind of summer. Get your cowboy boots and oversized belt buckles ready. Even if the Western look isn’t exactly your style, you can go with subtle nods to the trend, like the horse print bikini top from Solid & Striped. Yee haw!

Office-Appropriate

Edward Berthelot

Although you might dream of vacationing all summer long, you still have bills to pay, which means you’ll be taking frequent trips into the office. This simple, sophisticated tailored set is ideal for workdays.

A Blazer Set

Daniel Zuchnik

Many fashion lovers like to pair blazers with lengthy bottoms, but during the warmer months, swapping a long pair of pants for shorts or a skirt offers a cooler alternative.

Crochet Cover-Up

Raimonda Kulikauskiene

If you’re traveling to the beach this summer, packing a crochet cover-up is essential. I’d suggest pairing this colorful look with a white bikini set and a pair of comfy flip-flops that will carry you through the day. By the time the sun sets and the temperatures drop, you’ll be glad to have something to keep you warm.

Public Pajamas

Jeremy Moeller

A simple pajama-inspired set is arguably the easiest summer outfit idea to exist. If you don’t feel like putting a lot of energy into assembling an outfit, you’ll want to have one of these tucked away in your closet.

The Button-Down Shirt

Jeremy Moeller

Button-down shirts have been around for ages, and they’re never going out of style. Why would they? The sharp seam lines and crisp collars exhibit a sense of elegance that is so appealing. To dress it down a bit, we recommend matching this outfit with a pair of white sneakers.

The Shirtdress

Christian Vierig

Summer is all about shedding clothing, so leave the pants behind. Of course, if you want to jazz things up, add a pair of classy mules.

Summer Corsetry

Christian Vierig

Since the corset is the main attraction here, additional statement pieces aren’t necessary. Instead, a plain black skirt will suffice.

The Micro Mini

Christian Vierig

If you were paying attention during Fashion Week last fall, chances are you witnessed the takeover of Miu Miu micro miniskirts—which are very much still en vogue. Mix up the proportions by styling micro-minis with oversized T-shirts.

Baby Blues

Christian Vierig

We can’t get enough of baby blue this summer, especially in the form of a flowy maxi dress. You can even dress it down during the day with sneakers and up at night with heels.

Easy Neutrals

Edward Berthelot

While vibrant colors certainly dominate summertime fashion, neutrals deserve to shine too. This outfit is functional for a night out on the town or a casual summertime date night.

Double Denim

Christian Vierig

The denim-on-denim look is such an early 2000s trend. How can anyone forget that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s double-denim look? Well, this trend has definitely made a comeback, but in 2023, we’re opting for denim corsets paired with baggy jeans.

The Silk Slip

Christian Vierig

Slip into a silky skirt for a leisurely day in the sun. Satin slip skirts are so versatile, and one of our favorite ways to style this look is with a white tank top.

On the Down-Low

Christian Vierig

You may have thought the end of low-rise pants had happened years ago, but the style has seemingly resurfaced among the street style set. If you’re wondering how to style low-rise pants during the summer, a scarf or satin top might just be your answer.

Unexpected Necklines

Edward Berthelot

An unexpected neckline immediately transforms any outfit from simple to spellbinding. For a chocolate brown shade like this, beige accessories are your best bet.

The Tailored Vest

Edward Berthelot

There are certain pieces of clothing that are worthy of investment, and vests are one of them. During colder months, style them with a long sleeve garment underneath, and when temperatures warm up you can wear them solo. No matter the weather, vests are always there to save your wardrobe.

Black & White

Christian Vierig

At first glance, this outfit might appear dull, but I’d argue that it’s actually a flattering formula. The black-and-white combination will never go out of style, and its ageless quality is what makes it so special.

Maxed Out

Edward Berthelot

Every summer wardrobe calls for a white maxi dress. And this season, crewneck styles are having quite a moment.

Easy Co-ords

Jeremy Moeller

The coordinated look is simultaneously polished and casual. Take this look for example—we love how the sophisticated nature of the top balances the relaxed quality of the cargo pants.

Summer Brights

Edward Berthelot

Weekend brunches have always been a beloved summertime activity, and aside from the bottomless mimosas and delicious food, dressing up for the occasion is the best part. To really serve a look, style a vibrant dress paired with toned-down accessories.

A Go-To Formula

Daniel Zuchnik

You know those days when you’d prefer to keep it lowkey, and the thought of piecing together a look is simply a nuisance? If you’re having trouble styling an outfit that doesn’t require a lot of effort, this outfit recipe comes to your rescue: one sleeveless top, wide-leg jeans, and sandals. What more could you need?