Depending on where you live, August might be the hottest month of the year, which can make it even tougher to get dressed. On top of that, you may have already worn a bunch of your summer outfits in June and July, so your closet might start to seem a little…boring if we’re being honest. But it doesn’t have to imply that you need a completely new wardrobe: you could only need some fresh ideas to keep your clothing interesting.
This is the chance to play around with pieces that you’ve struggled to wear in the past and bring together outfit combinations that feel a touch adventurous or surprising. This can also be a fantastic occasion to push the envelope a bit, displaying a little flesh, for example, or re-purposing a long shirt as a dress. There are myriad methods to break out of a style rut by adding a dash of excitement to your outfit choices.
If you’re feeling unmotivated and want to be creative with your warm-weather attire, or if you just want to figure out how to dress properly in the August heat, keep scrolling.
Summer Outfits: Slouchy Fabrics
The perceived negative of linen or satin, which are known to wrinkle easily and look less professional than other textiles, can be transformed into a strength. When you lean in with a loose, asymmetrical, wrap style like the one above, it already appears a touch wrinkled and folded, and as you wear it throughout the day, it will look more lived-in without ever being dirty.
Summer Outfits: Getting Wild with Color
If there’s a bold shirt that you’ve been longing to wear but simply never found the appropriate context for it, this is the moment. This is particularly pertinent if you’re a bit apprehensive to deploy color in your wardrobe but you have something in your wardrobe that feels risky. Let’s make August the month of “screw it” sartorial moments by really going there with color.
Summer Outfits: Elevate With a Dress
If you have to head into the office on a sweltering August day and aren’t especially looking forward to it, just go for a one-and-done outfit. Opting for something you can throw on (technically, this is a matching set, but a dress would work just as well) will save you some time and ensure you’ll still be balancing comfort with propriety. Swap the clutch for a bag that can fit a cardigan in case the office AC gets cool.
Summer Outfits: Some (Very Light) Pants
We might not generally advocate pants in August, but it all depends on the context. If there’s a cooler-than-average day and you have a pair of pants in a light fabric (this is cotton cargo denim, but you could try a light silk or linen too), give it a go. Make sure it’s on the looser side for optimal breathability. Note that you can add a trendy belt to protect it from slipping down your waist.
Summer Outfits: Grab a Surprising Bag
If you’ve ever glanced in your closet and thought to yourself, “I’m not inspired by any of this,” just know that’s a relatable sentiment at the end of summer. It doesn’t necessarily imply you have to go buy stuff. Instead, choose a purse that you haven’t used before or wouldn’t ordinarily consider mixing with your outfit. A woven tote is a terrific choice for a purse because it makes your outfit more casual and adds texture without ever feeling sloppy.
A Tiny Bit of Chaos
Now is the chance to truly play with your wardrobe. Do you have a vest that you generally pair with matching slacks or toss on over T-shirts? Wear it as a top. Do you have shoes that you generally use as a statement piece? Match them with a contrasting bag and see if it works. Making counterintuitive decisions to put together an outfit needs some trial and error, but it makes for some very fantastic combinations.
Wear a Shirt as a Mini
This is perhaps not for the faint of heart. But taking a long tunic-style shirt and wearing it by itself is a terrific stylistic suggestion for hot summer days. You can even wear short shorts underneath if you want a bit more coverage. This Adidas jersey makes for a surprisingly attractive short dress, particularly when coupled with hefty black heels. If you don’t want to wear a scarf in the heat, go for a long, thick necklace.
Image: Google
Recommended1 recommendationPublished in apparel
