4 Not-So-Basic Summer Outfit Ideas to Refresh Your Look This Season

Lena Davydova
by Lena Davydova

I’m going to show you some outfits for the summer that are all pretty effortless but not basic. We’re going to be discussing color and the things that you need to bear in mind to create a balanced and cohesive outfit. Keep reading to get some inspiration for how to refresh your everyday looks.


Summer color palette

Summer colors

The easiest way to give your outfits a summer vibe is by making sure you’re using the right colors. As we know from human psychology, each color has a different influence on our minds, and stylists usually use color to create a certain image.


When talking about summer, think about what colors come to your mind first. Probably it’s yellow, orange, maybe sky blue, green, and different shades of pink. There are a lot of options to choose from so it’s really a matter of your personal taste.

Yellow pants and black t-shirt outfit

Brights on the bottom

For the first outfit idea, I went with a pop of color with these silky yellow pants. This color is so beautiful; not too neon but more on the neutral side, and silk is also a very summery, lightweight fabric.


To complete the look, I added a trendy puffy handbag. It was a tote bag originally, but I like this new trend of having a big pouch in your hand, so I tucked the bag straps inside, and I’m just holding it instead.

Bright summery outfit

If you are wearing a bright color right next to your face, if you choose the right color, it will look amazing, but if you choose the wrong color, it will ruin everything.


When creating a look, we have to think not only about clothes but also about our personal coloring and features like hair color and skin color. Sometimes even makeup can suit or not suit your outfit. So you definitely can wear bright colors on top, but it’s important to know which colors suit your complexion.


On the bottom, you can feel a bit freer because it’s further away from your face. If you want to add a pop of color to your outfit, the easiest way is by adding colorful pants or a skirt, and you’re ready to go.

Wearing loungewear as a summer outfit

Loungewear as "going out" wear

For the second look, I decided to go with some loungewear. I went with a pair of pajamas and bought them a couple of sizes up for a relaxed, loose fit. The color is so gorgeous; sky blue is a color that really suits me.


To complete this look, it’s important to wear some dressy shoes; great shoes will make this outfit look more put-together and allow you to wear loungewear when you go out.


Adding some cute jewelry also helps to complete the look and ensures that you don’t look as though you just rolled out of bed.

Androgynous summer look

Summery androgyny

This next outfit is also relaxed but classy at the same time. It looks as though you grabbed something from your man’s closet.


The shirt needs to be a bit loose-fitted, and I recommend going for a shirt in a natural fabric such as cotton or linen as this will be more comfortable. We have an effortless and chic vibe.


To complete the masculine/androgynous look, I’m wearing a pair of men’s style shorts and some "ugly dad" sandals. 

Ugly dad sandals outfit

The ugly dad sandals, believe it or not, have made their revival and are actually very on-trend this season. They are flat, minimalistic, and thick.

Leather-style flip flops

Flip flops will also be a big hit this summer; just remember that they should be leather or leather style.

How to put a twist on a summer outfit

Basic to on-trend

For the last outfit, I just wanted to show you how you can refresh your basic pieces for summer and make them look more trendy. Here I took a simple oversized white t-shirt and some straight high-waisted jeans - a pretty basic outfit.


To make it more trendy, I tucked in the sleeves using my bra straps to create an effect that makes it look like the t-shirt has shoulder pads.


Right now, pants with side cuts are trending, so I made a cut on either side. When doing this, it is important to find the right spot to make the cut; it has to be around where a pair of shorts would end. Make sure it’s not too low, or it will make your legs look shorter.


For straight jeans like this, it is better to wear them with some heels as they will help you to look taller and dress up a pretty basic fit.


Not-so-basic summer outfit ideas

I hope this lookbook has given you some ideas about what colors to wear this summer, what trends to follow, and how you can dress up simple outfits.


It’s important to be mindful when putting outfits together to ensure that you’re wearing things that will make you look your best.

The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Comments
Join the conversation
Next