I have a really fun summer try-on for you today with pieces from Nordstrom, Amazon, LOFT, Ann Taylor, J.Crew Factory, Pact, and more! There’s a solid mix of summer-ready basics in this batch, some updated classics, and several fun pieces that genuinely surprised me. A lot of good finds! There are also some misses that didn’t work out for me, and I’ll share why.
Let’s get into it!
SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
Amazon Chambray Shorts– size M
Reallycuteand prettyaffordable!Comfortableand in a good wash thatgoes with a lot of colors. High rise with a cute paperbag waist.
There are a few downsides for me PERSONALLY, so evaluate whether they apply to you:
Fit — the fabric bunches weirdly at the crotch on me. I’m an hourglass shape with curvy hips and a narrower waist, and I think having to cinch in at the waist is making this fabric bunch.These might be better for inverted triangle, rectangle, and apple shapes.
The inseam is 3″, whereas I prefer 4.5″ to 5″.
I wish these shorts fit me better because I really like them! If these sound like they’d fit your shape and inseam preferences better than mine, at least order them to try!
P.S. You have no idea how happy I am to have agraphic t-shirtthat I don’t have to tuck!! I sized up to M in this one — runs very small.
Shop the Outfit:
Shorts:Amazon(wearing size M)
Tee:Target(wearing size M)
Sandals:Crocs(wearing size 8)
Earrings:Amazon
Amazon ODODOS Shorts – size M
If you’re on my email list, THESE are the shorts I emailed about last Wednesday! The fabric is SO SOFT but stillthickso that it smooths you out. Also really stretchy and so comfortable, plus an elastic waistband!
You can wear them with an athleisure tee and sneakers, or you can wear them with an elevated tee, like I’m wearing here, and sandals.
They have a high rise and a 4.5” inseam (but it feels even a bit longer), which lets them hang well without riding up.Several colors— and some are on sale right now for under $25,HERE. Sized up to M.
Ann Taylor Weekend Top – size S
I admittedly have sticker shock about the price of this tee, even on sale. But DANG, it is so understatedly awesome. You know how you want to look good in a white tee but it’s impossible to find a white tee? I’m not saying this is THE white t-shirt — because it’s actually a step above.
First, SUPERCOMFY. It’s SOSOFT, thick (similar to the Amazon shorts fabric), andstretchy. Just SOcomfortable. It’s super casual and comfortable butso much more elevated than a regular t-shirt. Like,INSTANT polish. INSTANTLY elevated.
ALSO, thearmholes don’t show your bra!! HALLELUJAH!
Again, I have sticker shock with the price, but I can’t get over how much more pulled together you feel in a tee like this — without looking overdone AT ALL. Available inXXS to XXL,HERE. Wearing size S.
Shop the Outfit:
Tee (Weekend Top):Ann Taylor(wearing size S)
Shorts:Amazon(wearing size M)
Necklace:Electric Picks
Sandals:Crocs(wearing size 8)
Ann Taylor Pants– wearing size 6
These pants are fun — super summery butpolishedandwearable for work and casual. They’re fully lined and are honestly thicker than I prefer for summer, but they have a place: cooler summer days or for work in an air conditioned space when you often have to walk outside for your job (like working at a university or college). These give you a good middle ground. Also slightly big for me, but fun nonetheless!
By the way, I’m wearing thatWeekend Topfrom the photo above here! See it in an elevated outfit?? SO GOOD.
Ann Taylor Crochet Windowpane Top– wearing size S
CUTE! 😍 The crochet windowpane design is perfectlylightandairyfor summer and adds so much style to your looks without more effort! This is good if you like that gauzy top look but need a dressier one for work. It’s also great if you just love to wear really cute tops like this with jeans or denim shorts while out and about! It’s only 20.5″ long, giving you the option of wearing it untucked. AvailableHEREinstraight and petite sizingfrom XXS to XXL. Wearing size S.
(I’ll talk about the pants near the bottom of this post!)
Naturalizer Woven Flats – wearing size 9
If you’re looking for anupdated flat, these areeasy to styleand modern with the square toe. Also, v-cut flats are trending, but I prefer how this pair is just a subtle nod to it — not super pronounced.
LOFT Chambray Pants– wearing size S
These pants give youpolished, clean lines! I’ll say the thin waistband does make them more prone to looking like pajamas, but you can definitely style them so that they don’t. Here I’m pairing them withthis ribbed tankand thatWeekend Topagain, and OF COURSE, it looks effortlessly chic!
I topped off both looks with the same sandals in two different colors. These sandals will probably be the MVPs of the summer — look how many outfits they’re in throughout this whole post! They are REALLYcomfortablewith a cushioned footbed. For the metallic option, the gold isn’t too shiny, but that subtle shine gives outfits that little elevated boost that summer outfits can often use. Plus, they’rewater-resistant!!! Wear them out to lunch and then straight to the beach! Find themHERE. I wear size 8.
Shop the Outfits:
Tank Top:Kohl’s(wearing size M)
Weekend Top:Ann Taylor(wearing size S)
Pants:LOFT
Beaded Necklace:Amazon
Necklace:Electric Picks
Sandals:Crocs(wearing size 8)
Ruffle Collar Bomber Jacket– wearing size S
I LOVE this jacket!!! Color — GORGEOUS. Perfectlylightweightfor summer.Comfortable. And cuuuute details like the ruffle collar and drawstring bottom to cinch it up if you like. Available instraight and petite in XXS to XXL, HERE. Wearing size S.
Shop the Outfit:
Tee:Kohl’s(wearing size M)
Shorts:Gap Factory(wearing size S)
Jacket:LOFT(wearing size S)
Necklace:Electric Picks
Earrings:Amazon
Sandals:Crocs(wearing size 8)
Fringe Pointelle Sweater Tank
This tank is a fun piece for a summer concert or simply for a picnic in the park! And on sale. 😄 Itcomes in straight and petite in XXS to XXL,HERE. Wearing size S.
Shop the Outfit:
Tank:LOFT(wearing size S)
Shorts:Gap Factory(wearing size S)
Earrings:Amazon
Necklace: c/oBryan Anthonys
Sandals:Crocs(wearing size 8)
Nikes– wearing size 9.5
Can’t lie, I’m so weirded out by Y2K styles coming back. I look around at teens and 20-somethings wearing things we wore when we were that age, and I keep second guessing if they’re dressing outdated. I mean, I know they’re not, but I’m still not used to it! I’m slowly coming around, though I never plan to be back in a tube top. 😂
All the cool coaches at Addie’s volleyball club wear sneakers like these (that we wore at their age!) My eye has been adjusting to the recirculated style, and here I am. These Nikes arecurrent,versatile, andcomfortable! Gotta admit, my sneakerswerestarting to look tired and outdated, and these are a cool update. Find themHERE! I sized up to 9.5.
By the way,these socksarecushionyand soaffordable— $11.99 for 5 pairs. Addie started stealing mine, so I had to get another pack! Find themHERE. Wearing size S.
Shop the Outfit:
Tee:Cuts(wearing size M)
Leggings:Nordstrom;similar
Jacket:Nordstrom(wearing size S)
Socks:Amazon
Shoes:Nike(wearing size 9.5)
Nordstrom Eyelet Top– wearing size S
Ohhh I love this one! First, fantastic length for me to not have to tuck. I have a short torso, though, so it might be too short for many of you. I love it though!SO easy to wear. The front is lined, while the back is not, so you get coverage in the front but can stay cooler with the single-layer back. Also available in afun cobalt blueHERE!
KUT From the Kloth Linen Pants– wearing size 4
Linen pants that actually look like pants! Say bye-bye to the reputation linen pants have for looking sloppy and like pajamas. These look just like regular pants— button, zipper, and back pockets. But they’re a linen/rayon blend, so they have the lightness of linen you love with the structure and polish you crave!
Top:Nordstrom (wearing size S)
Pants:Nordstrom (wearing size 4)
Sandals:Crocs(wearing size 8)
Sneaker(SO COMFY!) – I wear size 9
Whoaaaaaaa, these sneakers are SO STINKINGCOMFORTABLE! They are Brooks and feel like you’re WALKING ON CLOUDS! 🤯 I wish I had these before I went to Disneyland a couple of months ago. Even though I survived Disney pretty well with myNew Balances, these Brooks would have been even better. (The New Balancesareeasier to style, though, so those are still a good everyday sporty sneaker!)
These are a running sneaker, but of course you can wear them for daily walking. They have bounce. And again, like walking on clouds! — just SO dang comfortable! If you needa good sneaker for a lot of walking, definitely check these out!
Available in black/white andwhite as well,HERE.
Men’s Sandal (Oops, ha!)
I accidentally ordered this men’s sandal, but I’m sharing it with you because it’s also SOCOMFORTABLE! The footbed is SOCUSHIONYbut alsosupportive. Has a littlearch support, too. LOVE it! It’d be a really good present for Father’s Day.
I want the women’s version, as the men’s version is a little too wide for me, but I’m not sure exactly which one it is. 😭 PerhapsTHIS oneis the equivalent??
J.Crew Factory Linen Pants– wearing size 6
Isn’t this color fun? It’s everywhere this summer! These pants are the popular Lizzie cut from J.Crew Factory, in a summer weight linen. Thedrape is great — the leg line just falls beautifully straight, yet they’re a linen blend so they’re lighter and keep you cooler.Great for casual and work looks!
J.Crew Factory Gauze Popover– wearing size S
A gauze top is a summer essential in my book. If tops with collars help you feel more pulled together, this one is one to try —SOFTandcomfortable. Several colorsHERE. Wearing size S.
Shop the Outfit:
Top:J.Crew Factory(wearing size S)
Pants:J.Crew Factory(wearing size S)
Shoes:Naturalizer(wearing size 9)
Necklace:Electric Picks
J.Crew Factory Tee– wearing size S
You know how I am with graphic tees — moth to a flame.LOVE the color, design, and slightly relaxed fit.Find itHERE. Wearing size S.
I’m wearing the tee with theLC Lauren Conrad black denim shorts. These arethickandsturdybutstretchyandmove with you! Find themHERE. I wear size 6.
This tee also works great withmy ever-favorite summer pants, the breathableOld Navy Playas, shown in the second pic above.
Swimsuits: Tops | Bottoms – wearing M for both
A PMT Style Club member said these swimsuits were her go-tos, and when they went on sale, I jumped on it. I LOVE how they’resporty and cuteat the same time! They have a super high waist, provide a decent amount of back coverage, and the ribbed texture makes them WAY cuter than a regular swimsuit in the same cut! They also come inGORGEOUS colors— it was honestly hard to choose… so um, I got a lot, haha! (They werejust $9.99 for the bottoms and $12 for the tops!) Bottoms areHEREand tops areHERE. I sized up to M in both.
Pact Shorts & Pact Tank – wearing S for both
These beach shorts and muscle tee are both from Pact. Both reallySOFTandcomfortableand made from100% organic cotton. Both available in various colors, fromsizes XS to 2XL,HERE. Wearing size S.
Note: the tank does show your bra through the armholes, unfortunately. Annoying for regular wear, but okay if you wear this as a beach coverup. (The shorts are called “beach shorts.”)
Want Outfit Ideas to Wear These Pieces All Summer Long?
If you just found a few pieces you love and want to actually know how to wear them — theSummer 2026 Wardrobe & Outfit Guidehas you covered. It gives youready-to-use outfit ideasso you’re never staring at your closet wondering what to put together.
Inside, you’ll find:
- A guided plan for building a functional summer wardrobe
- A capsule of pieces that turn into tons of outfit combinations for casual days, workdays, and everything in between
- Outfit ideas at your fingertips so getting dressed takes less time and mental energy
- A bonus shopping guide with curated links so you’re not hunting around the internet yourself
Check out theSummer 2026 Wardrobe & Outfit Guideand make the most of everything in your summer closet.
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