This Is Our 4-Piece Summer Uniform. Today, Tomorrow, Forever.
It’s 4 steps, takes 3 minutes, and attracts more compliments than we’re fully comfortable with.
by The Candidly Team
We’re not enormous fans of frivolous rules made up by fashion editors who’ve run out of things to write about.
But…
We do love a uniform.
A template type of thing that gives us a wildly easy framework for how to dress in a way we automatically know will make us look and feel undeniably excellent.
Even on our frumpiest of days. When we’re bloated. Or just blah. Or so freaking hot, we can’t imagine putting an ounce of effort into our appearance beyond tossing our humid hair into a rubber-band ball of a bun.
Life has taught us that such style goldmines do exist. And guys, we think we just dug one up.
First, a few preliminary clues.
Onto us yet? How bout a few more?
Okay, so first off, this is not a color story or a rule about wearing navy or yellow… though it’s not not a color story in that we did think these colors looked glorious on every woman above.
However, this is actually about a 4-piece ensemble that looks amazing on every woman on earth. At least every woman we’ve tried it on (cough, ourselves). Before we get into what it is, here is why it works:
Comfort: Despite looking totally tailored and chic, this is one of the lightest, airiest looks we’ve put together. An actual dream to wear.
Ease: Throw on these 3 or 4 pieces (depending on your layering preferences) in any which way, and you will look your best. We don’t even fully understand why. You just will.
Proportions: It’s balanced, no baggy bottoms paired with mumu tops, which just ends up looking weighted and schlumpy. It’s also not skin-tight head to toe, so there will be zero self-consciousness. However, when done correctly, it is so well cut that it will give you the perfect, curve-celebrating silhouette.
Chicness: aka attractiveness, loveliness, prettiness, effortlessness, femininity. It exudes, we swear, all of these things.
And here’s how it works:
1) Basically you start with a skirt. Yes, a skirt. We’ll get into how to choose THE skirt in a minute. But once you have the desired belly-and-butt-skimming fit, everything else is a breeze.
2) Next, you add a perfect-fitted tank. Easy enough.
3) Use a relaxed, button-down. This can be tied or tucked at the waist - hourglass anyone? Buttoned or unbuttoned to show a select amount of skin, from a sexy, dipping neckline to a fully opened outer layer.
4) Add a comfy summer shoe that elevates your look without a hint of pain.
Sounds almost too simple, right? Well it all comes down to choices. And fear not, we spend the majority of our lives sourcing these solution-oriented pieces.
And we’re not gonna hide how excited we are about the 4 we found:
1. THE SUPREMELY FLATTERING SKIRT
Unlike a sea of same-looking linen pants, for example, skirts are eclectic and highly subject to our personal taste. However, when we find one that simultaneously “sparks joy” and smoothly flatters our bumpiest bits, we are nothing less than thrilled.
Because skirts are, in fact, the easiest thing in the world. They make whatever casj top we throw on with them look effortlessly striking, summery, celebratory.
And we barely have to try.
We were very selective in choosing a handful of our favorites: 5 to be exact. But rest assured, they met a grueling criteria of being comfy, curve-complementing, waist-nipping, and capable of being dressed up or down.
Each one balances beautifully (and interchangeably) with a fitted tank and a chic button-down. Like we said, uniform. But it’s the lightest and loveliest uniform you’ll ever wear.
A Staple Midi
Gwyneth Slip Skirt and Gwyneth Slip Skirt in Linen
We write a lot about this skirt. But there’s a very good reason - several very good reasons.
1. It’s a bias cut, which means it looks perfect on curves.
2. It’s not so fitted that it clings in unflattering ways, but it still has clean lines that elongate and don’t add bulk.
3. It has, and we can’t emphasize this enough, an elastic waist! So it feels glorious, like something we could sleep in
4. It comes in a silky or linen fabric as well as every color you could possibly want.
Just look at a below sampling, which includes (not accidentally) the precise canary yellow we love from Anne Hathaway’s above look.
And finally, it sizes up to 3X.
Price: $89.50 - $118
World Of Crow Antique Brown Pull-On Skirt
For a fuller, midi skirt, we have long loved this one from World Of Crow. It’s made of handwoven cotton and has that voluminous look that creates an amazing silhouette with a fitted tank or a tucked button-down. It also has the softest smocked waist, so we may as well be in our laziest loungewear. The skirt also comes in antique brown, black, and pearl white and sizes up to 5X.
Price: $190 - $200
A Chic, Striped Maxi
No skirt has captured our spirit or the spirit of Coastal Grandmother more than this one. But the thing is, it’s sooo flattering, with its long lines and perfect pleating, that it’s really for everyone. We could go on and on with our praising words, but instead we’ll close with just one. Pockets!
Price: $198
We didn’t know we needed a gorgeous, bold pink candy-stripe maxi skirt. And yet, here we are.
Also, it’s on sale, so pounce!
Price: $198
A Romantic Floral Midi Skirt
Sometimes, after 214 days of sweats, we just crave something pretty. Something we’d wear to a high-tea or an afternoon picnic or to work on a day we’re feeling breezy. This is for those of us who require one romantic skirt that looks perfect on our specific bodies. And this is that skirt.
Again, on sale…
Price: $110
2. The PERFECT-FITTING TANK
A tank may sound boring - like something you shouldn’t have to think about much less read our dumb words about, HOWEVER, it’s one of those small yet essential staples where the fit makes a world of difference.
We won’t over-explain. Here is the foolproof formula for the perfect tank:
Scoop Neck + Skinny Straps + Ribbed Fabric = A Perfectly Framed Chest And Shoulders And A Slimmed/ Smoothed Waist.
And here are the best of them:
The Single Best
The model may look 6 inches wide, but believe us when we say this tank looks undeniably good on everyone, be them broad-shouldered, large-chested, straight as an arrow, or apple-shaped. The material feels soft and luxe and like it will last, so you pay a bit more up front, but you reach for it constantly, because when you do, you inexplicably look better than you ever have in a tank.
Price: $68
The Best Bundle
Easy Standard Rib Fitted Scoop Tank Bundle
Once again, the ideal scoopneck/ skinny strap combo that perfectly frames our entire upper body. We love a bundle, but only when it’s quality. And this one is.
Price: $81
3. THE VERSATILE BUTTON-DOWN
We probably don’t need to tell you why a well-tailored button-down is maybe the most useful item in your closet in terms of instantly elevating your entire look. It’s light, loose, and eternally chic. The universal symbol for looking carefree yet “put together.”
And it’s the ideal summer staple, turning from a clean, crisp outer layer to an understatedly sexy top with the flick of a few choice buttons.
We could go on and on (and we have) about the wide range of lovely button-downs to choose from, from silky to cropped to “un-wrinkle-able.” But the most versatile and flattering of all has to have the ease of rolling at the sleeve, tying at the waist, French-tucking, or leaving open - all of which can, and should, be done over the above tank.
The first we mention does all of these things to perfection. The second has a twist that was just too special to not share. Behold.
The Best Long Sleeve
Maeve The Bennet Buttondown Shirt
It’s just the right amount of oversized, so you can wear it 27 ways, however it’s still intelligently tailored and blessedly soft. So we don’t feel like we’re trapped in some starchy work uniform but rather, a summery layering piece. White is a necessity, but it also comes in a sea of pretty colors and our favorite selection of stripes ever. Oh, it sizes in petite and plus. See? The best.
Price: $98
The Best Short Sleeve
Stateside Poplin Short Sleeve Front Twist Button Up Shirt
Why have we never thought of this? A graceful, relaxed fit button-down that carefully drops off the shoulder and twists at the waist, so we never need to worry about the awkward tie that leaves us with a wrinkled front or a tail at the back.
It’s short-sleeved, and can be worn open or closed. So yeah, we’ll be wearing ours pretty much every summer day, not just with skirts but over fitted midi dresses and cropped jeans.
And here it is in white, giving us Caroline Kennedy weekend vibes.
Price: $154
4. The COMFY-CHIC SHOE
And last, we have the shoe. There is really only one rule with any pretty shoe we pair with this outfit…because every shoe works with this outfit. It has to be deeply, orthopedically, walk-across-an entire-city-in-85-degree-heat comfortable.
And here are our favorites in 3 choice categories.
The Wedge-spadrille
J. Crew Canvas Espadrille Wedges
A lovely espadrille we can slip on without 7 minutes of fastening them to our ankles? Yes, please!
Price: $59.50
The Strappy Flat
Madewell The Amel Slide Sandal
For some reason, we can’t be bothered with bending over to fasten a strap in summer. But this slide has all the sleek strappiness we require, with zero effort. We love it in English Saddle, but it also comes in black. And pink and blue for a pop of color.
Price: $30 - $88
The Little White Tennis Shoe
A sneaker so breathable and graceful, it may as well be a ballet flat. Especially when worn with skirts.
Price: $100
BONUS: THE ACCESSORIES
Once fully dressed, these are the “essentials” that get us fully out the door.
The Necklace You Can Swim And Sweat In
Mejuri Pavé Diamond Round Necklace
Usually a combination of beaches, pools, workouts, or just existing in 90-degree heat has us saying farewell to most of our jewelry until October. But this chain is solid gold with real diamonds, and therefore will not tarnish. Plus, it’s so gorgeous and subtle, we pretty much just layer it with anything else we decide to wear.
Price: $298
The Essential Tote
Quince Italian Leather Handwoven Tote
We love, err require, a spacious tote to lug our copious amounts of crap. We need it to match everything we wear. And we also need it to not bore us to the point that we’d just as easily be towing a reusable bag from Trader Joe’s, illustrating something like the history of a peach.
Who are we kidding? Those bags are amazing. But when we want something a little “nicer,” we turn to this gorgeous woven leather tote from Quince, the cost of which we’ve probably already spent on a lifetime of Trader Joe’s bags.
Price: $149.50
The Packable Hat
Madewell Packable Braided Straw Hat
The shape of this hat will convert the biggest “I’m-not-a-hat-person” to a hat person. It’s time to give in. Your shaded skin and hundreds of hours you save by not having to do your hair will thank you.
Price: $39.50
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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