Here Is Your “Clean Girl” Capsule Wardrobe For The Summer
Especially gorj for clean girls over 35.
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by The Candidly Team
Ahh summer. The time of year that requires the fewest clothes and still somehow manages to be the hardest to get dressed in.
Most summers, we find ourselves settling for whatever meh items in our closet don’t make us feel sticky and chafed and self-conscious about some bit of our thigh that hasn’t seen the sun since last September. Our goal to dress chic and understated slips away as we grow lower and lower on energy and ideas.
But no more. Because, my friends, we are having ourselves a "clean girl summer.” Yes, it’s a trend, but it’s a trend we actually like. It captures all the ways we want to dress: classic, uncomplicated, minimalist, effortlessly polished, and very, very chic.
It’s also relatively easy to execute. For starters, the concepts are simple:
Clean lines
Comfortable and flattering fits
Mostly neutrals with singular “moments” of color
But because actual clothes mean more to us than concepts, here are 11 pieces that make up the perfect clean girl summer capsule wardrobe.
1. The Denim Summer Dress
WHAT: Paige Pippa Midi Dress*
Why We Love It: What’s more clean girl than a sundress in denim? This one is so flattering, smoothing your belly and skimming your hips. With a strappy nude slip-on sandal and a sleek little sling bag, it hits the perfect high-style to low-effort ratio.
Use the code CANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $329
2. The Perfect-Fitting, Linen Trouser Shorts
WHAT: Gap 365 High Rise Linen-Blend Shorts*
Why We Love It: These shorts look expensive. They look tailored. Somehow the pleats make our bellies look flatter. The wide leg hole makes our legs look longer. They button at the smallest part of the waist which makes hips, thighs and butts fall into this beautiful curved A-line. They’re not too short but also not so long that we look ready for safari. They’re just perfect.
Here is one of us wearing them out in the wild:
Price: $44
3. The Supremely Flattering White Tank That Covers Your Bra Straps
WHAT: We The Free Neria Tank*
Why We Love It: Every clean gal seems to own the single most flattering tank to balance with looser, flowier bottoms. A good recent example is Jessica Biel in The Better Sister. Go watch it. It will make you want to trade in all your tops for tanks and also quit your other responsibilities and devote your time exclusively to working out your arms. Bottom line, this tank will frame your upper body in the best way possible. If you’re very serious about a flattering fit that holds you in with its ribbing and covers your bra straps, this is the one.
And here it is with the same shorts from above (yes, our managing editor owns them in multiple colors and yes, they’re the only shorts she packed for her summer vacation).
Price: $38
4. The Prettiest Slip Skirt In The Universe
WHAT: DOËN Melanie Skirt*
Why We Love It: In addition to possibly being the prettiest skirt we’ve ever seen, this Doën treasure is one of the more iconic staples to keep in your clean girl closet. Something about a shorter slip skirt feels incredibly versatile and an easy way to make all our casual tees and tanks look elevated. This one is light and elegant, alluding to a slip without crossing the line. It skims over curves and with a black tank and sandals … ugh … perfection. It’s the sort of skirt we consider worth the investment, because it’s staple while still being supremely special.
But if you’re looking for this same length slip skirt minus the lace and for less of an investment, we really like THIS one from J.Crew.
Price: $298
5. The Dreamily Gauzy Barrel Pant
WHAT: Gap Cotton Gauze Easy Barrel Pants*
Why We Love It: We cannot convey the comfort of these pants. They’re like our softest, gauziest pajama pants but that barrel shape makes them chic. It also makes our legs look longer and leaner, which is why, understandably, we’re going back for them in more colors.
Price: $80
6. The Lazy, Floaty Dress
WHAT: J.Crew Floaty Tie-Shoulder Dress In Ramie*
Why We Love It: A “clean girl” knows when we wear a dress that’s a proper maxi length, it can be extra spacious and still look elongating and sleek. So we can skip shape wear and feel airy and cool but still know we look our best. One and done.
Price: $116
7. The Sleek Black Tube Top
WHAT: Banana Republic Factory Strapless Soft Stretch Top*
Why We Love It: Here’s the part where we scare you. But we beg you to hear us out. Strapless can be gorgeous on every size and shape. It’s lifting and smoothing and supportive. It makes shoulders and chests and waists look their best. And like a fitted tank, it helps balance all our drapier, wider-legged bottoms so we feel ultra-feminine but also completely comfortable. Just give it oooooone more try and what better way to do that than with a perfect-fitting one that costs less than lunch?
Price: $17.50
8. The Wide-Leg Linen Trousers
WHAT: The Avery Linen Pleated Wide-Leg Trousers by Maeve*
Why We Love It: By now, you might be catching on that a clean girl always feels like she’s in pjs or loungewear but looks like she’s just come from a “quiet luxury” retreat. A tailored wide-leg linen pant that drapes for days is the perfect way to balance those more fitted tops. This pair makes our waists look nipped and our legs look stretched by inches.
Here is both the above top and pants together:
Price: $148
9. The Minimalist Sandals
WHAT: Reformation Ludo Toe Ring Strappy Flat Sandal and Ancient Greek Sandals Kansiz*
Why We Love It: The impact of an alluring scrappy sandal is not lost on us. We get that it’s graceful and sexy and replaces a heel. But we never succumbed because we WILL NOT DO FOOT PAIN. Both of these sandals came into our lives both of them are buttery and comfy. The black from Ancient Greek Sandals are cushioned, supportive, and even the straps are soffffft. We also love this similar slip on version from Ref (seen in tan) which feels a little more like a cozy flip flop but has the same gorgeous effect.
Price: $128 for the tan, $220 for the black
10. The Whispery Soft Striped Linen Overshirt
WHAT: Z Supply Perfect Linen Striped Top*
Why We Love It: This is one of those pieces a French lady packs into her tiny suitcase where only 5 items of clothing seem to make her the best dressed person to ever vacation. A lighter-than-air, linen button down to toss on over tanks or tie up over skirts and shorts is one of the most useful items to keep in your summer closet. This one from Z Supply feels and fits like a dream.
It’s also great for when the wind picks up in the early eve:
* Gifted product
Price: $88
Bonus: The Accessories
The Sunglasses: The perfect shape and size that looks good on every face.
The Leopard Cap: Cool and casual and keeps the sun out of your gently mascara-ed eyes.
The Tote: Classsssssic. A stripe is a cornerstone of the clean girl capsule.
The Sleek Anklet: Minimalism at its finest.
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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