If We Threw Out All Our Summer Clothes (Which We Want To Do Every Summer), Here Are The Only 7 Pieces We Would Keep

The most satisfying closet edit of our lives.

by The Candidly Team

As soon as hotter weather hits, we look through our closets at a sea of ratty t-shirts, ill-fitting tanks, and too tight shorts we bought in 2006 and wonder, where did it all go wrong with summer clothes? Why does everything we own feel like something we bought last minute on the sale rack at Old Navy?

We went through our closets and realized there were 7 star items that we absolutely require to look our best and feel confident in our summer clothes as 40-plus women who really, reaaaaaaally want to have a chic lady summer. And here they are:

1. The Flattering Soft Pants

1. The Linen: These have the single most slimming, flattering fit of any linen pant. They’re actually a stretch linen so they feel like sweatpants.

2. The Travel: These simply DO NOT wrinkle, and they make your legs look lean and shapely. 

3. The Cotton: There’s a reason these pants have hundreds of positive reviews.

THE LINEN PANT*

THE TRAVEL PANT*

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2. The 3/4 Top

1. The Knit: One of those rare, supremely flattering tops that the rolls to the perfect, elbow length then creates a perfect silhouette.

2. The Tee: This is the only fitted t-shirt we consistently write about because it frames our chest and shoulders in the way that makes us feel most confident.

THE 3/4 KNIT*

THE 3/4 TEE*

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3.  The Flowy Poplin Skirt

1. The Midi*: Wear any shirt on this list with this striped midi skirt, and you’ll have the most gorj hourglass of your life. There’s also a solid version HERE*.

2. The Maxi*: All that same hourglassiness but with an added dose of elegance from being full length. Wear this one with flat sandals (see below) and you’re dressed to the nines.

THE MIDI SKIRT*

THE MAXI SKIRT*

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4.

The White Jeans

1. The Splurge*: White pants just equal instant chicness. And when they fit correctly, they’re not scary. Stop thinking they’re scary. These are the single softest, most flattering pair of white jeans on this planet at this time.

2. The Steal: But for a more affordable version, we love the stretch and classic shape of this $50 pair from Quince.

THE SPLURGE WHITE JEANS*

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5. The Striped Button Down

1. The Airy Linen*: Stripes just have a casually luxurious look about them that defies trends. And button-downs are already the chicest layering piece known to man. We live in this soft, linen, striped shirt (actually we own it in 3 colors) all summer long

2. The Classic Cotton*: The oversized shape makes us look unbelievably elegant and alluring. Tucked into cropped jeans, linen pants, and shorts OR tied above a cotton skirt, it’s all perfection.

THE STRIPED LINEN SHIRT*

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6. The Strappy Sandals

1. The Flip Flop Substitute*: Somehow (magically!) these strappy, minimalist flats are the single most cushioned, buttery, luxurious sandal we putter around in summer after summer.

2. The Dress Up Flat*: These give the full effect of heels, so we can wear them to dress up, but they’re actually insanely comfortable flats with actual arch support.

3. The Timeless Heel*: The heels we pluck from our closet time and time again because the support of the block heel means zero foot pain.

THE FLIP FLOP ALTERNATIVE*

THE STRAPPY FLATS*

THE HEELS*

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7. The Sculpting Tank

1. The Ribbed*: There are 3 elements that make a tank fit us beautifully rather than us hating how we look in it: 1) Skinny straps, 2) A scoop neck, and 3) Ribbing that holds you in. This tank has all of it.

2. The Lace*: It’s astonishing what a sliver of lace can do to make you look styled instead of schlumpy.

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Bonus: The Accessories

The Anklet Stack*: Our Editor-in-Chief, Audie, created this ankle stack, and there’s probably nothing she gets more compliments on or questions about. It makes any basic outfit look complete and not at all boring.

The Sun Hat*: The packable hat that looks great on every shape and size of head.

The Summer Bag*: Our favorite summer bags all come from this brand. It’s crossbody (of course!) and the size is perfect for day-to-night. Also, the color selection is pure joy.

The Sunglasses*: We decided this is the year we switch to a cool, interesting (and chic!) sunglasses shape. Join us?

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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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