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5 Summer Style Essentials You Need in Your Wardrobe
The must-have pieces of the season.
There may be a lot of uncertainty surrounding the summer months right now (will we actually be able to dine alfresco safely?), but one thing's for sure: Nothing can stop the fresh summer trends from popping up. So gird your loins and pockets, warm-weather lovers, the best season is just around the corner. And your wardrobe needs some prep. It's time to stash that heavy leather and chunky knitwear and usher in airy dresses, lightweight bra tops, and must-have square-toe mules. With an abundance of trends emerging from both the runways and your ever-shifting social media grid, we've gathered some ideas ahead—well, a top five, actually—to let you know what's worth coveting for summer 2020.
The Cotton Summer Dress
Okay, this may be a summer classic, but it's back with a fashion force this summer. With variations from maxi lengths to balloon sleeves, you'll be living in these breezy numbers all season (even from home).
Vince Stripe Drapey Sleeveless Shirtdress
Socially distanced picnic, anyone?
Ulla Johnson Isla Ruffled Cotton-Poplin Midi Dress
Never met a puffy sleeve we didn't like.
Esteban Cortázar Cotton-Voile Maxi Dress
Maxi is in—and this cotton-voile option can be worn with either sneakers or barely there sandals.
The Sheer Layer
It may seem counterintuitive to wear sleeves in the summer, but these sheer numbers are just as breezy and sexy as your favorite tank. Plus, they come in fun prints from daisies to butterflies to tie-dye. We have a feeling they'll be a cool-girl staple of the summer.
Charlotte Knowles Yellow Halcyon Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Charlotte Knowles Yellow Halcyon Long Sleeve T-Shirt
For the flower child within all of us.
Layer it under a floral dress for maximum impact.
Sandy Liang Peel Butterfly Print Sheer Top
Sandy Liang Peel Butterfly Print Sheer Top
So '90s in the best way.
A modern classic...
The Open-Toe Shoe of the Season
You can thank Bottega Veneta for the ladylike shoe trend of the summer. No, it's not a new gladiator or chunky sandal; it's the high-fashion, square-toe mule.
We've been coveting this heel since it first debuted, and this summer is no different.
A little "something blue" for your summer shoe wardrobe.
Rejina Pyo Romy Patent-Leather Mule
We bet you could run a mile in this walkable wedge.
The Oversized Overshirt
The styling possibilities are endless for this summer must-have. Wear it open over your bathing suit or even tie it into a crop top at the waist.
Jacquemus La Chemise Jean Printed Cotton-Poplin Shirt
Jacquemus La Chemise Jean Printed Cotton-Poplin Shirt
We'll be shopping the menswear department for the best printed shirts this summer.
Solid & Striped Cabana Leopard-Print Voile Shirt
From the beach to a picnic, it's the summer staple you didn't know you needed.
James Perse Island Print Aloha Shirt
The easiest way to mentally transport to Hawaii.
The Bra Top
Less is more this summer, and Elsa Hosk is giving us the perfect example. Bare it all with the season's cutest bra tops—or just take your bikini and make it fashun.
Jacquemus Le Bandeau Valensole Swim Top
We'll have what Hosk is having.
Gotta love a little underwire.
Alyssa Coscarelli is a freelance fashion writer, style influencer, and creative consultant in New York City. When she's not sharing her daily outfits and travels or collaborating with brands on social media, she's writing for online style publications and helping small, up-and-coming designers in New York City cultivate their voice and community on and offline through copywriting, event planning, partnerships, and beyond. She doesn't watch much TV, and prefers to spend her time vintage hunting.
Cortne Bonilla is a fashion contributor for Bazaar.com as well as a freelance beauty, wellness, culture, and news writer for sites like Sunday Riley, Allure Magazine, Revolt TV and more. When she's not attached to her MacBook, you can find her browsing through Soho, face timing her mom, head-banging to heavy metal, applying layers of clear lip gloss, and oversharing on Twitter.
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