i’m always looking to make my life feel like it’s a page ripped right out of a vintage summer magazine—think ralph lauren and j crew advertisements, and easy breezy east coast summers. tossing your knit sweater over your shoulders and heading out to the porch with a glass of white wine in hand. a perfectly curated and filled up beach bag with everything you need in it. a white linen shirt thrown on over your still damp bikini as you head to lunch. those moments that feel like your pinterest board have come to life around you. but i also want those vibes to come easily, naturally, rather than forced where they don’t fit.
i know writing a post about how to be effortless or chic kind of negates that point, but i also think there is something to be said for putting in effort in advance to make things effortless later on. i mean, isn’t there something so chic about someone who has a defined personal wardrobe and sense of style? or someone who always has a drink ready for you when you come over? it feels effortless, but usually those things are carefully planned and curated beforehand. it isn’t about being careless or never having to try, but rather making things in your life fit together in a way that lets the effortless, chic vibes shine through.
for effortless vibes through the seasons
part one, at least to me, is having a defined sense of style — both in your home, and in your closet. for this section we’re focusing specifically on the wardrobe portion. i like the idea of a capsule wardrobe, but in practice it doesn’t really work for me because i just love clothes and find a lot of fun pieces i want even if it isn’t something i’ll wear every. single. day. but, that said, i do think it’s so chic to have a concrete sense of style—knowing what you like, not falling into micro-trends that feel like they don’t truly belong to you, having pieces you’re excited to pull out of storage year after year, summer after summer.
i like to focus on a few elements when it comes to this: fabric, fit, and colour palette. i’ve been trying to buy more natural fiber clothing where i can (i still fall in love with a few poly-blend pieces every now and then), because they stand the test of time. a lot of clothing these days is only meant to last a season, with an ultra trendy print or fit that will be out of style just on time for the piece to be falling apart anyway. getting out of that cycle, not caring whats “on trend” has helped a lot for me, and i’ve noticed the things that feel timeless to me have already stood the test of time for the most part. that doesn’t mean everything i wear or buy is off trend—i mean, a lot of it is still “trendy” because thats what is available in the shops. but take time to consider what you really love.
to start out: take inventory of your wardrobe. check what you no longer like and are ready to pass along, and also pay attention to what pieces you’ve held onto for years and still love. consider what each of these categories have in common. are you passing on a ton of seasonal prints, but holding on to a specific silhouette of dress, for example? noticing that will help you really craft your sense of style.
my fabric, fit, and colours of the summer
fabric:
- linen
- cotton
- silk
- denim
- chambray
- wool knit (lightweight!! trust me)
if you want smooth, crisp linens: starch is your friend. i think there is a place for both, but honestly i love the chicness of a perfectly wrinkled, lived in linen shirt thrown over a bikini at the beach.
fit:
- loose
- flowy
- boxy
- long, breezy skirts and dresses
colour and pattern:
- blues — navy, cornflower, light blue, grey-blue
- black
- beige
- white
- grey
- pastel pink and yellow
- gingham
- stripes
- polkadots (definitely big this year, and kind of more of a trend thats come and gone)
my effortless summer uniforms:
go to outfits and pieces that take the guesswork out of outfits. i personally tend to gravitate towards neutrals, basics, with a few fun pops, though even my fun pieces are probably very neutral to many. i tend to play around more with patterns rather than bright colours, because thats just what i prefer the look of. i love the grounding, calm of pastels and neutrals more than i like bright, energetic pops of colour.
dresses on rotation. i am not really a shorts girl (working on finding a few pairs this year though!). i have a few, but honestly i just don’t think that i look great in shorts—i don’t love how they feel and ride up, and in general i don’t find them that cute. instead, i tend to opt for skirts and dresses—i actually find even longer skirts and dresses keep me cooler than shorts, probably because they keep the sun off my skin and they’re so breezy. my dress collection has gotten pretty out of hand, but i definitely feel like i’ve curated a wardrobe of dresses i’m excited to keep wearing year after year.
i tend to like flowy, boxy, or looser styles in the summer. mainly because from a practical standpoint, on a really hot day the feeling of tight fabric is a nightmare. but i’ve also found the styles that work best and look best on my body, the ones i feel the most comfortable and myself in.
combine forces & minimize routines
as far as effortless summer beauty, i like to keep my routine very simple. my skin naturally just isn’t as dry in the summer, and i’m never really wearing heavy makeup so i don’t need as many products. i like to keep it really basic: a good cleanser, my active ingredients (azelaic acid am/ tretinoin pm), and a good moisturizer.
for the day time i like to combine forces and opt for a moisturizer with spf in it, rather than needing two separate products. it just makes the routine that much more effortless.
effortless summer beauty:
a simple routine
light and dewy makeup
signature scents
the chicest people i know always have siganture things, and a big one is a signature scent, or at least a signature scent wardrobe. much like my love of clothes, i also have such a love of perfume, so i simply can’t commit to having just one summer fragrance. i try to opt for a small scent wardrobe for each season, with just a small handful of perfumes to match each vibe/ scenario. a day to day scent, and evening scent, and maybe one or two alternates.
my absolute go-to’s are:
phlur beach skin for a light body mist perfect for after the beach
jo malone wild bluebell (my wedding scent which i will only wear on our anniversary trip)
a few things to level up your summer life & activities. not necessities, but little luxuries that elevate the vibe:
a few good bags — a straw one, a little one for events (because summer is peak wedding season), a boat and tote and a weekender bag.
personalized towels — i love personalized anything, i find it incredibly chic. a few really nice embroidered beach towels will last you ages.
a straw hat because sun protection is chic
one good baseball hat
the best way to make your summer feel effortless is by effort-proofing in advance. sometimes effortless actually takes effort in advance to make things easy breezy later on. part of it is being hosting ready so that unexpected plans don’t come with a side of running around tidying up and hauling ass to the grocery store. i wrote a post about how i keep my home hosting ready, and most of those tips apply here too, because they let the entertaining feel effortless by integrating seamlessly into your routine. i’ll link that here for those who want the full post:
here are some other ways to effort proof your day to day life:
food:
stock a “no-cook” pantry: good bread, cheese, cured meats, hummus, fruit, crackers. that way on hot days, dinner is assembly rather than cooking
batch-grill on the weekend (extra chicken, veggies, corn) so weeknight meals are just reheating or tossing into a salad
keep a pitcher of a delicious cold drink in the fridge at all times (iced tea, juice, infused water)
home:
keep a basket or bowl by the door for the sandy, sunscreen-y, chlorine-damp stuff of the day — so coming home doesn't undo the ease of being out
have your beach bag always ready and stocked for impromptu beach trips — towel, sunscreen, a book, and a sun hat on the ready
time & life:
choose a few beloved, repeatable moments for the summer — the same lake, the same porch, the same 7pm walk. give your summer a shape rather than just being a checklist
plan to be unplanned — let an evening a week be plan free, and allow it to just unfold however it wants to
give yourself a quiet morning ritual — coffee outside, bare feet on the ground, no phone just yet
wind down hours — protect your evening hours, give yourself time to really wind down and relax
chic:
let things be a little undone — your hair, that wrinkled linen shirt tossed over a still damp bikini, barefoot as often as you can be
let go of the rush — take your time, and let each thing you do stretch as long as it wants to
underplan and overdeliver on your own enjoyment — a spontaneous swim, a last-minute dinner outside
ultimately, having an effortlessly chic summer can look however you want. i think it’s about knowing what you like, and fully leaning into that. having your own signatures and staples— your go to outfits with pieces that you still love year after year, your signature summer scent, your favourite place to park yourself with a good book. i think the most chic thing of all is knowing yourself, and letting your personal style shine through. not forcing yourself into a mold that doesn’t fit.
an effortless summer isn’t about just doing less—it’s about deciding, in advance, what deserves your attention and energy. the cold pitcher in the fridge, your favourite outdoor chair, the slow evening walk where you removed the rush. none of it happens by accident, it happens when you protect your time and put the effort in early, so the rest of it can feel free.
with love, kyla
ps. what is your go to summer uniform?
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