Hello and Happy Sunday!
I was inspired by Liza Belmonte’s approach on wearing 7 outfits for the season recently. I love reading how others have incorporated this approach into their own lives, so I thought I would do the same for you today.
I put this off for the longest time because if I am being honest with myself, I don’t usually “dress up” for most occasions in my life (despite my fantasy self thinking that I do). Basically, as much as I’d like to think I’m out getting brunch or sipping a lovely glass of wine at a vineyard, I’m in casual settings about 90% of the time. I don’t dress up for these occasions and don’t feel the need to at this point in my life (totally okay if you do like to dress up for casual things - I just don’t find any energy in it). I thought that this exercise would be wasted upon me since a lot of my outfits would just be athleisure.
But then, summer rolled around. And let me tell you, summer in Texas is something else. My favorite type of weather in the whole world is a Texas summer night, but the days can be brutal and it’s pretty much impossible to not sweat or get weird tan lines.
I thought, why not put more thought into the outfits I’d want to wear for different casual situations I may encounter in the summer? Rather than wearing the same cotton tee and shorts for walking the dog and running errands and getting weird farmers tan lines, is there another type of outfit that would leave me feeling my best but still authentically myself?
Below are the 7 scenarios I am most likely to encounter during the summer and 7 outfits I’d wear for each. Obviously, for athleisure that I wear everyday, I am not going to rewear the same items as they would need to be laundered, but I’ll hopefully wear them as much as possible. If these outfits work for me, I could consider picking up additional pieces in different colors in the future!
I’ve ordered a few items from Lululemon to round out these outfits and am curious to see how the quality feels. I wrote about Lululemon’s financials recently (here and here) and how the company seems to be losing some focus on quality, but there just isn’t anything else as accessible in terms of athleisure so I’m going to give it a shot - I’ll let you guys know what I think!
Walking the Dog + Running Errands
For walking the dog and running errands, I want something that looks put together but is comfortable to move in. I’d also prefer to minimize weird tan lines.
I’ve decided to give this lululemon set a try because it looks really cute and functional and I love that I can mix/match the top with other items in my closet (as opposed to purchasing a workout dress). The thin straps will help ensure that I minimize the tan lines. I’ve been obsessed with green recently and also love the “Palm Court” color! Although I have a pair of Align leggings, I’ve never tried this skirt or tank combo. The Nike shoes, crossbody bag, socks, and minimal golden hoops are items I already have in my closet.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c900783-c374-4214-b7b9-928cd09f81c8_1456x1048.png)
WFH + Lounge at Home
WFH is very similar to “walking the dog” in that comfort is key, but I’d like my top half to be video conference ready. This means that rather than a tank, I’d prefer to wear a cotton tee - I love the ones in my collection from Everlane. I usually just wear Nike workout shorts on the bottom, but I thought I’d pick up a Lululemon Align short to try since I love wearing the leggings in cooler months.
Gym + Run Club
For the gym and run club, I want to wear pants that can withstand high friction and are chafe resistance. I usually wear my Lululemon Base Pace leggings that I picked up a few years ago (discontinued), but when it’s hot outside I need something shorter. I have some Nike running shorts that I could wear, but unfortunately, those ride up and are just not comfortable for runs. I decided to pick up the Lululemon Wunder Train High Rise Short to try. The Energy Longline Bra, Swiftly Waist Length shirt, Fast and Free Running belt, Nike shoes, and socks are items I already have in my closet.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91a63add-cd88-47ca-84b3-e87d1c250f85_1456x1048.png)
Travel
I’ve already perfected my formula for travel earlier this year and since it’s less impacted by the weather, I don’t need to pick up anything new for the summer. One tip is that if you like the Anine Bing sweatshirt vibes, but don’t want to pay about $200 for a sweatshirt, I highly recommend checking out the Hanes Mens Sweatshirts as they have a similar boxy cut but are only priced at around $10.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2777dfc-8931-4d5c-a532-adf7e8872cc4_1456x1048.png)
Lowkey Social Events (Family Dinners or Exploring a New City)
For lowkey social events, I want to combine comfort with looking put together. I wanted this outfit to look appropriate at a restaurant but still be okay to walk around and sightsee. I chose my Everlane tee and crossbody bag again, but chose to pair it with linen shorts and Adidas Sambas to be slightly more elevated.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707723d4-0b8c-4edf-81d8-8bd1c2ea6712_1456x1048.png)
Fancier Social Events (Drinks with Friends or Date Night)
The outfit for fancier social events in the summer looks very similar to the one above, with a few key switches. A nicer linen top, dressier sandals, and a nicer bag take this from casual to more polished. This outfit may not look that fancy to some of you, but in the Texas heat it’s the most I can do without melting.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4b1cd5eb-eb7e-496e-b284-9be27d743988_1456x1048.png)
Weddings
Although my dress may change for weddings this summer, the other supporting pieces are going to remain the same. I picked up gold sandals from Aquazzura a few years ago (very similar to those pictured) and they’ve been staples in my closet for a summer wedding and are incredibly comfortable to dance in. The Saint Laurent Wallet on Chain was a graduation present to myself after my MBA and I purchased it secondhand from theRealReal - it is perfect for weddings because it can be held as a clutch for most of the evening by tucking the strap inside, but it’s wonderful to have the strap option while traveling to and from the venue.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75372ef1-d5c5-4640-9292-ae1fe82fc7c4_1456x1048.png)
I found this exercise valuable, because now I feel like I have strong outfits that authentically represent who I am for each occasion this summer. I didn’t need to purchase a whole new wardrobe either; I mostly repurposed what I have and purchased a few items to fill in gaps in my closet. I feel confident that these items will get a lot of wear too, since I’ve already thought about how I might wear them.
Have you done this exercise before? What are the occasions you’re dressing for this summer? Leave a comment below!
Catch you next Sunday,
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