Today I’m sharing my must-have summer wardrobe essentials! I know it can seem hard to feel pulled together in the summer. But, with a few key essentials, you can streamline your summer wardrobe and make it so much easier to feel good.

In today’s post, I’ll share a general checklist of summer wardrobe essentials and talk through some of my personal favorites for each category.

11 Must-Have Summer Wardrobe Essentials + My Top Recommendations

1. Soft, Lightweight Pants 

On the top of my list of MUST-HAVE summer wardrobe essentials is soft, lightweight pants, especially if you’re not into shorts. However, I find many summer pants to be itchy and still not that breathable. BUT THEN… a couple of summers ago I found pants that completely changed the game for me — SO much better than scratchy linen and SO much more breathable. Here they are….

My Faves #1: These Old Navy pants!
These pants are smooth and zero percent scratchy. 🙌 And, whereas I usually still feel hot in linen pants on humid days, in these Old Navy pants, I don’t. I prefer them over shorts! BREATHABLE, I’m telling’ ya! 

These come in 5 colorways and in straight, petite, plus, and tall HERE. I wear size S. 

My Faves #2: These travel pants from Kohl’s

SO. GOOD. These pants are SO lightweight and also BREATHABLE. Incredibly COMFORTABLE with a satiny feel — NO ITCH FACTOR*. The waistband is fully elastic for extra comfort. There’s a slight sheen, which allows you to dress them up more as well as dress them down. And they don’t wrinkle!

These are my other go-to pants on super hot and humid days. I prefer them over shorts because they’re sooo breathable and my legs don’t sweat all over seats like they do in shorts! 

These come in 4 prints and 4 colors HERE. I wear size S. 

Note: Make sure the fit is right. First, make sure it’s not too big — try a size down as well. Second, it needs to sit high on your waist. Otherwise, the pockets add major bulk and look sloppy. 

*The Flax colorway is a different fabric than the rest. It is more like linen and kind of itchy! 

2. Tank

Gotta have a basic tank! It might seem boring, but it’s SO useful and can make great outfits when paired with the right things. Throw it on with any of your flowy pants, shorts, or skirt — especially the printed or colored ones. I’m sharing a few examples in the pics above!

I wore fitted tanks a lot last year tucked into my Old Navy pants and my Kohl’s pants. The close fit gives you shape with flowy bottoms and the scoop neck opens up the neckline. The ribbed texture gives your outfit dimension, even with a basic piece. Tanks like these often come in several colors. I’m telling ya, they’re useful! 😄 I usually size up to M since fitted tanks like these tend to be more snug. The exact tank I’m wearing is no longer available, but you can find a very similar one HERE.

Several PMT Style Club members like is THIS tank from LOFT, which comes in straight and petite sizing. The texture is nice, and the color options are pretty! 

3. Denim Shorts

Would it be a summer wardrobe essentials list without denim shorts? If you need a pair of denim shorts, make them stretchy!

I’m really liking these utility shorts from Gap Factory (left photo above) which I showed in my post Elevated Summer Outfits. The high waist and pockets make these shorts so cute! I got them in the dark wash, the light wash, and the yellow! (I’m still undecided about the yellow, though.) And, they’re only $24! Check them out HERE. I wear size 6.

If you’d like a pair with no cuffs, no rips, and are just classic denim shorts, try THIS PAIR. Heads up, this pair fits those with straighter hips better (i.e. not pear or hourglass shapes). 

Wit & Wisdom shorts are also a really good option. (Not pictured.) Really stretchy, plus they have stretchy elastic in the waistband. Check them all out HERE. I usually wear size 6. 

4. Tee

A forever wardrobe essential, even in the summer!

My favorite tee is this Madewell tee that I’ve talked about for YEARS. It’s thicker, mildly structured — just enough, and has a great drape. Find it HERE. I wear size M. 

I also like this super affordable tee from Kohl’s. I own it in white, which I’m wearing in the right photo above. I really like that it’s textured so it doesn’t totally look like an undershirt. Find it HERE. I wear this in size M, too. However, I think the sizing might have changed since I first bought it. I recently tried a new colorway and size M was too big. Order a couple of sizes to compare! 

5. Gauzy Top 

A gauzy top is the perfect sweet spot between nicer than a tee but not as dressy as a blouse. (I’m wearing one with the shorts on the left above and with the navy wide leg pants here.) Elevated casual perfection! You can look polished but still relaxed and casual.

Plus, gauzy fabrics are super breathable and help keep you cool! Check out this one, which is similar to the one I’m wearing above. 

6. Soft Shorts

Of course you need some soft shorts! You can go for the drawstring style, or if that feels too pajama-like, opt for a pair with a tab closure. 

The pair I’m wearing above from Gap Factory is pretty good. You can also try a pair with a cinched waist (but no drawstring), like this super well-rated one from Quince.

7. Crochet Tank 

Perhaps a crochet tank isn’t an essential, but it is to me, ha! It’s another option for a better-than-basic top, like the gauzy top I shared above. You can include one or the other, or both, like I do. 😊

I really like this crochet tank, which is soft and breathes well, made with viscose. I wear a camisole under it, but because it has an open knit, I don’t feel like a camisole makes it too warm. I also like that this tank is short enough to wear untucked. It’s only $18.99 and comes in LOTS of colors, HERE. I’m wearing size S. 

8. Lightweight Jeans

If you’re someone who still prefers to wear jeans in the summer, definitely go for a thinner, lighter weight pair. I also recommend a wide leg cut, which allows your legs to breathe! 

The first pair of jeans is SO comfortable — super duper soft and stretchy. Plus, the waistband has elastic, giving you all-day comfort. You can wear this pair of jeans with tees and tanks (like this white crocheted tank shown above) or with nicer tops. It looks great with a gauzy top or a printed top, too! 

Another pair is the one on the right above by KUT From the Kloth. These feel BUTTERY soft. They’re thicker than the pair above, but they’re so, so good. Super duper STRETCHY and SOFT. The waistband is really stretchy, too. 

9. Printed Top 

Add some interest to your wardrobe with a printed top! It can literally be any kind of top in any print, such as a printed top that can be dressed up, like the one I’m wearing here, or a graphic print tee. Just make sure it goes with at least two of your bottoms to get more use out of it!

This top is very breathable, made of rayon. (No suffocating polyester here! 🙌) I love this print, but it comes in other colors and prints, too. It can be worn casually with jeans and linen shorts, and you can wear it to work with trousers. Grab it while you can HERE. I wear size S. 

10. Dress

A dress is an easy, effortless option that you can totally throw on and instantly look pulled together. You can choose a simple one for everyday wear, or you can choose a dressy one so you’re sure to have an option when you need it. Or, both!

The dress in the first two pics is one of my favorite everyday summer dresses. It’s super comfy, made of soft, pajama-like fabric. It gives you shape without being too formfitting, and the tiered bottom adds visual interest. It comes in tons of colors, which you can check out HERE. I wear size S.

The dress in the third pic is another really comfy option with the same fabric as the first to dresses. It has extra details, like ruffle sleeves, that give it an even softer vibe. This one also comes in tons of colors HERE. I wear it in size S.

The last dress is a really cute dressier option to wear to see a show, go out to dinner, or attend a special celebration. First, I LOVE that it is NOT polyester, which means it’s more breathable and won’t suffocate you during the summer! It’s really pretty and comes in several prints. Check them out HERE. I’m wearing size S.

11. Denim Jacket

For cooler parts of summer, a denim jacket is my #1 layer on my list of summer wardrobe essentials! It pairs perfectly with all the soft, flowy pants, skirt, and dresses. 

This one is stretchy but sturdy, super affordable, and in a blue that is vibrant enough to pair well with my colors. It’s available in two washes HERE. I wear size S. 

Some of our Style Club members were looking for petite denim jackets, and in case that’s you, too, I included a few in the widget below, along with more options for straight and plus sizes.

Shop Denim Jackets:

More Summer Style Help

Want more summer outfit ideas? Check out these posts:

➡️ 5 Easy But Stylish Elevated Summer Outfits

➡️ 5 Days of Comfortable, Polished Summer Work From Home Outfits

➡️ How to Make Cute Outfits In the Summer When You Can’t Layer

Make Getting Dressed Super Easy This Summer

Remember, if you’d like further help with your summer wardrobe, check out the Summer Wardrobe & Outfit Guide! Inside, you’ll have a plan for building out your summer wardrobe, 60+ outfit ideas at your fingertips, and 6 weeks of outfits planned for you so that you barely have to think about what to wear! (Say goodbye to some of that mental load!)

See sneak peeks of what’s inside the Summer Wardrobe & Outfit Guide and get your copy HERE.