3 Casual Summer Outfits for 2026

Here’s a sneak peek of 3 easy casual summer outfits pulled straight from the Summer 2026 Outfit Guide!

SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.

1. Colored Tank + Denim Shorts + (Gauze Button Up)

This first outfit is one of my favorites because it’s so easy and summery. A yellow tank is a happy, cheerful base — and honestly, any colored basic tank works here. But as you know, light yellow was very popular last season and continues to be popular in stores right now! Pair it with medium wash denim shorts and you have a great casual summer outfit.

The white gauze button-up is an optional layer, but if you haven’t gotten on the gauze layer train yet, it’s SO helpful in summer! You don’t always need a full jacket, but there are definitely mornings that start a little chilly or air-conditioned spaces that have you wishing you had something to throw on. A lightweight gauze shirt is the PERFECT solution. Wear it open over your tank so the pop of color comes through. Want to make it look even more intentional? Roll up the sleeves!

This particular gauze top is GREAT. It’s not too voluminous, which is a problem I’ve had in the past with gauze button ups — too oversized. This one fits close to the body, which keeps the silhouette slim, especially when wearing it open. It’s SO SOFT, too! Find it HERE. I’m wearing size S.

I added the cutest white necklace for a pop — I love how it instantly brightens up and “lifts” an entire outfit. A small detail like this can go a long way! (By the way, I’ve LOVED this white necklace lately, and this jewelry brand has a lifetime guarantee. They’ll repair or replate your jewelry for free, for life!!

I’m also showing this outfit with jeans, which I can swap for denim shorts when it gets hotter. (This outfit was also in my post What to Wear In Early Summer When It’s Suddenly Hot Outside.

Shop the Outfit:
Tank: Kohl’s; similar, similar
Gauze shirt: J.Crew Factory
Denim shorts: J.Crew Factory
Sandals: DSW; same brand but thong style
Earrings: Amazon
Necklace: Electric Picks

2. Gingham Top (or Black/White Print Top) + Brown Shorts or Pants

Black and brown is such an underrated color combo, and this outfit is a great example of how well it works. The gingham puff sleeve top is a little charming and a little elevated. SO CUTE! It’s the kind of top that makes an outfit feel more intentional without any extra effort. I’d fully tuck this top into the camel shorts to create definition at the waist.

If this gingham top isn’t your style (ha, don’t worry, as cute as I think it is, it’s not my personal style either), you can make a super easy swap for any black and white printed top. I have plenty of these, like this striped tee (similar), and can rotate them in all season for any combos in the Summer Guide with this gingham puff sleeve top!

Notice how the shoes and accessories echo the colors already in the outfit prompt: brown sandals or black sandals, a black necklace pendant, gold hoops. Everything is pulling from the same color palette, and that’s what makes the whole look feel cohesive and pulled together instead of just thrown together.

These longer shorts are also very much a summer 2026 thing — more on that in an upcoming blog post about summer trends I’m excited to share!

Since I don’t have brown shorts (yet? 😄) I went with my brown super-lightweight, breathable pants. My go-to Playa pants!! SOOOOO comfy, airy, and my absolute favorite pants for summer!

Shop the Outfit:
Top: LOFT
Shorts: Boden
Pants: Old Navy
Brown sandals: Birkenstock; similar and more affordable option
Black sandals: Crocs
Earrings: Nickel & Suede (similar)
Necklace: Electric Picks

3. Crochet Tank + Red Pants or Shorts (or any other color)

HOW FUN is this outfit? Tomato red is everywhere this season! Huge color trend of summer 2026 — and don’t worry, I have a whole blog post coming soon that digs into the summer trends worth knowing about. Stay tuned for that!

One of the easiest ways to style a bold colored pant is to pair it with a neutral on top. Here, it’s a white crochet sweater tank, which does double duty — it keeps the outfit grounded with its structure while also adding visual interest with its texture. That texture is what gives the outfit character and keeps it from feeling plain.

I love this crochet sweater tank. It has a relaxed fit but is still structured enough to give you shape. And it’s a great no-tuck length so you can wear it effortlessly this summer! I wear size S. There are also other options in the Bonus Shopping Guide that comes with the Summer Guide!

Besides these pants being really fun, they are a lightweight linen that keeps you cooler for the season. The fit is fantastic as well, and they are easy to wear. Find them HERE in straight, petite, plus, and tall sizes! I wear size 6.

For accessories, you can absolutely keep it simple with gold jewelry and call it done. But if you want to lean into another big Summer 2026 trend, add a turquoise beaded necklace. The turquoise against this bright red is SUCH a good color pairing — it really makes the whole outfit pop! Finish it off with the tan Birks or the gold sandals. Both have a metallic element that adds just enough polish to make the look feel fully pulled together.

By the way, it’s way too early to tell, but these gold sandals might be my summer MVP. First, they’re VERY comfortable. Cushioned footbed! Second, the minimalist look + gold combo makes them incredibly versatile. SO many times, a summer outfit could use that extra oomph in a metallic sandal, but I often don’t want it to be overpowering. This subtle hint of shine is the perfect touch!

And if red feels like a lot, totally valid. This exact same formula works beautifully with black pants, olive green, or navy. Just swap the color to one that feels more like you!

Shop the Outfit:
Top: Amazon
Pants: J.Crew Factory
Brown sandals: Birkenstock; similar and more affordable option
Gold sandals: Crocs (I wear size 8)
Necklace: Amazon

If you loved these outfits, there are 98 casual outfits in the new Summer 2026 Wardrobe & Outfit Guide. Having a plan and ready-to-go outfit prompts means you’ll wear more of your closet without having to think hard about it — and get dressed way more easily every single day.

I personally LOVEEEEEEE having the guide to reference when I don’t know what to wear in the morning. You think I want to use my brain power coming up with outfits that make me feel good each morning? Girl, NO! I have three kids, and we’re in drive-to-all-the-summer-camps, OR worse, kids-have-no-camp-this-week-but-both-parents-work mode. There is NO TIME or mental energy to waste thinking about outfits!

But I want to feel pulled together so I can tackle the madness of summer. AND, I don’t want to have that guilt hanging over me of only wearing the same few things and letting the rest of my clothes go to waste.

That’s why I LOVE using the Wardrobe & Outfit Guides!

Ready-to-go outfits to feel stylish and pulled together all summer — without wasting your precious morning time thinking about what to wear

With this guide, you won’t have to think so hard about what to wear, how to style the items in your closet, or which new styles to try.

Instead, you’ll have a plan you can follow that you can customize to your tastes, guidance on which trends to incorporate (if you want to) — AND how to style them — and outfit ideas galore so you can stop spending so much time thinking about what to wear WHILE making the most of your clothes.

Check out the brand new Summer 2026 Wardrobe & Outfit Guide! With it, you’ll have:

• a guided plan to build a functional and versatile summer wardrobe for casual wear AND workwear (you get TWO guides in ONE!)
• a capsule of 26 pieces that turn into 98+ outfits
• 98 outfit ideas at your fingertips to know how to style your pieces
• an Outfit Calendar with 6 weeks of planned outfits so you don’t have to think about what to wear
• a bonus shopping guide with curated links all in one place so you don’t have to scour the internet yourself
• an easier way to pull together a wardrobe and build outfits each day

Take a look at the new Summer Wardrobe & Outfit Guide and give your closet a kickstart that will help you coast while feeling confident all summer long.