Summer 2023 outfit look book

For the majority of the summer so far, I've been working. But lucky for me, I don't have a uniform, so I've been able to experiment with my style. Historically, fall fashion is where I thrive and summer has been harder to find warm weather pieces that still reflect my style. This year, I have finally been able to further refine my style and crack the code on incorporating my style into summertime.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, Pinterest is my best friend when it comes to fashion. I've been building up a repertoire of spring/summer style inspiration to work from. Tiktok has also been a good source of inspiration especially with unique styling. I made a mood board with my vibes for the summer as well as color pallet and outfit inspo to visually highlight what I wanted to accomplish with my outfits.

So for this post, I put together 8 summer outfits I've been wearing that I cannot get enough of. Enjoy!

OUTFIT 1

Something frequenting the runways for the fall is tall boots under midi skirts, so I got started a little early this summer. I paired them with a black pinstripe vest to add a little edge and traditionally masculine style to juxtapose the feminine flowy skirt.

OUTFIT 2

For this outfit I paired classic denim shorts and white sneakers with a neutral tube top and crocheted tie sweater. This is the perfect summer outfit for me because the sweater adds some layering and more visual interest, while still being breathable in the heat. For accessories I added a statement necklace that my grandparents got for me in Italy. It is the perfect spring and summer necklace to add color and detail to otherwise simpler outfits. I also wore little clips to pull back some of my hair and elevate the outfit.

OUTFIT 3

This outfit is a classic midi dress with a slit that is amazing to stay breezy on hot and sticky days. I took a monochrome approach to this look with pulling in the white from the dress with the white sneakers and the brown from the dress in the sunglasses and purse. Brown is one of my favorite colors to wear all year round and I feel it is very flattering with my hair, eye color, and undertones. This dress is also a perfect summer to fall transition piece based on how it can be styled and accessorized.

OUTFIT 4

This is a very simple and causal outfit styled with cargo pants I stole from my brother and a floral tube top. I kept accessories simple with classic sneakers and my work tote and braided my hair to keep it out of my face.

OUTFIT 5

This skirt is another example of a good summer to fall transition piece with colors appropriate for both seasons. For styling, I went with all black. The black tube top and black knit bolero has been one of my favorite combinations this summer, but I also love the bolero with a neutral color tank top. For accessories, I went with my beloved Doc Martins, a black belt to tie the top into the skirt, and black jewelry. I pulled up my hair to show off the statement earrings and because my hair in a claw clip is my favorite for hair wash days.

OUTFIT 6

This outfit was recently featured on my Instagram and has been one of my favorites lately. I mentioned earlier that I love wearing brown, but I also love pairing it with black. This outfit honestly took some trial and error to get all the colors to mesh together. I had the black skirt to break up the browns, but then it was a matter of working with three different shades of brown to make them work in harmony. The obvious star of the show is the boots, which are one of my favorite thrift finds ever. To make them work for the outfit, I wore a tank top of the same shade to create balance. Then I added the brown belt to tie the skirt to the top and brought in that darker chocolatey brown with the purse. Lastly, the outfit felt like it was missing something, so I added some layering with the brown vest. And finally finished off the look with a brown claw clip and earrings. Something to know about styling is that it takes a lot of principles of art to create a cohesive look, and also like art, there truly are no rules and it is subjective to the stylist.

OUTFIT 7

Using the red purse, I added a pop of color to an otherwise simply colored outfit. This being the third outfit in this list featuring a vest, I'd say it is pretty obviously a defining piece in my wardrobe. I wear them year round and just style them differently. For summer, they are perfect to wear buttoned up or add layering on top of a sleeveless shirt or t-shirt. The rest of the outfit is classic denim shorts, Doc Martins, and a black headband as an extra accessory. All these outfits also feature my rings. Rings are my favorite pieces of jewelry to wear. I primarily wear the same ones daily, but occasionally switch one or two out to bring in other colors.

OUTFIT 8

This outfit, substituted with black pants, had its debut this spring at a fashion association meeting and at the Katwalk. I love working in traditionally masculine elements and making them more feminine to fit my style. With the collared top and the paisley printed tie styled more as a scarf, it is a modern and feminine take on structured styles. I wore a black mini skirt with it this time and fabulous boots that I cannot get enough of. I wore my hair in a messy high pony tail (which is such an underrated hair style these days in my opinion) to highlight the tie and collar.

I hope you enjoyed these outfits and feel inspired to explore and build your own summer style! Let me know which one was your favorite!