Summer Packing: The Core Building Blocks
Believe it or not - summer will be here in no time – and for those who live in the southern states, you may already feel like it’s here!
I recently had the chance to speak with a lovely group of Catholic women on how to build a summer season wardrobe. Especially when it’s (yikes!) 100-degrees outside. How are we supposed to stay climate-appropriate comfy, stylish and modest?
So I thought I’d share with you what we came away with from that discussion.
Winter and fall can be easy, because we have so many options to accessorize with, to style a fabulous outfit. But in the summer, sometimes it’s just so hot… you want to give up.
Well, I’ve come up with a “formula” that has taken a few years to finetune. Every summer, my husband and I go back to the south of France to spend our summer. As you can imagine, it gets hot and the French don’t believe in AC like we do here in Texas (which is a little too much if you ask me). Or, perhaps you’re like us and are a committed carry-on traveler because …. Well, who wants to wait at the baggage claim???
So, every year I pare down how to make an entire summer wardrobe fit in a carry-on. And I mean packing for all sorts of occasions - casual days in Provence, a work trip at an office (where I style news anchors for a media outlet), a wedding, Sunday Mass at the Barroux, evenings out, hiking and gardening.
The big question remains, how is it possible to fit all these occasions into one carry-on, without borrowing a Mary Poppins bag?
So here are six summer style building blocks that work for me and, I hope, will work equally smashingly for you!
Six building blocks for an easy and stylish summer wardrobe:
Versatile Dresses that can go to a wedding, Mass on Sunday, or a weeknight dinner out. They can be worn with sneakers, loafers or heels, and are easy to accessorize (I add a cardigan for Mass). Keep the fabric light but structured for shape.
Cropped jumpsuits for a Monday-Friday look that’s perfect for for running errands or working around the house. It highlights the waistline, has a wide leg for airflow and work with a flat tennis sneaker.
A mule, a heel, a loafer and a sneaker. This is what gives you the versatility to take your core pieces from day to evening, from a wedding to Mass on Sunday.
“It’s melting hot” outfits. Something extremely lightweight (like linen) that if you had to be outside all day, you won’t die of sweat. This could also be something that you go for walks in.
Summer cardigan or linen blazer. Choose a light grey, light camel or cream color so it will complement your dresses for Mass, or you can add to your jumpsuit/romper for dinner outside on a terrace.
Accessories. Sunglasses are an easy way to change up your look in the summer without having to change a lot of outfits. They can really direct your Look, so take advantage of ‘sunnies’ the same way that you treat jewelry. They outlive clothes, so they’re a great investment. You can also be intentional about which style of necklace will work with your summer core pieces. Think silk neck scarves, either around your neck untied (perfect for going into an AC environment), tied in your hair, or knotted on your purse.
Let me know in the comments which summertime items YOU can’t live without! I’ve just arrived in France so you can follow along on my IG and watch how I really do pull a ‘Mary Poppins wardrobe’ out of my one small carry-on!
Question: What’s YOUR Summer go-to piece?