And we thought spring was weird! It was. The last six months have been weird. Life continues to be weird, and yet it continues. This definitely feels like the strangest summer of my life, and I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way. None of this is news and may feel repetitive (it does to me), but that’s really the crux of this season of life. We acknowledge that it’s weird and try to roll with it.

Like probably everyone, I had less to dress up - or even just get dressed - for this summer. Many days were casual, spent around the house, and often I got dressed just in time for dinner. It is what it is! I love summer, but it is overall probably my least favorite to dress for because I don’t like to be hot, and I love to dress in layers.

What Worked

denim jackets

I love love love a denim jacket. They can be fun, great accents, look cute, have pockets, and protect you from the sun (if you burn like a lobster, as I do). I definitely wore my white one the most, and my yellow denim jacket was almost never seen! I need a blue denim jacket, as I keep saying and will reiterate below.

camisole tops

These have been style staples for me a lot in the last year or two, and that’s remained true this season. They look cool, both in terms of temperature and style. I love finding a colorful print or great color, and then pairing it with everything else in my closet.

shorts

For summer? Groundbreaking. I definitely wore my denim shorts a lot, and they looked and felt really good. I also caught myself very frequently wishing I had more or better shorts, so I will definitely wear more shorts when I’m able to find better versions. Honorable mention goes to the button-down shirts that I frequently wore with shorts!

Goals for Next Summer

I don’t have any style goals. It’s just a general hope that I will have more varied opportunities to dress for. Let’s stay safe so next summer can be everything this one wasn’t!

Summer 2021 shopping plan

White jeans: will I ever find the right pair of white jeans? I’m not sure. Do I jinx myself by writing about it so often? Unsure about this as well. The search continues.
More camisoles: particularly in yellow! I think that’s the main color I’m missing, in general and in this specific silhouette.
Breathable tees: so I love the camisoles, clearly, but I do like shoulder coverage and the weather is sometimes too hot even for me to wear a denim jacket. Floatier materials, possibly linen, in a short-sleeve top is what I’m looking for. Possibly in button-down versions so they’re more comfortable around the neck and easy to tie up.
Shorts: definitely better white shorts, more black shorts, and I would love to find a fun print (go figure!). More of a color assessment will come next spring after I go through my warm weather clothes more fully!
Sandals: I need to replace some sandals that I’ve been wearing into the ground, so sandals with ankle straps and a low to flat heel in black, white, and beige are on the list. Possibly yellow and silver, depending on what I can find.
Cooler masks: is there a mask material or style that is more summery? Is this antithetical somehow? Time will tell.

Summer 2020 Summary