I can’t believe there’s over a hundred of you reading my newsletter/blog!! From the bottom of my heart, I want to say THANK YOU for being here. Your support means the world to me.
Ask and you shall receive! A huge thank you to my IG community for voting on this week’s letter. There’s been a surplus of content ideas percolating in my head which feels thrilling but also overwhelming—my drafts are multiplying by the hour. I’m one month into my Substack journey and it’s safe to say that I’m officially in my blogging era (only ~10 years late, but that’s ok!). Let’s get down to business, shall we?
my summer wardrobe staples
May I present to you (in no particular order) the pieces I’m constantly reaching for this season.
Cotton knitwear: I live in San Francisco which means I get to wear layers year round. Summer in SF is unlike anywhere else—our friendly neighborhood fog, Karl, likes to keep us cool (sometimes frigid!) from June through August. We also have micro-climates throughout the Bay Area, so temps can range anywhere from 55 to 70 degrees depending on where you are—layers are your best friend to help you navigate the capricious weather patterns. I prefer 100% cotton or a cotton-linen blend and my go-to knits are from Jenni Kayne—specifically, the Hayes cardigan, Chloe crewneck, and Cruise Cocoon style. For a mid-priced, high quality option, Honest Cotton, an ethical, female-owned and operated label in SoCal, offers a nice array of 100% cotton knitwear (disclaimer: Honest Cotton kindly gifted me a few pieces which helped me discover the brand and try out their products). I’m in love with the fabric and fit of their roll neck sweater which gives off a vintage vibe (think OG J.Crew men’s roll neck), and I can’t stop wearing their versatile square knit tank.
Cotton poplin dresses: If I were to pick only one piece to wear all summer, it would be a cotton poplin dress. It’s the ultimate summer wardrobe hero in my opinion—it’s versatile (switch up your shoes to dress it up or down easily), comfortable and most importantly, breathable. I’ve collected a few cotton poplin dresses over the years and my absolute faves are from Doen (love the Marianne and Quinn styles). I like pairing them with minimal, sleek sandals and a cotton knit over my shoulders.
Oversized button-ups: Did you know—a button down shirt has small buttons on the collar to keep it in place (mostly on men’s shirts), while a button-up shirt has no buttons on the collar—you’re welcome! Button-up shirts have earned a permanent spot in my evergreen wardrobe MVP roster. I favor cotton and linen iterations in the summer and wear them with everything—over tanks, tees, and as a cover-up. My top picks are the AYR deep end shirt (excellent quality at a fair price), Soldout NYC everything shirt (sleeves and length are intentionally longer which make for a great cover-up), and the J.Crew Ettienne shirt (runs very oversized).
Relaxed tees: This doesn’t need much explanation. I’m planning to do a deep dive on my favorite t-shirts in the near future, but for now let’s do a quick rundown of my absolute faves—each serve a specific fit intent and styling purpose in my wardrobe. If I were to wear only one t-shirt for the rest of my life, it would be the Leset Margo tee—it’s popular for a good reason. The best high-street option in my opinion is the COS clean cut t-shirt (it’s 100% organic cotton). For higher-priced t-shirts, the Donni jersey tee and the Great. boxy crew tee (vintage-inspired design) take the cake for me. A recently discovered new fave is the Z Supply Shayla cotton jersey tee (disclaimer: Z Supply kindly gifted me a few pieces from their summer collection which included the Shayla tee). The mid-weight cotton jersey fabric, extra long length and side slits make it an excellent untucked tee if you’re aiming for a cool, relaxed vibe. The quality feels high end for a tee that’s priced at $54.
Non denim, pull-on pants: Discovering non denim, full length, pull-on bottoms was a summer game-changer for me. I’ve built a diverse collection over the years, focusing on a variety of fabrications—each serve a specific end-use in my wardrobe. Donni pants are top tier in my book—my faves include their cotton pop pants, the iconic rib kick flare, and the simple pants in linen (casual) and silky rayon (dressy). I also love Reformation’s Olina linen pants (comes in petite and regular length) and the Jenni Kayne Bianca pants which are perfect for petite girlies.
Minimal sandals: Effortless yet chic looks are my summer MO and my easy trick to achieve this is by pairing my outfits with barely there sandals. A long-time favorite of mine are the Ancient Greek Elefteria Sandals—they run a full size small (I’m a US 7.5/ EU38 and wear a 39 in AGS). My fave Freda Salvador dropped a barely there collection this summer—I’ve been wearing these non-stop. Flip flops have officially made their comeback, and I’m loving A.Emery’s take on the elevated leather flip flop.
F-U-N accessories: I like to keep my summer outfits simple and unfussy, so I tend to be more adventurous when it comes to accessorizing. I’ve been channeling surfer nephew vibes by sporting beaded necklaces, crochet totes, raffia bucket hats, and (infamously polarizing) jelly shoes. I recently discovered two small, female-owned brands that make beautiful hand-beaded gems—Made by Rooni and TWYN Collective. I’m eyeing this gorgeous butter jasper necklace and this stunning, made-to-order jade beads with shiva shell. Chan Luu recently dropped a surf-inspired paracord collection which includes this cute anklet and choker. This Jenni Kayne raffia bucket hat goes everywhere with me in the summer. Crochet totes are my go-to for the beach and my faves are from J.Crew and Clare V.
What are your summer wardrobe MVPs? I’d love to know! Feel free to share yours in the comments.
Until next time,
Angela
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Finally had a few minutes to read this. Love it Angela! Your MVPs are affordable and wearable! Your casual and refined aesthetic is 🤌🏼🤌🏼. Thank you for sharing 😘
Thank you SO much for introducing me to the Donni cotton pop pants- now I’m gonna save my money for a pair! Totally agree with all your summer mvps 💕