28 Summer Capsule Wardrobe Staples That Are Just Impossibly Cool
A closet overhaul—or restock—adds up, so save when you shop on wardrobe essentials with the best 4th of July clothing sales, and these Free People, Anthropologie, Madewell, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue promo codes, as well as coupons from Shopbop and Net-a-Porter.
The Tank Top
White tank tops are a dime a dozen but a great one always stands out—and Glamour editors agree that Free People and Skims have some of the best around.
Free People Kate Tee
Skims Cotton Rib Tank
The White T-Shirt
Ditto for white T-shirts. Our editors can get very particular about the small details that set a good white tee apart from an excellent one. Here are a few at various price points we like to stock up on.
Hanes Essentials T-Shirt (4-Pack)
Good American Stretch-Cotton Baby Tee
Elysewalker Label Carrie Crew
Leset Classic Margo Tee
The Summer Sneakers
Whether you're at home or vacation, summer sneakers are a must for 10,000-plus-step days—and comfy white kicks are classics for a reason.
Adidas Samba OG Sneakers
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Low-Top Sneakers
The Strapless Bra
Along with nipple covers and boob tape, the best strapless bras can help you pull off a tricky summer ’fit. We’ve tried dozens to find ones that stay up and hidden for small breasts and large busts alike—Wacoal and Skims never disappoint.
Wacoal Halo Lace Convertible Underwire Bra
Skims Fits Everybody Bandeau
The Tube Top
Somewhere between a longline bandeau and strapless top—this late-’90s, early-’00s staple has made a quiet comeback, managing to look both timeless and modern when paired with relaxed trousers or high-waist jeans.
Babaton Contour Tube Top
Spritz Linen Tube Top Reformation
The One-Piece Swimsuit
Long sleeves, with tummy control, with UPF protection—we love a one-piece swimsuit around these parts. And not just because it takes the guesswork out of shopping for swimwear; it can also double as a bodysuit with denim shorts or a cute sarong.
Peony Vacation One-Piece Swimsuit
Solid & Striped Veronica One-Piece Swimsuit
The High-Waist Two-Piece Swimsuit
Those in the market for a two-piece will appreciate the variety the best swimsuit brands have to offer. Gone are the days of finding only triangle bikinis and low-cut briefs; this new generation of bikinis has everything from interesting cutouts and strap placements to high-waist bottoms with cheeky coverage—all in a bevy of fun prints and colors.
Mikoh Queensland One-Shoulder Bikini Top
Mikoh Lami High-Waist Bikini Bottoms
Peony Pleated Bandeau Bikini Top
Peony Gathered High-Waist Bikini Bottoms
The Statement Shades
Sunglasses are always a good idea—especially ones that can get coated with sand and seawater without you being too precious about them.
Aire Ceres 51mm Rectangular Sunglasses
Le Specs Outta Love Sunglasses
The Linen Button-Down
Naturally lightweight and breathable, linen is a quintessential summer fabric—and the best linen shirts look a little (or lot) lived-in.
Boden Relaxed Linen Shirt
Everlane The Linen Relaxed Shirt
The Day Dress
Sleeveless, puff-sleeved, smocked or strapless—the perfect summer dress instantly ups your level of excitement for getting dressed in the morning. It’s also a vacation must-have.
J.Crew Carolyn Dress
Hill House The Ophelia Dress
The Denim Shorts
Like an on-off relationship, feelings towards jorts have been hot and cold for the past few summers, but it seems the internet’s finally reached a consensus: They can stay. Blame it on Hailey Bieber and Gigi Hadid, who make them look so good with Sambas—but you’ll want to embrace these longer hems, ASAP.
Citizens of Humanity Marlow High-Waist Long Organic-Cotton Denim Shorts
Levi’s Premium 501 Mid-Thigh Shorts
The Everyday Sandals
If you don’t already own a comfortable pair of walking sandals, now’s the time to get one. Madewell just introduced the Birdie, a strappy platform shoe, while Birkenstock’s Milano slingback sandal—with big buckles!—offers a fresh take on its ever-popular Arizona style.
Madewell The Birdie Double-Strap Platform Sandals
Birkenstock Milano Slingback Sandals
The Beach Tote
A sturdy beach bag is a nonnegotiable for carrying towels, sunscreen, books, and snacks with style.
J.Crew Woven Straw Market Tote
Clare V. Sandy Tote
The Extra Sun Protection
The window for wearing a straw boater is a short one, so make the most of summer hat season while you can.
Madewell Straw Bucket Hat
Lack of Color Seashells Straw Boater Hat
The Beach Coverup
The best beach coverup is an outfit unto itself. We love the way an oversized shirt looks over a one-piece swimsuit, or a printed sarong with a matching bikini.
Solid & Striped The Oxford Tunic
Tory Burch Printed Cotton Silk Pareo
The Summer Skirt
Slip skirts will always have a place in our wardrobe, but there’s something about structured midis—in linen and jean—that we’re really into right now.
Reformation Gia Linen Midiskirt
Lioness Barbie Split Midiskirt
The Cargo Pants
Utilitarian trousers may be reaching a fever pitch, but if you’re still as into them as we are, you’ll love Agolde’s and Leset’s sleek take on the trend.
Agolde Ginerva Cargo Pants
Leset Yoko Cargo Pants
The Tailored Vest
Equal parts cool and sophisticated, a vest is what you wear when the vibe is put-together but not super fussy. Skip layering and wear it sleeveless.
Faithfull The Brand Elfie Tie-Front Linen Vest
Favorite Daughter The Favorite Vest
The Romantic Top
You may be living in T-shirts and tanks most of the time, but a cute summer top is great to have for dressing up casual bottoms.
The Great. The County Line Plaid Cotton Tank Top
Dôen Renee Cropped Ruffled Pintucked Ramie Top
The Airy Trousers
If you’re going to wear pants at all, make it breezy, pull-on trousers—in linen, natch.
Boden Relaxed Pull-On Linen Pants
Faithfull the Brand Ottavio Linen Flare Coverup Bottoms
The Linen Blazer
Blazers get the linen treatment for summer too. Black always works, but it’s hard to go wrong with an off-white version slung carefree over a T-shirt.
Everlane The Linen Oversized Blazer
& Other Stories Double-Breasted Linen Blazer
The Woven Bag
If summer were a bag, it’d be a charming little basket bag. (No? Just us?)
Muuñ Abby Striped Woven Basket Bag
Inès Bressand Mini Wave Raffia Shoulder Bag
The Summer Knit
Perfect for windy beaches and A/C-filled offices, a lightweight knit you can toss in a big tote bag goes a long way.
Kule The Raleigh Pickleball Sweater
La Ligne Stripe Tissue-Weight Cashmere Cardigan
The Event Dress
A special-occasion dress should make an impact—and have life beyond a single wear. You can find the best summer wedding guest dresses across all budgets and styles, though Tanya Taylor has some our favorite printed ones.
Tanya Taylor Maya Dress
Me+Em Graphic Tulip Print Sleeveless Maxi Dress + Belt
The Heeled Sandals
Perfect for after-work events, weddings, or date nights, a kitten-heel sandal is a versatile addition that’ll get plenty of wear.
Staud Brigitte Mules
Senso Tommie Heels
The Claw Clip
Cute claw clips to the rescue in the unrelenting heat and humidity.
Chunks Nimbus Claw Clip
Emi Jay Sweet Shell Claw Clip
The Summer Jewelry Stack
Pile on the campy pieces—we love Martha Calvo’s and Crystal Haze’s playful creations—or mix metals for a colorful, layered look; celeb-loved brands like Jennifer Zeuner and Jenny Bird have great pieces for every day.
Joolz by Martha Calvo Enamel Beaded 14kt-Gold-Plated Necklace
Crystal Haze Jewelry Serena Gold-Plated Cubic Zirconia Necklace
Jennifer Zeuner Perla Hoop Earrings
Jenny Bird Rodin Rolo Chain Necklace
The Belt
All eyes are on belts right now. Invest in a luxe leather one you’ll own for years to come, or have fun with a chain style that’ll pair nicely with slip dresses and denim skirts.
Khaite Benny Leather Skinny Belt
Epifene Paloma Chain Belt
Talia Abbas is the senior commerce editor at Glamour. You can follow her @_taliaabbas on Instagram.
