Every year, as soon as summer appears on the horizon, we all seem to forget we’ve lived through summer before.
The internet starts serving us endless holiday wardrobes, summer capsule edits, and lists of “must-have” pieces until we’re convinced that surviving June requires an entire new collection of white shirts and pull-on trousers.
As if linen trousers were invented yesterday, suddenly we’re all convinced we need a new pair in every colour, a basket bag, seventeen pairs of sandals, and perhaps a spontaneous trip to the South of France to justify it all.
And while I fully support a little seasonal shopping, I don’t actually think most of us need a whole new wardrobe every time the temperature goes above 20 degrees.
What we usually need — you know where this is going — is a slight shift.
A few small tweaks that make our outfits feel lighter, brighter, and a bit more playful. The kind of changes that make you feel like summer has arrived, even if you’re still commuting to work, running errands, or popping to Tesco rather than sipping an Aperol al fresco somewhere glamorous.
So before you fill your basket with an entirely new personality here are three easy ways to bring a little more summer into the clothes you already own.
Add a Touch of Crochet
Crochet is one of those fabrics that can instantly transport an outfit into summer mode, even when the weather is still doing its thing.
The trick is not to dress head-to-toe in crochet as if you’ve just stepped off a Mediterranean yacht. It’s about adding a touch of texture to the outfits you already wear and letting it do the heavy lifting.
A few easy ways to incorporate it:
Swap your usual t-shirt for a crochet top. Even with your favourite jeans and trusted shoes, it instantly makes an outfit feel more seasonal. I love Liza Belmonte take on this, layering a crochet top over a shirt. Also crochet works surprisingly well against tougher fabrics like denim and leather.
Replace your knitwear with a crochet jumper. I have a crochet jumper from Mango that I bought on a whim and somehow wear constantly. It’s perfect over dresses, with linen trousers, or tied around the waist when you need an extra layer without losing that soft summer feel.
Layer a crochet dress under an oversized shirt. I haven’t tried this yet, but it’s firmly on my summer mood board. I love the contrast between delicate crochet and a big masculine shirt.
Let a crochet dress do the work. A colourful crochet dress can easily take you from a day in the park to dinner in the evening. Add ballerinas, sandals, or even trainers and you are done. How wonderful is this preloved one from Ulla Johnson, It has that effortless "drinks on the Amalfi Coast after sunset" feeling.
Start small with accessories. A crochet bag, scarf, or pair of shoes can add just enough texture to make an outfit feel more summery without committing to a full crochet moment.
Add Colourful Shoes
I am currently obsessed with colourful shoes, and frankly, you should be too.
They are one of the easiest shortcuts to summer style (and style in general, if you ask me). Wearing your favourite outfit but feel like something is missing? Can I interest you in a pair of orange satin mules? Want to give your go-to dress a completely different feel? Add a pair of red flip flops.
Colourful shoes are a brilliant way to experiment with colour without committing to a bright dress or statement trousers. They can transform even the simplest outfit and instantly make it feel more intentional.
I particularly love the idea of adding a primary colour to a neutral outfit. A pop of red, yellow, or cobalt blue against denim, white, beige, or black always feels fresh and a little unexpected.
And if sandals aren’t your thing, a colourful trainer can do exactly the same job.
Beach, Please!
If, like me, you fell a little bit in love with Chanel’s Coco Beach collection but don’t quite have Chanel’s budget, don’t worry. You don’t need designer prices to channel that same carefree summer energy.
Think shells, coral-inspired jewellery, mother-of-pearl details, colourful beads, woven textures, and anything that reminds you of long days by the sea.
The beauty of this trend is that it doesn’t have to be literal. A shell necklace layered over a simple white t-shirt, a beaded bracelet with linen trousers, or a raffia bag paired with your favourite jeans can be enough.
Even if your summer consists of commuting, running errands, or having a picnic in your local park rather than lounging on a yacht in Capri, fashion allows us a little escapism.
After all, mermaidcore isn’t really about looking like a mermaid. It’s about capturing that carefree, sun-soaked feeling and bringing a little bit of it into your everyday life.
Dress for the Summer You Want
What I love about all of these ideas is that they don’t require you to reinvent your wardrobe.
A crochet detail, a colourful shoe, a shell necklace, or a woven bag might seem like a small change, but often that’s all it takes to shift an outfit into summer mode.
Style doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch every season. Sometimes the most interesting outfits come from looking at what you already own and finding new ways to wear it.
So before you rush off to buy an entirely new summer wardrobe, try a few small swaps first. You might be surprised by how much of the summer feeling is already sitting in your wardrobe.
And if you’re struggling to make your wardrobe work for the season ahead, this is exactly the kind of thing I help clients with.
Whether you are looking to refresh your style, build outfits from what you already own, or finally stop staring at a wardrobe full of clothes and thinking “I have nothing to wear,” I’d love to help!
Book your ‘Nothing to Wear’ Session
Love,
Noelia x
I loved these recommendations! Thank you so much for the mention!
Give me ALLLLL the shell inspo!