It’s properly summer here in southern Spain now. We spent weeks complaining that the warm weather wasn’t arriving, and now we’ve gone from "Where's summer?" to "I can't remember what it's like not to be sweating."
How’s your summer going??
I love a summer evening, especially when the World Cup is on. It’s the perfect excuse to wander to the local bar on a random Monday night. I’m not a huge football fan, but I am a fan of drinking cold beers with friends while we complain about Cristiano Ronaldo. (Spain won, phew!)
A few weeks ago, I shared Part 1 of this series, all about the simple swaps that can instantly make your wardrobe feel more summery. Because you know me... one week I'll be encouraging you to browse the sales, and the next I'll be reminding you that your best wardrobe upgrade might already be hanging in your wardrobe.
Since then, I’ve realised there are a few more styling tricks I’ve been using myself.
I usually live in dresses throughout summer, but this year I’ve found myself reaching for them a little less. I think Substack has something to do with it. (It’s very much a pull-on trousers kind of vibe.) And spending so much time writing about style has made me want to experiment more with my wardrobe instead of relying on my usual summer uniform.
I’m still wearing my dresses, just with a bit more personality. And when I do wear separates, I’ve been making a few small swaps that completely change the feel of an outfit without requiring a whole new wardrobe.
So, here are three more easy swaps I’ve been loving lately. And if you’d like to see how they translate into real life, I’ll be sharing them in an upcoming A Week in Outfits, where you can see exactly my styling process.
1. Swap Your White T-Shirt for a Colourful One
I don’t know how I manage it, but I always seem to reach for a white T-shirt or tank to go with absolutely everything. And don’t get me wrong, I’ll never stop wearing them. They’re a wardrobe staple for a reason.
But lately I’ve been trying to introduce more colour into my outfits, and I’ve realised one of the easiest ways to do it is simply by swapping the white tee for a colourful one.
It’s such a small change, but it completely shifts the mood of an outfit. I’ve been pairing colourful tanks with black trousers, denim and even contrasting them with other bright colours. Suddenly, an outfit that felt safe feels much more styled.
You don’t need to wear head-to-toe colour either. Even a butter yellow tank or an olive green T-shirt can make your same pair of jeans feel completely different.
Some colour combinations I am excited about:
Butter yellow + denim
Sky blue and brown
Olive green + almost everything
Tomato red + purple
Cobalt blue + white linen
Navy + turquoise
Turquoise + burnt orange
I could happily spend an entire newsletter talking about colour (and I probably will!). If you've been wanting to wear more colour but aren't sure where to start, watch this space!
2. Stop Saving Your Holiday Pieces
Your holiday wardrobe doesn’t have to be reserved for those two weeks by the sea. They are clothes like any other, so why not let them work a little harder?
One of my favourite ways to make summer dressing feel more interesting is by mixing holiday pieces with everyday staples. It’s less about looking like you are on holiday, and more about bringing that relaxed feeling into your day-to-day outfits.
Try things like:
Swapping your everyday bag for a raffia bag instantly makes everything more summery. Go on, try it!
Wear your swimsuit as a top. A fun block colour swimsuit under a linen shirt and denim shorts works beautifully, or a bikini top can look incredibly chic peeking through a crochet top.
Don’t save your hats for holiday. Sun protection isn't just for the beach, and neither are beautiful straw hats. Wear yours to the farmers' market, a picnic in the park, brunch or even your weekly food shop. They add instant personality to the simplest outfit while doing your skin a favour.
Style your sarong beyond the pool. Wear it as a skirt with a simple tank top or knot it over linen trousers for an unexpected twist.
Give your kaftan and fancy cover-ups another life. Wear it over a pair of floaty wide-leg trousers as a lightweight summer layer.
Add holiday-inspired accessories. Shell jewellery, colourful beads or anything with a subtle mermaid-core feel is an easy way to bring a little bit of holiday into your everyday wardrobe.
The trick is to balance one holiday-inspired piece with the rest of your everyday wardrobe. That way, you don’t look like you’ve accidentally wandered off the beach—you just look like someone who knows how to get more wear out of the clothes they already own.
3. The Shoe Swap I Didn’t Know I Needed
I recently bought a pair of white leather flip-flops in the sales, fully expecting to send them back. Instead, I am surprised to say, they have barely left my feet. Initial blisters and all.
I wasn’t expecting them to be so versatile, but they add such a fresh, modern feel to everything I wear. I’ve worn them with an old shirt dress from Mango, comfy pull-on shorts and a simple white linen dress (also a sale find), and every outfit somehow feels a little lighter and a lot more current.
Just as I love my black flip-flops for grounding an outfit, this white pair gives everything a lighter, more summery feel. I genuinely wasn't expecting to wear them this much.
Other light-coloured shoes I love:
This flip-flop style with an ankle strap would definitely be on my radar if I hadn't already bought my Massimo Dutti pair. I love how cool they feel.
I am trying really hard to ignore this pair of Marni fisherman sandals that are currently sitting in my Vinted favourites. Fanny Adams has this pair and I so want to copy her.
Before I found my flip-flops, I had my eye on this strappy pair from Reformation. They have the same fresh feel but are a little dressier.
A pointy-toe shoe is such an easy way to elevate wide-leg trousers. They instantly make the proportions feel a little more polished.
Woven leather shoes is the ballet flat of the summer. This pair feels timeless rather than trendy, and I'd happily wear them all summer long.
Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. You don’t need a whole new wardrobe to make your outfits feel fresher, just a few thoughtful swaps and a willingness to look at the clothes you already own a little differently.
If you’re feeling stuck with your wardrobe and you’d like a second pair of eyes, let me help you. My Nothing to Wear sessions are designed to help you make sense of what you already own, identify what’s missing, and create outfits that actually work for your life.
✨ Paid members receive 20% off selected styling services, and if you’ve been thinking about joining, there’s still 4 days left to get 20% off your first month.
And if you’re in the mood for a little browse, you can shop the full edit here.
Things I’ve Enjoyed Reading Lately
Just before sending this newsletter, I read through Hey Mrs. Solomon on Style latest weekly challenge and I felt very seen! Summer is not the time to overthink outfits too much. Sometimes an easy dress and flip-flops are exactly what your body needs, and that’s okay!!!
This article by Fanny Adams made me want to immediately grab everything brown and red in my wardrobe and wear it together. Such a gorgeous colour combination, and one I never really reach for — but that is changing today.
And if you’re, like me, slightly obsessed with graphic T-shirts, I stumbled upon this article and I’m already putting it into practice as we speak.
Love,
Noelia x
Uff so many good tips and the options you shared I was so tempted to buy. The COS tops all amazing. That Frankie Shop skirt woooo and the way they style it 🔥!
Haha, you had me at complaining about Ronaldo. I'm now subscribed!