My love for fashion is second only to my love for home decor! So today I thought it would be fun to share with you twenty-five casual summer outfits which caught my eye. Typically my summer wardrobe consists of sundresses, jeans, khakis, shorts, tees, tank tops and a ton of cute accessories! So what can we expect to see in summer fashion 2012? Well, I’m not a super trendy dresser so this post won’t be about the trends. However, here is what is inspiring my wardrobe this summer!
Fashion for 2012
Fashion Tip: When you are putting together an outfit, implement the same rules for putting together a room or vignette. You are the blank canvas and just as when decorating a room, you want to think in terms of layers, colors, and textures. In the outfits I chose, you will see the same themes repeated over and over. Specifically you will see solid-colored bottoms (blue jeans, white jeans, blue jean shorts, white jean shorts and khaki shorts) mixed with mostly solid-colored tops. Think of your tops and bottoms as your furniture or anchor pieces and your shoes, jewelry, and handbag as your toss pillows, vase of flowers, artwork, etc. If you start with good basics, you can easily change up your look with your accessories. Accessories make the outfit!
To find the original source and item list for each outfit, simply click on the FIRST link below each picture.
Preppy nautical looks in navy and white are hot this season. I personally love wearing navy and white and will often pair a belted cardigan over a sundress to provide more coverage. Matching your jewelry to your shoes and other accessories instead of your top or bottom is a fun way to add an accent color to your outfit.
The next four outfits incorporate tranquil colors and textures that conjure up images of the sea. Shades of turquoise, gray-blue, and sea salt are all fantastic summer wardrobe choices!
This next outfit is one of my favorites and is similar to many outfits I wear.
I love the simplicity of the outfit below! We all own white tops and blue jeans but we don’t always know how to pull off the accessories. I would say that the anchor accessorie for this outfit is the bracelet. Look at how the earrings glam things up and mimic the blue beads in the bracelet, while the necklace mimics the design on the shoes which blend beautifully with the bag. Everything flows together without being matchy-matchy. This outfit is boho-chic yet minimalistic.
Here is another great example. The basics are a pretty cream-colored blouse with jeans. What is the anchor accessory here? If you said the shoes, you would be correct! The shoes inspire the accent colors and pull together the rest of the accessories.
In the following outfit, I would probably add a white cardigan to balance out the bling of the necklace. The unexpected pairing of gray and white with mint green is refreshing.
If you’ve been on Pinterest, then chances are good you have seen this ice-cream-eating-J-Crew-bubble-necklace-wearing beauty. I LOVE this necklace! The necklace takes this very simple outfit from meh to marvelous. At $150, it better make you look skinny while eating ice cream 
.
Citrus green with “distressed” jeans and touches of gold make for a fresh and fun girls-night-out outfit! Tip: If heels are difficult for you to walk in, try wedges. They are typically much more comfortable to walk in yet still give you nice height.
I think I have this outfit’s twin in my closet right now . Again, a simple cream top with khaki shorts and pulled together accessories will always create a pulled-together look.
Instead of a patterned top, I will often spice up my outfits with a patterned bag or shoe.
via fashion worship
I like the layering of tank top and tee below. The anchor accessory here is definitely the purse which pulls the blue and black together.
The turquoise, orange, and brown color scheme has been a favorite trend of mine this year in home decor. Why not apply it to an outfit?
I don’t wear a lot of yellow but this outfit has me wanting to buy the entire ensemble! I would take the jewel bracelet over the wooden and the brown bag over the clutch. How about you?
Sunflowers by sapple324 featuring wood bangles
Is it just me or does the outfit below say “blog conference” to you? I think I might need to buy something similar for Haven ! Although Hot-lanta in June might warrant a ruffly tank in place of that cardigan.
And yet another cute outfit in yellow! I like that all of the accent colors for the outfit are pulled from the cute flats.
I have a pair of shorts in this same blue-gray and I frequently struggle in finding patterned tops that I like paired with them. I am loving this mod-floral top paired with the aged gold accessories.
Having a crocheted shrug is a great option for over-air conditioned buildings or breezy summer evenings. This outfit is pretty and romantic.
I have about ten versions of the outfit below and I think I need that bag! (But at $298 I think I might just DIY my own by stenciling some white birds onto a sisal bag.)
The showstopper in the next outfit is obviously that purse! Worn leather and lace with a vintage key? How shabby chic is that? The purse is not sourced correctly in the Polyvore link so I did some sleuthing and found the sold-out item from this etsy shop.
Shorts with scallops, ribbons, lace, and other embellishments are abounding this year. I like this metal-toned outfit with stripey closed-toe wedges.
And to finish our summer outfit review, I’ll end with this cute silver/gray and white number. Chevron and stripes have been trending for awhile in home decor, so don’t be scared to bring some of that trend over into your wardrobe! If horizontal stripes aren’t your thing, try a chevron’esque top which slenderizes and complements most figures.
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I love all of them!!! Great pics! Makes me want to go shopping. lol
–Katie
@ Creatively Living
Oh my…I love them all! I want to go shopping now!
Jessica @ Mom 4 Real
Great post! I think I would wear just about all of the above. I like your method of picking base pieces to work off of, very practical
I love these! My favorite is the 3rd outfit. I just need to lose about 15 pounds. LOL!
Me too
.
Great summer outfits! Did you know that you can get the J. Crew bubble necklace via ebay for $15? MUCH better than paying $150. I got mine on Monday. LOVE it!
What? Please send a link via my blog, thanks!!!
Beth-can you come be my personal shopper? Seriously, these outfits are amazing! I love the colors and patterns you selected; especially love the Spring pop into Spring outfit. <3
Thus far I'm digging yellow for an accent color in my wardrobe. I have a lovely yellow argyle sweater and a pair of wedges that I've been rocking but now I want to go shopping to make these outfits for myself! Thanks for sharing!!
They all scream summer in a good way, I love so many, especially the jean combos, so stylish! (I can’t pull off the white jean look…) So many great ideas here, great inspiration to step it up and look fabulous this summer!
xo
Kate
Thanks Kate
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Just google for “J Crew bubble necklace ebay”. There are several color choices all about the same price.
Beth, you really have such great taste. Thanks for putting this whole post together. I am terrible at dressing myself so I always appreciate posts like this. Thank you.
Like Chelsea posted above, I ordered that necklace off eBay–for $14! Mine arrived today! (If you want to email me, I’ll send you the link. )
So many gorgeous outfits!! I can’t wait until summer swings back around here in Australia
I guess it’s not exactly “right around the corner” for you all!
Great post idea, Beth! Loving ALL these outfits! You’ve included all my favorite colors – navy, coral, seafoam, and olive. I particularly love how they are very accessory-focused, with the clothes being great basics like jeans, khakis and tees. You should share more of your passion for fashion…you have great taste
. ~Kerri
Thanks Kerri!
I’ll take one of each please. I love seeing these outfits all put together – gives me some great ideas since I have such a hard time putting these together myself!
love love love them all. can we share closets?
Deal!
I loved all of these. I especially love the JCrew necklace. I keep hoping I will come across a knock off somewhere. Thanks so much for posting these outfits. It was so fun!
There is a knock-off on ebay for $14.95 with free shipping! I just bought mine thanks to Chelsea’s tip!
Thanks Beth!
Beth, which seller did you buy from?
Fabulous post, Beth! It’s always fun to get new ideas for my favorite basics!
Love how inspiring this is.
Fabulous ideas spinning in my brain right now, thank you !!!
I love all the outfits….I’ve told you before, you have a great sense of style…my only other comment, and it’s not against you is, the shorts are so short! I mean…I’ve seen them all over the place and I feel that they would barely cover my 7 yr old’s butt. Maybe I’m just feeling fat or something b/c several years ago I could wear shorts like that. But, nevertheless, I will be pinning all of these outfits!
I actually typed a disclaimer on my blog twice (and then deleted it because I didn’t want the entire convo in the comments to be about the shorts) but I completely agree. My short-shorts from the past don’t quite work on me the same way they used to and my “hemline” will be about 4-5 inches longer than all those shown above. I grew up at the beach and have worn short-shorts since my teens, but at 37 I’m desiring more coverage.
I’m 41 and unfortunately have gained some weight in the past two years…..while I’d love to still be able to wear short shorts…I too am just not comfortable…but it is nice to dream that my rear and my thighs would still look good in shorty shorts!
Love everything.. I’m from Barbados and I WISH I could wear those shorts( they’re NOT that short) ,if you have brill legs and can rock them still GO AHEAD!!! I had operations on my legs and @ age 52 and living in Barbados , it would be nice to wear them.. for your readers just tell them to SWTICH out to CAPRIS!!!!
Oh! I’ll happily trade clothes with you anytime C:
Ha! Deal
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I love them all. I just bought white jeans a couple weeks ago and can’t wait to wear them!
Me too!
ooh those are all great outfits! I definitely need help in this department, so thanks! ha, it’s the flowers, ribbon/bow, ruffles and that make that make it a blog conference outfit!
Thank you so much for all the fashion inspiration. You just made my summer shopping SOOOO easy!
I LOVED this post. Usually, I like my home blogs about home blogging (because I’m so not a fashionista) BUT so many of the outfits were so spot on “normal people” clothes…awesome pics. And….now I’m addicted to Polyvore too. Thanks (smile).
Bernadette
http://www.b3hd.blogspot.com
Thanks for the great inspiration! Looks like I need to shop for more cute shoes and bags.
I love them ALL!! Definitely need to go shopping for Haven! My girlfriends and I have been pinterest shopping for awhile now. We print out our favorite outfit and go out on a Saturday and find the closest thing we can. A ton of fun!
love soooo many of these looks!
Love all the ideas! Now I want fall fashion
I saved all the summer fashion on my smart phone and took it into my favorite second hand store and purchased some super great outfits with ideas in hand and a fraction of the price. They were not exact but I got some fabulous compliments and I felt like a thousand bucks!
Such pretty outfits for everyday look. I need to bookmark this post for upcoming summer style.