My (Totally Impractical) Summer Uniform

Sezane tank (similar)
Lovers + Friends jeans (c/o REVOLVE)
Ever New sandals (c/o) (similar)
Charles & Keith bag (c/o)
Ace and Tate sunglasses (similar)
Rosefield watch (c/o)
Keltie Leanne Designs ring (c/o)
Keltie Leanne Designs earrings (c/o)

An all black summer uniform? I know, it seems crazy, but these photos are the most accurate reflection of what I’ve been wearing day-to-day this season that I can share. I love black for all seasons. My obsession with the colour doesn’t change with the temperature outside… for better or worse. I will freely admit that I am often probably warmer than I need to be because I insist on wearing black clothes in the summer, but if I didn’t believe it’s worth suffering for fashion, I wouldn’t wear heels so often, either.

My summer uniform is basically a version of my year round uniform. Or my travel uniform. It starts with a silk top – a tank for summer, generally. This one is from Sezane circa 2013. It’s still in remarkable condition considering how often I’ve worn it and I was will be gutted when I have to finally replace it. (That said, Everlane offers a beautiful silk tank and I might be persuaded to add it to my closet, too.) I almost invariably pair my top with jeans – I didn’t wear denim until I was eleven, but when I fell for the fabric, I fell hard. Most of my current favourite pairs come from REVOLVE, either from Lovers + Friends or Grlfrnd. Which brand I choose on a given day depends mostly on if I’m in the mood for stretch or non-stretch denim.

A blouse and pair of pants are all you need as a base for your seasonal uniform. After that, you add accessories and the outfit possibilities become practically endless. I almost never wear close-toed shoes in the summer, and I have an array of sandals to choose from in the morning. The day we took these photos, I went for a heel, but I choose a flat just as often. Full disclosure: my absolute favourite sandals are Birkenstocks. True story! I change my handbag less often, either opting for a tote or one of my two half-moon shaped bags. I love the closure on this Charles & Keith one because it’s magnetic, so it’s easy to open in a hurry.

Of course, no outfit is complete without accessories. I have very weak vision – if you meet me in person, chances are I’ll be wearing glasses – and my eyes are sensitive to light, so I always wear sunglasses. I grabbed this Ace & Tate pair just before we left Europe. They almost didn’t make it to me before our departure, but I’m very glad they did. As far as jewellery is concerned, my daily look never feels complete without earrings and at least one ring. I don’t wear necklaces often – they get caught in my hair too easily. Sometimes I grab a watch, sometimes I don’t… since I never leave home without my phone, I don’t really need one to tell time!

My summer uniform isn’t revolutionary by any means, but I always remind myself that fashion isn’t about reinventing the wheel. We get dressed every morning to express who we are to the world in a non-verbal way, which is pretty cool – and kind of fascinating. Although I’m pretty sure most of my outfits tell people that I’m more serious than I really am…!

What’s your go-to look for summer?