Summer Fashion Essentials for Him & Her

Just because the heat index is rising doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to be all tank tops and denim shorts. To keep your summer stylish, fill in your closet with key on-trend pieces that easily mix-and-match back to your seasonal basics. To see our lineup of favorite warm weather items for him and her, just click through our slideshow.

For Him: The T-Shirt

Block stripes are a big trend for men this season. To avoid the Charlie Brown effect, choose a T-shirt like this Saturdays Surf NYC Randall Shore Stripe Tee that combines thin and wide negative stripes.

Find It: $55, Armitage & McMillan, armitageandmcmillan.com

For Him: The Colored Pant

An important element for any man’s summer wardrobe is color, and this season that color is pink. If you’re not ready to dive into outright fuchsia, this classic cotton chino by Ted Baker in a dusty-rose hue is a subdued take on the runway trend.

Find It: $165, The Garment District, garmentdistrictcolorado.com

For Him: The Leather Sneaker

From Hermes to Gucci, nearly every brand is showing off their version of a leather sneaker. You could go for a bold color or an earth-tone neutral, but I like these white nubuck kicks by Saturdays Surf NYC for their simple, clean styling. Make them your day-to-day go-to or, if you’re more fashion forward, dress them up by pairing with a slim suit. Care Tip: White leather is notoriously hard to care for; instead of tip-toeing around in your new shoes, pick up Red Wing’s suede cleaning kit from Brooks Brothers or your favorite elementary school pink erasers to help get rid of dirt and scuff marks.

Find It: $95, Armitage & McMillan, armitageandmcmillan.com

For Him: The Suede Derby

To keep your summer look dapper but not too dressy, polish up your wardrobe with a pair of suede derbys. Wear them with everything from denim to trousers, but remember to show them off by rolling up your pant cuffs and wearing them sans socks. The Duca style, in tan and grey, by Italian maker Bacco Bucci is just the right neutral to mix with summer’s lighter color palette.

Find It: $255, Scarpaletto, scarpaletto.com

For Her: The Bermuda Short

One of the biggest trends for the summer season is bermudas. To take the look from East Coast preppy to cool girl, wear yours slightly slouchy; try these cotton twill ones from Vince.

Find It: $205, Rebel, shoprebel.com

For Her: The Blouse

It may seem counter-intuitive to include a long-sleeve silk blouse in this lineup, but it’s a piece with a lot of functionality. If you work in an office, wear it buttoned up with a summer-weight skirt or trouser. To take it from day to play, try rolling up the sleeves and layering a tank underneath. A solid will give you a classic look, while a novelty print—like this one by Equipment—provides plenty of color combinations to experiment with.

Find It: $258, Alchemie, facebook.com/alchemie

For Her: The Bag

Velvet’s Clover leather tote ticks all the right boxes for a great bag: It’s unconstructed shape keeps it roomy, while the minimalist-inspired design and no hardware make it lightweight and super chic.

Find It: $298, Dragonfly, facebook.com/DragonflyApparel

For Her: The Espadrille

Making a big comeback this season is the espadrille, a peasant footwear style that originated in the Catalonia and Basque country regions centuries ago. Modern versions are still flat like the originals, but I prefer the slight wedge heel of this Andre Assous style and the go-with-anything cognac hue.

Find It: $165, Two Sole Sisters, twosolesisters.com

For Her: The Wedge Sandal

Wedges—like this two-tone Matiko sandal with wooden heel—are a great way to add a little height this summer, especially in a season filled with flats. But, as with this past fall, just remember to nix the platform.

Find It: $159, Strut, strutdenver.com

For Her: The Sunglasses

With its classic sunglass shapes and colored lenses, Westward Leaning has become our latest accessory crush (it’s a celebrity favorite as well). The company not only embellishes its sunglass arms with interesting materials, like brass, aluminum, or sustainably reclaimed redwood, but also donates a portion of each sale to charity.

Find It: $180, Blush, shop-blush.com