31 Fabulous Outfit Ideas to Wear Every Day in August

The end of the summer is near, and while we’re not quite ready to pack up the rosé and pool floats just yet, we are pretty tired of our same-old, same-old outfits (aka the dreaded summer style rut). The solution: Let these 31 fashionable gals inspire your August wardrobe so you can go back to focusing on that beach-read thriller. Here are the best styling ideas to try every day this month.

RELATED: The 15 Best Plus-Size Shorts to Get You Through Summer’s Heat in Style

1. Embrace All Things Linen

Yes, the lightweight fabric does tend to rumple easily, but with summer’s heat reaching its peak mid-August we’ll gladly take a few wrinkles in exchange for linen’s superior breathability and sweat-wicking properties. (Pro tip: Flowy linen dresses wrinkle less than slim-fit shorts or trousers.)

Shop similar styles: Sachin & Babi dress ($395); Cathy’s Concepts bag ($58); Kurt Geiger London sandals ($95)

2. Wear Sneakers With Mini Lengths

Test out this surprisingly fresh match-up: plain white kicks and a flouncy romper.

Shop similar styles: Black Halo romper ($375); Veja sneakers ($150)

3. Carry a Mini Bag

We got so used to carrying the bare minimum around with us during quarantine, and we fully plan to keep that minimalist streak going with petite bags that fit all (and only) the essentials—keys, wallet, mask.

Shop similar styles: Ego bag ($32); Wayf dress ($148); Seychelles sandals ($65)

4. Add at Least One Printed Item

Pairing a black top with black pants? Always sleek. But finishing an all-black outfit with a tropical topper? Much more interesting.

Shop similar styles: Whit Two robe ($158); Halogen top ($49; Nic + Zoe pants ($118); Kayu clutch ($210); Ted Baker London shoes ($160; $11)

5. Ease Your Way Back Into Wearing Heels

Heels are slowly but surely making their way back into our regular shoe rotation, but for now we plan to stick with walkable platforms over stilettos. Plus, they work equally well with casual white jeans and a simple silk tank as they do with a date night frock so you can wear them twice as often.

Shop similar styles: Cami NYC top ($165); Levi’s jeans ($98); Coach bag ($195; $78); Jeffrey Campbell heels ($175)

6. Swap Pastels for Deeper Hues

Give your warm-weather wardrobe a major color boost by wearing fall's richest shades like marigold, emerald and fuchsia. As long as you stick to summery silhouettes, you'll still look seasonally appropriate.

Shop similar styles: Treasure & Bond T-shirt ($25); Solace London skirt ($484; $208); Malibu Skye bag ($58); Nike sneakers ($110)

7. Pair Kitchy Shorts with a Grown-Up Blouse

Tuck a pretty lace top into a pair of brightly-colored or printed shorts to strike a gorgeous balance between dressed up and casual.

Shop similar styles: Self-Portrait blouse ($340); ModCloth shorts ($59); The Marc Jacobs bag ($295); Daisy London necklace ($168) AUrate necklace ($350)

8. Go Loose to Beat the Heat

Problem: It's too hot to wear normal clothes but you still have errands you need to run and people you need to see. Solution: Opt for loose, airy pieces in professional cuts to keep cool while still looking totally put together.

Shop similar styles: Aday top ($145); Cami NYC pants ($275); Nunoo clutch ($95); Eileen Fisher shoes ($185; $102)

9. Try a Sporty Skort

Skorts are an unexpected summer trend we’re majorly excited about. Follow in Coterie member Coco Bassy’s very chic footsteps and try pairing a traditional tennis skort with a graphic tee and sneakers for your next weekend excursion.

Shop similar styles: Chaser T-shirt ($62); Abercrombie & Fitch skort ($55); Cariuma sneakers ($89)

10. Rock a Billowing Silhouette With Confidence

If there was ever a time for a massive maxi, it’s peak summer. Make it feel more polished with a ladylike crossbody and kitten heels.

Shop similar styles: River Island dress ($100; $80); Tory Burch bag ($358); Open Edit heels ($40)

11. Pair Workwear with Weekend Staples

Break out your old go-to office blazer and layer it over an easy tank or tee and shorts for a fresh transitional ’fit. Stick with sleek and minimalist accessories—simple pearl studs, dainty gold hoops, a chain-link crossbody bag—to keep your ensemble looking elevated.

Shop similar styles: Camila Coelho blazer ($178); Lovers + Friends top ($68); Lilly Pulitzer shorts ($72)

12. Go Back to the (Sweat-Proof) Basics

Some days we’re just too hot to function. And on those days we wear tank tops and breezy slip skirts that facilitate air flow while still looking polished and put together.

Shop similar styles: Everlane tank top ($18); Rixo skirt ($260; $117); Kate Spade New York bag ($228; $137)

13. Rock the New French Tuck

Rather than tuck just one side of your button-down shirt into your waistband, simply leave the bottom few buttons undone to show off a little triangle of midriff. So easy, so chic, so what are you waiting for?

Shop similar styles: Everlane shirt ($60); Urban Outfitters skirt ($59); Dr. Scholl's sandals ($90)

RELATED: Here's Exactly How to Wear the New French Tuck

14. Try a Summer-weight Knit

Yes, you absolutely can rock a sweater dress mid-August. The key is to look for fabrics that are soft, lightweight and breathable, like Coterie member Katie Sturino’s beige polo dress, and avoid overly cozy winter materials, like chunky wool.

Shop similar styles: Eloquii dress ($100); Flynn bag ($200); Vans sneakers ($60)

15. Go Backless

Open back dresses are majorly trending right now, both because they’re subtly sexy and great for beating the heat.

Shop similar styles: Mango dress ($130; $90); Farm Rio dress ($215); Reformation dress ($218)

16. Stick to a Theme

So you like pink, huh? * Pulls out every pink item from the closet* Fabulous.

Shop similar styles: Collusion T-shirt ($24); Pistola jeans ($128); Mali + Lili bag ($58); Converse sneakers ($55)

17. Supersize Your Earrings

We're not just talking big, we're talking shoulder-grazing ginormous. The trick is to find a pair that is light enough to wear all day.

Shop similar styles: Shashi ($55); Cass Dickson ($93); Deepa Gurnani ($98); Lele Sadoughi ($145); Anton Heunis ($200); Jennifer Behr ($325)

18. GIVE A TRICKY COLOR A TRY

Yellow gets a bad rap, but a marigold shade is rich enough to be universally flattering, no matter what skin tone you're working with.

Shop similar styles: Banana Republic dress ($110; $66); Manolo Blahnik heels ($695)

19. Try a Trendy Shirt-and-Boxer Set

This menswear-inspired combo is a fabulous summer uniform that’s as easy to wear as it is stylish. Add strappy sandals and or some colorful jewelry to give your ensemble a more feminine edge, or go all in on the sporty vibes with sneakers and a baseball cap.

Shop similar styles: Uniform LA shirt and shorts set ($306; $245); OluKai sandals ($90)

20. Mix Prints of the Same Color Family

Make a mashup of patterns look totally cohesive by selecting just one color family (i.e., varying shades of blue).

Shop similar styles: Gorjana earrings ($60); Eloquii shirt ($65; $41); Maeve skirt ($98)

21. Replace Your White Tee with a Lace Version

Just as versatile as your favorite wardrobe staple, but with a fancier vibe.

Shop similar styles: Wayf top ($85); CeCe skirt ($89); Sarto by Franco Sarto sandals ($100; $70)

22. Jazz Up Your Joggers

A sneaky way to make your beloved quarantine sweatpants more work appropriate? Swap them for a metallic jogger instead of tailored trousers. Still super comfy, just much more chic.

Shop similar styles: Vince shirt ($320); Tibi pants ($395); Nacre watch ($270); New Balance sneakers ($165)

23. SPORT AN OVERSIZE T-SHIRT AS A DRESS

Or, if you’re worried about a scandelously short hemline, look for a T-shirt dress instead, like Jasmine Crockett’s. Add some easy kicks and a denim jacket, then finish with a handbag that really pops, just for fun.

Shop similar styles: H&M dress ($20); J.Crew jacket ($110); Rebecca Minkoff bag ($198); Converse sneakers ($66)

24. Bring Your Pre-Quarantine Cropped Suit Back Out of Storage

Shorts suits were a major trend heading into 2020, but no was was interested in wearing such structured staples while working from home. Now, however, we’re ready to bring these beauties back out of the closet to help ease our way back into regular office vists.

Shop similar styles: Sandro blazer ($445) and shorts ($245); J.Crew T-shirt ($33); Sam Edelman heels ($130)

25. Style a Mini to Feel All Grown Up

Be sure to choose a skirt that doesn’t feature school-girl pleats and opt for fabrics with a luxe vibe, like faux suede, silk or embroidered cotton. Add a neat button-down shirt (both short and long sleeves will work), a ladylike bag, heels and some block-heel sandals and voilà!

Shop similar styles: Allbirds shirt ($78); Blank NYC skirt ($98); Mark & Graham bag ($169; $110); Vince Camuto shoes ($100)

26. Try a Subtle Shine All Over

Give your outfit a summer glow to match your skin by selecting pieces with a hint of shine or sparkle to them. Think satin joggers, silky camis and metallic accessories (bonus points if they’re not the expected shades of gold, silver or bronze.)

Shop similar styles: Madewell jacket ($118); Cami NYC top ($161); Silk Laundry pants ($335); Nancy Gonzalez bag ($1,550)

27. Wear an Autumnal Dress with Summery Accessories

Take inspiration from Coterie member Liz Teich and pair together your new long-sleeve, maxi-length fall dresses with high-summer staples, like a straw tote and strappy white sandals, for a gorgeous transitional look.

Shop similar styles: Significant Other dress ($288); Sensi Studio bag ($246; $123); Vince Camuto sandals ($100)

28. Break Out Those Old T-Shirts

Yep, we're talking about your worn-in college tees and now "vintage" vacation souvenirs. They're an easy, comfortable way to make a crisp midi skirt and heels feel weekend-ready.

Shop similar styles: Daisy Street T-shirt ($19); Reformation skirt ($150); Naturalizer heels ($110)

29. Take Your Tropical Florals for One Last Spin

Now’s the time to sport your Hawaiian prints, hibiscus flowers and palm fronds once more before the end of the season, when they’ll swiftly be replaced with autumnal plaids and moodier blooms.

Shop similar styles: J.Crew blazer ($178); Brooklinen T-shirt ($28); Farm Rio skirt ($128); Sam Edelman heels ($140)

30. Embrace Your Inner Frenchwoman

Who, moi? Breton stripes, clean-cut denim, two-tone shoes… très Parisienne.

Shop similar styles: La Ligne T-shirt ($115); Citizens of Humanity jeans ($198); Serupi bag ($334; $234); Gianvito Rossi shoes ($870; $478)

31. Make a Boilersuit Feel Fancy

Transform this easy staple from gas station-ready to cocktail hour-approved with the addition of crystal adorned heels, eye-catching jewelry and a fresh blowout.

Shop similar styles: Anthropologie necklace ($38); Outerknown jumpsuit ($168); Jewel Badgley Mischka heels ($119)

RELATED: 21 Cute Fall Dresses to Buy Now and Wear Later

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