Northern California Style

Northern California Style

Signature Style-Summer Style Wish List

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It’s time for June’s Signature Style and for June! Cindy and I are sharing our summer wish lists. See what pieces are on my radar and some of the trending looks for this summer.

You might have caught my May posts on Sandal Trends and my Summer Bag Edit. Today I’ll focus mainly on clothes and pulling together looks for summer.

I get a lot of my style inspiration from Instagram and especially street style posts. I think I take in a lot information over the year through retail and what is worn online. I screenshot looks I might want to emulate and save those in my phone.

You should do a deep clean of your closet before buying anything. It’s nice to make an inspiration board too. I am working on mine now with saved pages from magazines and catalogs.

This vintage Ralph Lauren ad is my main inspiration with the shirting, stripes, skirts and full pants and blue and white. Doesn’t is seem like all of this is back in style?

What will you choose to wear?

You must try on as much as you can in a full length mirror and be frank about what you will choose to wear. I made a video about this last fall on Instagram, and it bears repeating.. When you clean and organize the closet, ask yourself, not if it fits, or if you like it, but rather will you choose this item?

Do yourself a favor and let those pieces you won’t choose go, without regret. You will have more space, less clutter and a better grasp on the things you do love and that work for you. I love a curated closet, not a crammed one with things I never wear.

That said….

I just moved all my summer things from my youngest son’s closet back to mine. Right away, I knew I had to purge and tried on all my dresses. Some of it was painful. You age and things just are not going to fit the way they once did, no matter how much I work out. I had a pile of those pieces, and things that no longer felt great on, and then those that I just ‘didn’t ever choose’. I sorted into donate and sell bags and took them to the garage. ( Sorry Max.)

My List

I know now I need a cream or white wider leg trouser pant that is comfortable and chic, a black t-shirt that flatters, a black pairs of shorts and a few summer tops. On the wish list are a beach sweater, a solid blue button-up, new sandals, another swimsuit, and a summer fragrance.

If you can shop with those lists you’ll do better. It’s easy to get swayed with what is out there in the stores, but try hard to build a wardrobe versus shop. Have goals and you’ll make better choices.

Summer Trends 2024

These photos are all in my summer outfit inspiration folder. Many of these are from NeverMindDressing Instagram and the others are from Pinterest. All are casual chic and relaxed, but classic and luxe feeling. Solid colors in linen and cottons with clean lines, and simple accessories and woven totes are the look.

Trending online and in stores..

One trend I love are matching sets – weather it’s shorts and tops, or pants and tops, or even skirts. It’s fresh and fun and I love it. Back in early spring I bought a matching set by Madewell in Blue Heron color that I love. I plan on taking it on a little short beach vacation soon. I love this kind of dressing as it takes the guesswork out of clothes and you have more options than dresses give you with these sets, which make them super for travel.

Crochet, lace, ribbon, and arty pieces are also having a moment. It’s lovely in bags, tops and dresses. The crochet swim coverup is always so good too. I would like to find a cute top or coverup in it -or a lacy sort of blouse. Some of the fun offerings out there..

The full pant is here to stay. This is a bit different than the also popular linen sort of beach pant that everyone loves and is still going strong. This is a trouser look with pockets and is like something you could wear to work, but gals are rocking it with trim minimal t-shirts and long button ups. I had dinner out in Los Gatos Saturday night, and at two different tables women had these pants on and they looked so casually chic and comfortable. I had instant outfit envy! I just want them to be more comfortable than the dress pant of my work uniform days. This pair from Nordstrom seems the right length and width, and other options..

Pull on shorts seem to have overtaken the zipper and I’m not mad about it. This sort of started with the pull-on linen pants and and let’s be honest is a lot more comfy and easy to wear.. I often see these with the matching shirts and it’s a cute look. Good options are the Rails short which is pricier, but so nicely made and lined. I wore my Rails cream pair so much last year and want the blue stripe .. I also love the J. Crew linen versions in short and in long. This shirt that goes with some of the J. Crew linen shorts makes a great set.

The button up shirt worn untucked as top and also jacket. I now see gals all over wearing the longer and shorter version of the button up with flowy pants and shorts, and skirts. I like that they are leaving these shirts untucked. It’s a heck of a lot easier than trying to make the ‘half tuck’ that the millennial make fun of the Gen X’er’s for. As noted above, shirts can be used as a jacket, a great casual look. Rails has the classic shirt perfectly made, and there are others..

I tried to use pieces I already have to recreate some of these looks I saved.. For these oversized button ups you may be able to raid your husband or son’s closets! I used shirts as a jacket, and also tried more of my white cotton and blue button ups with shorts.

A few other cute things on my wish list..

If you need a summer dress- some casual and some dressier. I’ll add to this as I see more pretty options..

I hope this gave you some ideas for summer dressing!

If you missed May’s Signature Style, we shared spring and summer bag trends.

Please stop by Cindy’s blog for a peek at her summer wish list.

Cindy Hattersley Design

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog,

Kim

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ON MY RADAR...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katherine says

    Hi Kim,
    You look so relaxed and comfortable in how you have styled yourself. I love it all on you. You are so blessed to have beautiful legs to rock the shorts. I say “you go girl.” I like this baggy pant look, and big shirts. I hope this style of pant is here to stay, it’s so comfortable. Lounging pants are my thing, and I love the look on the pretty models you showed.
    Thank you for sharing.

    • kimwheeler says

      Thank you so much Katherine. I do love the baggy pant trouser look so much. I do think it’s here to stay. Women want comfort and it is a good alternative to leggings and sweats. Lounging pants that look good. We need more of that. xo

  2. Karen H. says

    Hi Kim! Love your post and pics of these cute styles. You make everything look so stylish! I’m going to have to try the long button up shirt untucked to see if I feel comfortable wearing it that way. Thanks for the ideas!

    • kimwheeler says

      Karen, I also wasn’t sure. Good to play around and see which shirts work with what. I found some of my button-ups work and others were too big.
      xo

  4. Francesca B says

    Hi Kim,
    Wonderful inspirational post thank you l love the way you style the oversized shirt, and a white shirt especially in the photographs. Ralph Lauren is always such a draw.
    This year I have really succumbed to Frank and Eileen and their Eileen shirt either patterned or plain with white jeans. And the Rory dress. But l always look for sales and go on Poshmark and EBay and Nordstrom Rack and try and score a bargain. I am busty and 60 and petite and l find this brand is very complimentary. I tried the brown and white print top at J Crew that l thought looked so simple and chic, only to find it was pretty cheaply put together, and was only good for models. But their linen El Capitan shirts are amazing.
    Thanks for your post happy weekend!

    • kimwheeler says

      Hi Francesca. Thank you. I sure am going to use my white shirts a lot more now. This was a good exercise for me too.
      Frank & Eileen are one of my favorite brands. Love the quality and all the perfect pieces! The fact that they are a B corp, women run and in California is pretty cool too. You and I have similar body types… Smart getting a F&E piece at a lower cost as We know how nicely made are!
      Darn about the J. Crew top! I did not get to try it on. Good to know.. and about the El Capitan.
      Thanks for the tips! Happy weekend.

  6. Jenny says

    SO much great inspiration! I’ll be using these ideas all summer – thank you!

  7. Gray says

    Such great ideas – LOVE your pin board images, LOVE your links to sets and the reminder about the Crew longer shorts.
    Stop with your cute legs!!!
    I have to have at least a 5″ inseam – veins and such…

    • kimwheeler says

      Gray you are nice. They look okay in some pics. Up close they are aging. I’m not sure what I can do about that. I think a lot of sun damage from years of tennis.. I also like the 5′ inseam. Longer shorts are in! Just wear them and be comfy. We all have spots and things. xo

  9. Heidi says

    Hi Kim,
    Well you always look good no matter what you wear! Thanks for the inspiration, I can recreate some of these looks easily with what’s already in my closet.
    Xo Heidi

  10. cindy says

    Loved this post Kim! You always inspire me! I am loving the matched sets. They are so effortless! I like the Madewell one too and such a good price! I have one from Frank and Eileen that I love. I wouldn’t mind having a couple more!! You are such a good trend watcher. You always know what is hip!

    • kimwheeler says

      Thanks Cindy. I know the matched sets are fun. I can’t wait to read your post!!

  11. Janet says

    Hi Kim,
    I love everything in this post! In recent years, I have really developed a love for vintage Ralph Lauren. The blue and white, the stripes, the French inspiration…oh they make me happy! Recently, I found a vintage RL leather handbag in a true green and I’m so excited to have it for summer. You have some great points on here. It is so important to get the things that no longer fit/work/’bring us joy’ out of our space. They really are just visual clutter, therefore, stress. That does nothing for our well being.
    You already have several items that are on your inspiration board, so it’s good you don’t have to find a lot of new pieces. The photos you took wearing items already in your possession – that striped blue on white dress! I love it. Do you know if it is still available? I do love stripes but, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m a bigger girl. I know ‘they’ say wear what you love but things I love seem to make me feel so self-conscious. I want to look in the mirror wearing things I love and like the image I see. Like most, I’m STILL a work in progress even on the downhill side towards 60.
    Thank you for such an enjoyable read.
    Janet

  12. Rosie says

    Great post Kim. So much inspiration and excellent advice 😊 I’ve been thinking “would I choose this “ ever since you first mentioned it and it really encourages me to think carefully and reflect on which my favourite and most chosen pieces are.
    I also think its so important when buying new pieces to be sure that what works well “in my head” works as well and looks as good when I’m actually wearing it!
    You look great ( as always! ) in all the outfits you show here and I regularly wear similar… I love loose linen and cotton in warm weather and tend to wear loose shirts over trousers , shorts and dresses … either buttoned or loose, as a jacket over a t shirt. I have a couple of colourful shirts and trousers but I mostly wear blue, white, chambray, stripes, off white, pale beige etc.
    I bought some knee length, denim shorts with a slight turn up to wear on the beach when playing with my grandchildren and they feel really good and very comfortable. In all honesty they’d probably look better if I was taller, and had longer legs 😂 but I’m happy wearing them!
    I hope you’re having a good week!
    Rosie xxx

    • kimwheeler says

      Hi Rosie! Aw thank you. That ‘will I choose it?’ has really helped me too.
      You like the same colors I do. I love linen and all those tones.
      I have to get some of the longer denim shorts. I bet they are cute on you.. I love that look.
      Have a great week too. x

  14. Elizabeth@pineconesandacorns says

    Kim,
    I say this overtime I read one of your style posts…your style is effortless and beautiful. You have perfected your wardrobe to suit you, your body type, and your lifestyle. You buy and wear things you love and you always offer practical advice for others to do the same.
    You gently encourage people to let go of things that no longer suit them and sometimes that is hard because the bodies of memories of our youth cling to us.

    Thank you for sharing your wish list! I love it all!

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