Great Summer Outfit Ideas to Avoid a Style Rut

Fossil white denim jacket, u-knit printed T-shirt dress, statement belt, Winkwood pink mirrored sunglasses, Adidas sneakers, and Coach bag (all own)

Post author:Nicole Mölders
Reading time:8 mins read

We all love summer. At the end of summer, when the dog-days are over, it’s not yet cool enough to wear a summer-to-fall transition look. To not fall in a style rut, here some beautiful summer outfit ideas to switch things up.

Contents

Outfit Inspirations with Printed Summer Dresses
Summer clothes don’t get much wear in Interior Alaska
Polka dots are a classic
What about Mixing up Summer Separates in Pifferent Pattern?

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.

Summer is June, July and August

For climate scientists summer is June, July and August. Going with their definition, summer is over despite the calendar gives us a grace until September 23. Let’s cross fingers that the weather does so as well or even better than that. However, here in the Interior of Alaska, it looks already like fall and feels like early November in Germany. Here are my best outfits for work and play. While the easiest way to look work appropriate in summer is a dress – it’s my summmer favorite – there are many other options to look chic during the warm season of the year.

Outfit Inspirations with Printed Summer Dresses

Towards the end of summer, we can get into a style rut easily. Since you may have quite some nice summer days ahead, here some chic, ageless outfit inspirations with printed summer dresses. I hope you enjoy them and get inspired for your own looks.

#fashionover40 woman in watercolor print summer dress with denim jacket — Karina watercolor Ruby dress with Fossil white denim jacket, BP espadrilles, layering top, and Paloma Picasso sunglasses

#maturefashion woman in abstract print dress — Fossil jacket, u-knit dress, statement belt, Winkwood wood frame sunglasses, Adidas sneakers, and Coach bag (all own)

Here are my latest outfits of this summer.

#styleover50 woman in green dress with cardigan and Gucci bag — Picasso green Karina dress with underskirt (DIY), Nine West pumps, Gucci bamboo top handle bag, and GNW cardigan

This green dress was one of my favorites this summer. I wore it very often this summer. The Picasso inspired swirl print offers so many possibilities to combine it with other pieces. 😉

Summer Clothes Don’t Get Much Wear in Interior Alaska

Here in Interior Alaska, summers are short. Moreover, August is the rainiest month of the year, i.e. our rain season so to speak. Rainy days cut the time for wearing summer dresses even shorter. Nevertheless, I had bought several new summer dresses at the beginning of summer. Since this year had a particularly rainy summer, you have only seen them a few of them because there were so few opportunities sunshine and temperature wise to wear them. You saw already the paisley print dress and floral leave print dress. In this post, I will show the other two summer dresses I bought for summer.

mature woman in polka dot dress — Karina beige and burgundy polka dot dress with Jaeger tote, Festina watch, and Anne Klein sling backs

Polka Dots Are a Classic

I always loved polka dots and as long as I can remember I always owned at least one item with polka dots. In the past I owned them classic navy and white or black and white combinatio.

Another summer dress, I had not yet the chance to show has the same cut, but a classic white dots on navy background. Do you see a pattern here? I tend to buy items of which I know they work for me. In this case, the cut and the pattern as well as the color combination. That’s how fashion turns into personal style. LOL. 😉

fashion book author in classic navy-white polka dress for work — Karina Dresses navy and white polka dot dress styled with Kelly green Nine West pumps, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Paloma Picasso sunglasses and peridot pearl necklace (all own)

A thing I like about this cut is how nice the skirt twirls. Thus, I can get more wear out of the dress as it I can wear it for dancing year round.

You Can Wear a Scuba Outfit to Work

Sheath dresses are instant style. Add a pair of pumps and a work bag and you are ready to go to the office. Also there are many ways to wear them. Interested? Check this post on various ways to wear a sheath.

fashion blogger in scuba sheath dress with long pink belt and pointy toe pumps — Calvin Klein purple floral print scuba sheath dress, pink suede gemstone buckle statement belt, Prada pointy toe purple pumps, and Collier de chien bangle (all own)

What about Mixing up Summer Separates in Pifferent Pattern?

The next outfit inspiration pairs a plaid shirt with a polka dot skirt. The look works because the pattern are of very different size and both contain blue and white a summer classic look with respect to the color combination. The look is grounded in blue with the shoes.

summer outfit idea mixing plaid and polka dots — Back view of Oliveo plaid shirt with Ralph Lauren pleated polka dot skirt, Liz Clairborne open toe patent leather pumps with crocodile imprint, and Celine tote

fashion blogger in mixing prints in the warm season — Side view of Oliveo button-down plaid shirt with polka dot Ralph Lauren pleat skirt, Bulova watch, Liz Claiborne open toe pumps, and Celine tote

A fake twinset is perfect when it gets chilly after a thunderstorm or in the evening. The mix of floral with stripes works because both pieces have blue and white and the look is grounded by blue.

summer weekend separates outfit mixing stripes and floral — Loft floral straight skirt, Jones New York cardigan, Brooks Brothers short sleeve sweater, Dr. Scholl sandals, Longchamp satchel, Hermes collier de chien bangle, beaded necklace

Other Summer Options

… don’t forget about great summer shorts for the weekend. Of course, a new item always gives a new view on your wardrobe and provides new outfit option. Therefore, when you are in a summer style rut and want to buy some inexpensive wardrobe additions, see my review on inexpensive Femme Luxe summer Must-haves.

Speaking of the summer winding down. Do you style your summer dresses for fall? Just curious.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you visit again soon.

Photos of me: G. Kramm