5 Ways to Complete Your Casual Summer Outfit
This post has been sponsored by Zappos. All opinions are my own
JUNE FIRST?! HOW IS IT ALREADY JUNE FIRST?! Seriously cannot believe how fast this year is flying by – it is honestly freaking me out a little. Wasn’t I just listening to Christmas music? (Oh wait, I was just listening to it because I believe in Christmas music all year round.)
Anyway, June 1st means that warm weather has finally arrived in Utah – we’re already pushing mid 80’s and will probably be in the 100’s by the end of the month. It gets HOT here and while I love trying out trendy summer styles, let’s be 100% honest: on an everyday basis, I’m in the most comfortable, casual summer outfit I can get my body in. That’s right: shorts and a tee-shirt. You seriously cannot go wrong with a solid pair of shorts and a comfortable tee in the hot weather and I’ll be the first to admit that I pretty much live in this staple outfit from June to September.
But hey, just because I’m wearing some super basic and comfortable pieces doesn’t mean I can’t be stylish or look put together!In fact, there are a lot of ways you can accessorize and style this summer casual outfit to take it to that next level: the “I look put together and stylish even though I’m wearing shorts and a tee” level. Basically, the best level ever. So, here are five ways I accessorize my casual summer outfit to make it look more complete and stylish!
Start with Stylish and Supportive Shoes
For the longest time, I was guilty of throwing on a cheap pair of flip-flops and heading out the door. Now don’t get me wrong – flip-flops are fine for the beach or the pool, but for other summer adventures? No way. I’ve decided over the last year that good shoes are always worth the splurge – especially with my knee replacement. Who knows how much damage I’ve done to my artificial joint by wearing flimsy shoes with NO support? I mean, I spent three months in China walking MILES in cheap foam flip flops that got so worn down, my big toe touched the ground. Also, try to picture how ridiculous and gross those sandals were. #badnewsbears all around.
So, the first thing I do when I want to step-up my casual summer outfit is to pick out shoes that are super cute, super supportive, and super durable. After all – summer is the best time to pursue a vibrant, second-chance life and I definitely need good shoes to take me on all the adventures I have planned. That’s why I’m 150% in LOVE with my new Dansko Brigitte sandals that I got from Zappos. I knew that I would be switching to sandals ONLY by the time June first came around, so it was important for me to get my feet into some quality sandals ASAP to keep my knee in a good place. That’s why I always order shoes from Zappos, because the shipping is SO fast. Seriously, I ordered these shoes on a Monday afternoon and they were on my doorstep on Tuesday. I’m slightly convinced they took a page from Harry Potter and appareted them to my house. It was that fast. Plus, Zappos has a 365-day return policy and their customer service is TOP NOTCH, so they are always my first stop (and my only stop) when I need to order new shoes.
This is my second pair of Danskos and I can tell you that they are worth every penny and then some – especially if you have painful joints like mine. Dansko prides themselves in creating shoes that get you through every curveball and adventure life throws at you, so they are made out of premium materials and have the perfect fit and support. These sandals have become one of the most important pieces of my wardrobe, because I can rely on them to complete any summer look (seriously, they look adorable with dresses, pants, and skirts) and because I know that I won’t deal with as much knee pain after walking in them for over an hour. Invest in good sandals for the summer – you will NEVER regret it. Your joints will thank you, your feet will thank you, and it will take your casual summer outfit to the next level.
Add a Textured Crossbody Bag
Another way you can complete your casual summer outfit is to add some texture! I love the straw bag trend this summer because it’s such a fun and unique way to add texture to an outfit. Since this outfit can be worn to a variety of events (shopping, a farmer’s market, food trucks, a concert) I think having a small crossbody styled bag is perfect. That way you can keep all your essentials on you without ending up carrying the weight of the kitchen sink, which is my weakness when I have a bigger tote. It’s also great for walking around because you just sling it across your shoulder – no having to carry it in the crook of your arm or put it down constantly.
Sunglasses for Sunshine
Maybe it’s just me, but wearing a pair of sunglasses seems to always add an extra element to any look and I love how it completes a casual summer look. Besides being insanely helpful in protecting your eyes when your outside in the sunshine, they are such a fun way to express your unique style when you are wearing a basic outfit like this. I choose to go with a thick-framed cat-eye style and I LOVE how it gives my casual summer outfit a little extra sass and attitude.
Accessorize with a Headband
I’m declaring this the summer of the headband because they are SO cute and they keep your hair in place during those breezy summer nights. Also, I love wearing headbands like this (over my head, on top of my curls) because it’s a really great alternative to a messy bun. Wearing the headband like this still keeps my hair out of my face and I never get the inevitable messy-bun headache after wearing all my hair on the top of my head for hours.
Finish off with a Pop of Color!
Lipstick is a girls best accessory – if you ever want to dress up an outfit or give yourself an extra zap of confidence, slap on some fun lipstick. Well, don’t slap it on, cause that’d be painful, but you get what I mean. I LOVE wearing bright pink lipstick during the summer, and I think it’s such a fun way to add a pop of color to a neutral-schemed outfit like this. Plus, there is just something about lipstick that completes a look – and this bright pink really pulled this whole casual summer outfit together for me.
When it comes down to it for me, this summer is all about embracing all the adventure and new experiences that I might have been too scared to experience before. I am ALWAYS cautious when it comes to what things I’m willing to try or avoid because I never want to hurt my knee – and while I’m still making smart choices about what to do (for example, I’m not going to go rock climbing any time soon) I’m trying to be brave and not let my knee hold me back from things I CAN do – like walking around farmer’s markets or riding down a water slide! And, in order to have peace of mind when it comes to trying new things this summer, I need to have supportive shoes that will reduce my knee and ankle pain as much as possible. So you’ll be seeing this Dansko Brigitte sandals on repeat a TON and I’m not sorry about it!
If you’re in the market for comfortable, supportive, and stylish sandals to take you through all your summer adventures this year, make sure you check out Dansko at Zappos. (P.S. I find that these shoes run true to size! I’m normally a 9, and I got the 8.5-9 size and they fit like a dream.)
How do you style your casual outfits in the summer? Have you ordered from Zappos before? Let me know in the comments below!
