Our oldest daughter turns five this summer and I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that she doesn’t need a huge wardrobe every season (even though I’m tempted to buy every single adorable article of clothing because they’re all so precious and she’s only little once!!). Instead, I’m creating an easy, mix-and-match closet setup to keep things absurdly simple for us this summer. This isn’t a true “capsule”, but it’s a pared back seasonal assortment of staples to make easy “uniforms” to get dressed and out the door!
I try my best not to break the bank on most pieces because I know they will get totally worn out on playgrounds, summer camps, and / or outgrown in just a few months so the majority of items aren’t worth investing in.
For a quick shop of the items I included in this year’s “capsule” (and more!), you can skip the full post and find everything in my ShopMy storefront here.
DRESSES
Sophie loves to wear dresses… and I mean LOVES them; she even begs to wear them when it’s freezing outside (IYKYK). As soon as the warm weather arrives, she is basically always in a dress! I like to have three options for her — one to wash, one to wear, and one to spare (spills and stains happen!). This year’s dresses were actually purchased last year in the next size up, but they’re from GapKids (specifically from their Dôen collaboration!), Target, and my beloved Jamie Kay.
Because our girl is very active, we also get cartwheel shorts for her to wear under her dresses.
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TOPS & BOTTOMS
We buy two packs of short sleeved t-shirts to last us through the summer. We keep these tees basic because they make for easy mixing and matching with a variety of bottoms! We also really love these pointelle tees that include subtle feminine details to an otherwise plain shirt.
I like to get two pairs of shorts — one denim pair and one pull-on pair. We also always have leggings available because every now and then we need a little more coverage, even in the summer (but those are Always Staples in our house, not exactly seasonally specific).
I also like to have one cardigan available to Sophie in case she needs a light layer. A denim jacket would also be another cute layering option.
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FOOTWEAR
We’re big Native foam rubber shoe fans in this family and when I discovered that they offer a sport sandal option (the Chase style), I couldn’t “add to cart” fast enough! We’ve had version of this in the past by other brands, but we love & trust Native so it was a no-brainer for this year’s summer sandal.
We have also had these Pehr fisherman sandals in the past and loved them! They offer a bit more toe protection than other sandal styles and feel a little dressier in case you’re looking for summer shoes that could also work for family photos.
In that same vein, our whole family has a pair of Native Jefferson Sneakers — a classic style that works with every outfit and are especially perfect for summer play (plus, they’re super easy to clean #bless).
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SWIM
Summer calls for time at the pool, beach vacations, and even splash pad play! A swimsuit for this season is a must. This is an item that I splurge on because I want the girls to have proper UPF protection from the sun so we always get them long sleeved swimsuits from our fave swimwear brand: minnow!
We also got Sophie a terrycloth coverup dress for after swim time (for both after her swim lessons and after water playtime!).
What clothing items do you swear by in the summer for your littles? Drop your faves in the Comments below to share with other parents!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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