It can be difficult to decide what to wear on a summer day in Moscow.
Will it be hot? Will it downpour in the middle of the day? Will a small tornado blow through town when we all least expect it? There is no better way to describe North Idaho weather, especially Moscow weather, than anything but utterly unpredictable. This is why it is important to have a well-rounded wardrobe, fit with every summer outfit needed to look stylish and make for a cohesive Pacific Northwest look.
Creating a summer wardrobe doesn’t necessarily mean out with the old and in with the new. For many college students and really anyone looking to save, building a revitalized seasonal wardrobe means getting creative and utilizing what one already owns. Sure, there are some summer items worth spending a little extra on, but there are surely a ton of summer outfit options already sitting in the closet.
With a couple of staple pieces and a bit of innovative thinking, anyone’s usual wardrobe can be transformed into the perfect summer haul.
For both male and female looks, it is best to keep things light, both in texture and color. For the most part, Moscow summers bring the heat, meaning we all awkwardly attempt to sit next to a coveted air conditioner and wish we had worn something a bit looser, a bit lighter. Building a summer wardrobe around personal style and preferences is important, but so is comfort.
For the PNW woman looking to build her summer style, key clothing pieces are essential. A sundress, some shorts, a favorite pair of jeans, a few T-shirts, a sweater or two for colder evenings and a pair of sandals makes for a substantial group of summer items. However, it is often pairing these items together, and stretching them out for several outfits where styling can get tricky.
A more casual look for the Moscow woman can consist of a simple T-shirt, a pair of shorts and some strappy sandals for a day in town. To stay on the current casual trend, tucking a looser fitting T-shirt partially into high-waisted shorts with a pair of fun, colorful sandals will create a simple, but put together look for the day.
When it comes to sun dresses, everyone is different. Some women hate them, some women live in them and some women like to find the perfect fit before entertaining the idea of wearing a dress for the whole day. T-shirt style dresses are a great in-between for those looking for something casual, but with a twist. Often inexpensive and easy to find, T-shirt dresses can be dressed up or down.
A plain T-shirt dress with pair of classic Converse or trendy Birkenstocks and a chambray shirt or flannel wrapped around the waist will make for an easy, cute look. Upcycling a T-shirt dress is also incredibly simple. Take any color T-shirt dress, pair it with a simple sweater, the staple strappy sandals or wedges and some jewelry or other accessory, and this look is still easy, but perfect a night out.
On the days with less heat and a bit of a breeze, that key pair of jeans will come in handy. The current trendiest way to style jeans is to take a skinnier fit and cut and roll them into cuffs up from the ankle about an inch to two inches wide. These jeans will look great with flats, sandal and all kinds of wedges. The boyfriend or artist crop style jeans are also on trend, and allow for a roomier fit, which also pairs well with a T-shirt and tops of any kind.
For the PNW man looking to update his summer style, the best way to revamp a summer wardrobe is to utilize colore. Don’t shy away from brighter, more exciting prints and fabrics.
Key wardrobe pieces are vital for any man’s wardrobe.
Just like a woman’s wardrobe, these staple items are often composed of a few pairs of shorts, a nice pair of jeans, T-shirts, a couple button-down shirts and some simple sneakers.
For men, summer doesn’t just mean a plain T-shirt with a pair of shorts. While that outfit is perfect for a casual day, it can be fun to get more exciting with patterns and color.
An easy look for the Moscow man is a T-shirt or button-down shirt with a pair of shorts that hit just above the knee. The best way for these two items to compliment each other is to make one of the pieces colorful or printed. In small doses, patterns like stripes, flannel and even polka dots can be a great way to add some interest to a casual look. Pair this outfit with a simple pair of sneakers like Converse or Vans, and the look is complete.
For a nicer, more creative look, pull out those simple jeans and keep them as is or go for the cuffed look. Add in a button-down shirt with a simple print or vibrant color and pair the combination with tan shoes to tie the whole look together.
On the few colder days Moscow summers provide, layer open button-down shirts with a T-shirt coordinate brighter colors with a basic, simple color or pattern.
Even when summer comes to a close, all these pieces will easily transition from warm weather to fall weather. Updating one’s wardrobe every once in awhile and getting creative with the things one already owns always make for the best seasonal style.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @Hailey_ann97