What to wear in New York City – Essential summer wardrobe

July 1, 2024

Written by Laura Peruchi

It took me years to find the best items to survive winter in New York City and having an essential winter wardrobe. But summer is not that different – it also took me a while to find the perfect items to survive the hot and humid days here. I think a lot of people underestimate summer in the Big Apple – and I totally get it – but there’s one crucial factor about summer here: we walk a lot. I know that’s not true in a lot of other cities where people rely on cars for almost everything. But not here. It doesn’t matter if you are a tourist or a local: you will walk a lot.

So, that’s why it’s essential to consider the lifestyle in the city when thinking about what to wear. With that said, for me, it’s important to prioritize comfort. That translates to breathable fabrics for clothing and shoes that are not going to cause me blisters.

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New York City Essential Summer Wardrobe

Linen, linen, linen! Over the past years, I’ve been paying more and more attention to clothing composition – and natural fabrics are essential for summer. Linen is a must. Such a lightweight and breathable fabric that also brings elegance without a lot of effort. Among my favorite items, my beloved linen pants from Banana Republic in white—I got so obsessed with them that I bought another one in black. I love the wide and high-waist fit. It’s chic, effortless, and versatile, and I can wear these pants with sneakers or sandals. A basic dress is also a must and I recently got a linen shirt. This is such a great third element for your summer outfit – it’s also perfect for the freezing subway carts or when the temperatures drop a little at the end of the day.

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Birkenstock Sandals – when I traveled to Rome in August 2022, I brought my Birkenstock sandals. It was when I learned how these sandals are comfy for long-distance.And what a pleasant surprise! There was a day I walked more than 8 miles and these sandals were super comfortable! After that, my Birkenstock sandals became my summer sandals in the city – and I even got an off-white version, suuuuper cute.

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White sneakers – probably my top 1 shoes for Summer – and for Spring and Fall as well. In fact, I have two pairs. One is the Nike Air Force – it’s more sporty, super comfortable, and great for long walks. I also have another pair of white platform sneakers from Zara. It took a while, but now they are also super comfortable. I love the casual style – and I love to wear them with dresses and wide-leg pants to add some inches since I’m tiny.

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Stylish t-shirt – I found out about this stylish basic t-shirt from Uniqlo this year and it became my new obsession. I love the brand for winter staples – but they have so many great items for summer as well! I think the neckline and the longer sleeves make a difference on this piece. Also, this is part of the AIRism collection, that features a “special material made of ultra-thin fibers absorb and emit water vapor from your body”.

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Tailored shorts – for years, I only had denim shorts in my summer wardrobe. Then, after my personal styling session, I learned I should invest in pieces that would make a difference in my closet, like tailored shorts. I mean, just by switching denim shorts for a tailored one, you will notice a huge difference. This one is from Banana Republic – and what I love about it is that they offer petite options – cause I often find that the regular fit of shorts like these are too long for me.

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Crop tops and racer tops – among my summer tops, crop tops and racer tops are my favorites. I have some in bright colors and in neutral colors and I can mix and match with shorts, skirts and pants. Add some accessories and you are ready!

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