With vacations booked, upcoming weddings to attend in our calendars, and a fresh set of fashion pieces dropping from designers for the new season, our shopping lists only seem to be growing exponentially as we hit summer. While our editors can’t stop talking about the latest trends and everything sitting in their shopping carts, I was curious to find out the exact pieces at the very top of their wish lists. With that in mind, I asked them to name the top five pieces they would add to their wardrobes for the summer season.
Who What Wear fashion editors’ picks include everything from the coolest new designer bags and investment jewelry items to the top denim trends and the elevated staples they are planning to wear on repeat for the coming season. Ahead, take a look at the best summer shopping finds that made the cut, beginning with this editor’s picks.
This dress strikes just the right balance of elegant and cool.
Bottega Veneta’s bag to know is the Sardine, and I can’t stop thinking about the mini version.
There’s no swimwear with more staying power than a piece from Eres, and I’m eyeing this exact style.
This is the perfect date-night top, and I can’t decide between the white and black.
The ’90s bag from The Row finally restocked and is currently en route to me.
“I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect slouchy pair of white trousers to wear instead of jeans and jean shorts this summer, and once I spotted these on Madewell, I immediately knew I’d found the ones.”
“I bought these in gold recently when I was in Milan for a work trip and haven’t looked back. They make every outfit look 10 times better and are shockingly lightweight, making them extremely wearable. My next buy is silver.”
“I’m always looking for jeans that work with every single item in my wardrobe, and after trying these on a few days ago, I’m convinced these are one such pair.”
“I’ve dreamt of owning a Panthère for years, so if I could only buy five items all summer long, it feels like a good option, especially since I wear a watch every single day without fail. I love that it’s two-toned since I’m always mixing and matching metals.”
“I usually wear a tank at least five days a week in the summer, but given how elevated and chic this halter option is from Topshop, I’ll probably move it up to six times a week.”
“I recently bought the clutch version of this bag, and although that one’s sold out, I would be just as happy with this one. Raffia comes back around every summer, so I know I won’t regret having it in my closet. I’m already planning on wearing mine all summer, as it’s the perfect pairing with all the airy and lightweight pieces in my warm-weather wardrobe.”
“An oversize button-down is a summer staple for me, and this Topshop one exceeded all my expectations when I tried it on recently at Nordstrom. A lot of button-downs can be scratchy or uncomfortable, but this one was lightweight and soft on my skin.”
“COS makes the best maxi dresses, and as a modest dresser, I went a little crazy in the brand’s summer sale. This one is a current favorite of mine, but if you’re on the hunt for flowy and elevated dresses, you need to take a look at the rest of the brand’s stellar offering.”
“I don’t want to let go of my jeans in the summer, so I opt for baggy or wide-leg pairs. This Khaite pair is just perfection—it’s thick denim but still sits comfortably at my waist and is just the right amount of ‘bagginess.’ At 5’3″, it’s hard to find wide-leg jeans that don’t swallow me, and these jeans certainly don’t do that.”
“If I had to pick one must-have for summer, it would be white linen pants. They just look so effortless and classy with anything you put on.”
“This is such a good tank top—it goes with everything from a slip skirt to jeans. I can see myself wearing it on a weekly basis this summer.”
“I don’t have a pair of white jeans yet, but I have my eye on these painter pants from Alex Mill.”
“There are many raffia items on my summer wish list, but I keep coming back to this bag.”
“I’ve been shopping for a pair of linen pants lately, and in true Reformation form, these have such a cool, slouchy fit.”
“This is one of those timeless items you’ll wear forever, making the splurge worth it.”
“I am so excited about the Barbie movie this summer, so you can imagine why I’m loving this shirt from Gap. The silhouette is very of the moment, and the Barbie logo on the back is just fun.”
“This Anine Bing baseball hat just may become my new off-duty staple.”
“I can’t stop thinking about this bag from Bottega Veneta. An absolute dream.”
“I currently have these Loewe sunglasses in my cart. The shape is quite cool, and they’re currently on sale on Italist.”
“I tend to wear jeans even when it’s hot out, but I will be switching to summer-friendly styles like this baggy white pair.”
“I bought these $20 H&M sandals and have no regrets. I’m a fan of monochrome looks, so I’ll be styling these with all-white outfits.”
“I hate to admit it, but I hoard striped shirts. They’re just so easy to wear and have an effortless French appeal. Hands down, my favorite striped tees are from J.Crew.”
“I hate wearing heels, so kitten heels are a great compromise for me. I’ll be wearing these to all the weddings and parties on my agenda this summer.”
“I’ve only recently started getting into watches, and now, I can’t stop thinking about them. Tudor is a Swiss-made brand established by the founder of Rolex in 1926, so it has all the prestige of its sister company but is less expensive. This steel watch is a winner in my book because it will never go out of style.”
“I bought these cute ballet flats, and I’m 100% obsessed with my purchase. Not only are they super soft and comfortable, but they’re also incredibly on-trend right now. Talk about a win-win.”
