It’s summer, the Fourth of July is already here, and that means backyard barbecue invitations have started to arrive.
What can you wear that will look great while keeping you cool?
Here are outfit ideas for what to wear to a summer barbecue. (If you followed my advice for what to wear for Memorial Day, you’ll be able to wear many of those same pieces again here.)
- Tank top. If there’s ever a time to wear the littlest of tops, now is it. But please, please make sure you have an appropriate bra; that means racerback straps if your tank top is, too. Don’t want to bare that much upper arm? Look for a cotton top or tee with short sleeves–a flutter style is fun and casual.
- Shorts. You’re not going to wear a tank top with jeans, are you? Again, if you want to bare less skin, think bermuda shorts or pedal pushers. (I give a rundown of summer shorts trends here.) If you absolutely don’t wear shorts, a flowy cotton skirt is a cool option that suits most body types.
- Wedges. Sure, you could wear leather sandals, but here’s your chance to add a little bit of polish to your otherwise mostly casual ensemble. You don’t have to go super high, but what about a low wedge espadrille? Footwear doesn’t get more summery chic.
- Straw hat. I know we hat-wearers can be a lonely bunch, but I’ll continue to sing the praises of a cute chapeau. It protects your face from the sun, eliminates bad hair day concerns, and the right shaped hat is super flattering and an extra touch of je ne sais quoi for anything you wear.
The pieces you choose will determine how casual, or not, your overall look will be. And if you want to take your summer barbecue outfit from stylish to fashion-forward, inject a 2012 trend like white or neon brights.
What to wear
$20 - oldnavy.com
$40 - hollisterco.com
$50 - allsaints.com
£20 - riverisland.com
$20 - kohls.com
$44 - dorothyperkins.com
£52 - johnlewis.com
$80 - hsn.com
Get more shopping tips and fun insider stuff? Join The Style List. It’s like a secret club in your email inbox! And when you join, you’ll get my free email series, 7 Days to Better Shopping. It’s my gift to you!
Other working mom style advice you might like:
- Working Mom Outfits Level 5: Date night
- How to make 3 different level outfits with one blazer (part 2)
- Get clues about your personal style with outfit photos
- Mom friendly style swaps
