The Best Pieces to Add to Your Summer Wardrobe for Midlife Women

Summer is right around the corner. There's something about these cool, crisp Birmingham mornings that makes me want to throw open every window, pour a second cup of coffee, and enjoy the beautiful sunlight.

As it gets warmer, that means lighter clothes and minimal makeup for me.

I love adding a few key pieces to my closet with every season. I'm not big on overhauls — a few really good pieces will always serve you better than a cart full of "maybes." That's something I keep coming back to (more on that in my 5 Tips for Midlife Fashion). So this is my short list: the pieces I'm reaching for at home and on every trip I've got on the calendar between now and Labor Day. A little classic, a little fun. Let's get into it.

1. The elevated white tank

A great white tank is the quiet workhorse of summer — not the threadbare one at the bottom of your drawer, but a ribbed, opaque, sits-beautifully-under-a-blazer tank. Rag & Bone does this so well. The cotton is soft but has body, which matters when you're over 40, and the cut accentuates my shoulders. Wear it with denim and gold hoops, or under a linen blazer for dinner. Shop the Rag & Bone tank.

Looking for a more budget-friendly option? I love this Amazon tank — I have it in several different colors.

2. Wide-leg linen pants

If you haven't tried a wide-leg linen pant yet, this is your summer. They skim instead of cling, they breathe in 90-degree heat, and they look intentional even when you're just running errands. Aritzia does my favorite cut — clean lines, no fussy details. Pair with a fitted tee or a tucked-in button-down and a flat sandal. Done. Shop the Aritzia linen pants.

The Amazon budget-friendly find is this pair.

3. A structured sundress

Every summer needs one dress that does the work for you. Staud is my go-to. They make the Wells dress every year (I think), and it has just enough tailoring at the waist to take it out of "beach coverup" territory and into "lunch, garden party, anniversary dinner" territory. Slip it on, add earrings, and you're out the door. Several colors and prints to choose from — I am loving the stripes this year. Shop the Staud Wells dress.

The Amazon budget-friendly find is this one.

4. Summer denim (white jeans, please)

A crisp white jean is one of the most underrated midlife pieces. Mother is one of my favorite denim brands, and they have a jean that has quickly become everyone's favorite. It has gone viral, and now it comes in white!! I have it in 3 different colors, and I am waiting on the white to come in the petite size. Shop the Mother white jeans.

Pair it with a navy striped button-down (this is my favorite) or a boxy tank like this one and you've got an entire summer of outfits.

Here is a Target budget-friendly version of the white jean. I haven't tried it myself, but it has received good reviews.

5. The travel-friendly button-down

This is the piece I won't travel without. TWP makes a relaxed button-down that wrinkles just enough to look lived-in instead of crumpled — exactly what you want after a six-hour flight. Throw one over a swimsuit, tie it at the waist with shorts, or layer it under a sweater on a chilly plane. Shop the TWP button-down.

Last year I bought this more affordable linen shirt and I have been wearing it on repeat.

6. A perfect sandal

You don't need ten pairs. You need one good pair you can actually walk in. I will be honest — I have several. But if I had to pick one to go with most of my clothes, it would be this one.

I've been pleasantly surprised by what Amazon is doing for sandals lately — I got this pair for under $40. Aim for a low block heel or a flat with a real footbed. Your feet will thank you in airports and on cobblestones.

7. A roomy, structured tote

A tote that holds your life without slumping is non-negotiable for me. I use mine as a personal item on flights, a beach bag, a farmer's market bag — it does it all. Tuckernuck has a beautiful one, and here is a great budget-friendly one from Amazon.

8. Statement sunglasses

The fastest way to look pulled together when you're not is a good pair of sunglasses. A slightly oversized frame is almost always flattering on midlife faces — it softens, lifts, polishes. Amazon is your friend here. I rotate two or three pairs all summer and never feel guilty if one ends up at the bottom of a beach bag. These are my favorites.

Pulling it together for travel

If I had to pack a long weekend right now, I'd reach for the TWP button-down (works as a layer, a cover-up, and a top), the Aritzia linen pants (red-eye approved), one Staud sundress (handles dinner and brunch in one go), my best Amazon tank, a sandal, and the tote. That's the whole list. Roll, don't fold, and leave room for whatever you find on the trip.

I'm grateful for this season — for warm evenings, for good friends, for the kind of clothes that make getting dressed feel easy instead of like one more thing on the list. If you'd like to see exactly what I'm wearing and linking this summer, my full edit is right here.

Here is what I am eyeing and buying right now.

Tell me — what one piece is making your summer this year? I love hearing what you're reaching for.