4 women, 5 prompts, endless summer style inspo

Jun 20, 2025

As we continue our conversation on summer style, for this week’s post, I enlisted the help of three lovely women whose style I admire: Ruth of RuthsTruths, Heather of Vincent James (also here), and Sarah of Fewer & Better. I gave us all 5 prompts and in doing this exercise myself, it caused me to reflect, which always helps me understand my own style better. Try answering them yourself! And feel free to share any of your answers/thoughts in the comments! It’s always fun to hear how other people interpret the same questions. :)

1. Most Worn Summer Item

Ruth: My most worn item would have to be my black merino wool wide leg pants from Vincent James. I wear them for everything from a fancy dinner out with heels to a coverup pool side and everything in between.

Heather: My most worn summer item is definitely the Hutton Button Front Linen Shirt. It’s my go-to for everything from active days in the sun with my kids to alfresco dinners. There’s something so pure and effortless about linen in the summer and this top goes gets better with each wear.

Sarah: My most-worn summer item has to be the navy and white striped MDS Striped skirt I finally snagged after years of searching (this one and this one are similar). It's perfect to pair with anything - an Ann Mashburn popover, an oversized men's shirt, a tee, and more. It's my ideal summer piece and I'm so glad I finally found it!

Abby: My most worn item is probably a white tank. I love it with blue denim, white denim, shorts, white pants, etc. Sometimes it’s the basics that you get the most mileage out of, so I don’t mind investing in really good quality/ design.

2. Favorite Color to Wear in the Summer

Ruth: White! (But I also wear it year round. Love a winter white too!) White is so refreshing and cool feeling. Having young kids and wearing white is always a lesson I never learn though! :)

Heather: I gravitate towards white and ivory in the summer and love to wear them together with a touch of black to ground the look.

Sarah: I love wearing actual colors in the summer--French blue is a favorite. It goes perfectly with navy or white (or pretty much anything else), and it's a little "softer" than navy. It feels like summer to me! I have a great linen shirt in my ideal shade of French blue that I wear on repeat.

Abby: This might be obvious given my first answer, but white is my favorite color for summer. Practically, it doesn’t show sweat, keeps me cool on hot days, and goes with everything. Aesthetically, summer white is always chic.

3. Favorite Summer Accessory

Ruth: I love a little bag that’s easy to throw just a few things in and go. My sling bags and my Soirée Bag get a lot of summer love!

Heather: I love a great straw bag for summer- perfect for beach days to dressing down a fancier black dress. I’m also very into a bangle stack right now- I’ve collected a few over the years while traveling or in vintage markets and will be searching for a few more as we travel this summer.

Sarah: My favorite summer accessory is a smile and a huge scattering of freckles! There's nothing better than feeling good after spending the whole day outdoors.

Abby: My Basket Tote is probably my favorite summer-specific accessory, but my Sling Bag is always my most worn accessory…if not my most worn item. I wear one every single day. For summer, I really find myself wearing the Ivory Croco and Sand Suede a lot right now.

4. That one “wow” piece

Ruth: It’s a tie. My silver shell necklace has become almost an extension of me at this point- and also my vintage suede fringe coat is always a go-to when I want some “wow” factor.

Heather: I’d have to say the Vincent James Brennan Regenerative Ribbed Knit Pants are a wow piece! Like all of our designs, they’re made from 100% natural fibers and resonate at a higher frequency than synthetics- a difference I believe translates to the way you feel when you wear them! I’m loving the way they move for summer- a very “refined boho chic” vibe for sunny days that turn into moonlit nights. They pair perfectly with so many of our tops- I especially love them with the Hutton linen shirt, the V Neck Tank, Tube Top and the Reversible Carolyn Sweater.

Sarah: My "wow" piece is probably a statement dress: whether it's a great shift dress (vintage or Coco Shop or Ann Mashburn) or a knock-your-socks-off swing dress from La DoubleJ, I love vibrant prints in the summer! I bought a new La DoubleJ dress that I'm dying to try out as soon as possible.

Abby: Shoes tend to be where I go for a “wow” - these platform wedges are new in my wardrobe and just add an element of playfulness while still being super neutral and wearable.

5. A current trend you’re loving and how you’re styling it

Ruth: Bermuda shorts! I love the tomboy feel and then adding a polished blazer or chic pieces for some juxtaposition.

Heather: I’m not very into trends but I suppose the statement pendant necklaces that we’re seeing a lot lately could be considered “trendy”. I have a few that I’ve been wearing including a vintage silver piece that belonged to my grandmother, Vincent James’ wife and a shell necklace by a local artist friend, Lia Burke Libaire. They add that touch of “refined boho chic” I’m feeling for summer and pair well with everything from a one-piece swimsuit to a flowing linen dress.

Sarah: I'm loving the oversized shirt trend. I've always worn men's shirts (my father's and grandfather's, and now my husband's), so it's great to see that everyone's catching up with my obvious unique style ;) I've been leaning heavily into madras right now and wearing them with slim white jeans in particular. There's something very chic about an oversized shirt tucked into a pair of slim trousers with a great leather belt to pull it all together.

Abby: I love that Bermuda shorts are back. I think this length in denim or in a trouser style is such a nice option for those of us who don’t love shorts. I think the key to this trend is keeping it above the knee so it doesn’t get to that “are they shorts or pants?” length. ;)

Let us know your answers in the comments!

xo,

Abby