Low-Effort Summer Dressing

because once it starts to get hot, I lose all motivation

Hi Readers,

Before we dive in, I had to share the rib tank and mesh tote (also here with free shipping/returns if you are in the US) I featured in May’s High-Five.

They are both so good and such easy low-effort high-impact outfit makers which I’m always on the hunt for.

Both arrived last night and I immediately wore it today.

Review of the tank further below!

The tote and the tank…new summer uniform sorted! I had the bag on my wishlist (as most things from my High-Five recs) and was going to buy in the Summer but the brand kindly reached out to gift it to me. It’s even better IRL. The kind of chill, easy bag that adds instant interest even if just wearing with sweatpants and flip flops. I used it all morning running errands and it carried my laptop with no issues. It has a leather base so it feels more secure, less precious, while staying incredibly light.

The newsletter today was inspired by something one of my clients said to me recently as it really brought me back to why I started this newsletter in the first place.

We first worked together back in the Fall at a time where she was feeling confused with her own style and wardrobe: “…Whether I really like it, do I really need it, what do I wear it with, how do I create more complete outfits that feel interesting and like me…”

We are working together again to reset her wardrobe for Summer and we had a check-in call just to see how everything was going since we last worked together.

She told me: “Getting dressed just feels so easy now. I can go into my closet and pull things out and know they will go together.”

And at the end of the day honestly, that’s what the majority of my clients and readers want — for the “getting dressed” part to be the easiest part of their day, not the hardest.

To feel good and at ease in what they are putting on but to do it quickly, move on, and focus on everything else they need to juggle in a day.¹

my bio which hasn’t changed since I created this newsletter two years ago - the why behind The Found Journal

I’ve been very lazy lately when it comes to getting dressed, or at least, it’s become something I don’t have the headspace to think about at the moment.

Partly due to weather, partly due to my wardrobe being in 5 places while we wait to move into our house, and partly due to a lot of personal life/work stuff going on that I’ve been trying to balance for the past few months that’s finally catching up to me.

ps - I’m excited to partner with one of my longstanding favorite brands Moon Juice this month to share two of my go-to wellness products. Not fashion-related at all I know, but similar to my failsafe basics, these have been a part of my routine since I started taking them in the pandemic. I take this magnesi-om every night because I’m a night owl and feel the most productive at night but it’s not great for my sleep so I find this helps me turn my brain off and I just keep it on subscription. And I found these to be incredibly helpful when I had a really stressful work schedule while at my last job. It feels really subtle but within a couple weeks I could tell a noticeable difference in my energy, mood, and ability to focus. It just helps regulate your system. I got my husband to try it earlier this year (who was very skeptical but willing to try!) as he was navigating some big stressors and he’s been reordering the refills since. I don’t take them regularly anymore but I find it helps to do in 1-2 week stints when needed. I read a lot of reviews that it helps with peri/menopause which I’m curious about!

helps level out my energy and keeps brain fog away!

Ok, back to the clothes!

I’m based in NY and it feels like we completely skipped Spring and went from Winter straight into Summer.

I’m new to the Northeast and apparently that’s a thing I need to get used to. When I lived in California, Spring felt endlessly long thanks to that perfectly cool 70 degree weather. Here? Apparently, Spring (ie: my favorite trench coat season) is like a 5 week window.

It’s not even Summer yet but when it starts to get really hot, I tend to lose all motivation when it comes to getting dressed.

I am a creature of comfort so I tend to pare it back to my failsafe basics. It’s why I put so much emphasis on basics you love - they tend to be the biggest wardrobe gap but also the biggest wardrobe impact.

They are the glue that holds all your fun pieces together but can be incredibly satisfying on their own.

my warm weather uniform in a nutshell: strappy rib tanks, lived-in old jeans, flip flops

I have pieces that rotate throughout the seasons but my tried-and-true basics are the ones I continue to reach for year after year like this simple tank (easy to layer but structured enough to wear on its own) and the button down you see me wear in every newsletter.

They are the ones I pack first for every trip, and what I wear when I can’t be bothered to think about what I’m wearing, or when I need to ground myself whether it’s a busy day, meeting clients, or stepping into new situations.

But sometimes basics alone aren’t enough so what’s the next best thing when the motivation isn’t happening? Outfit formulas!

I think when we try to create outfits, we focus too much on the actual pieces.

A collared shirt that is intended to be worn just as a shirt. Or that feels like it can only be styled with dressier pants. Or that can only be paired with specific colors.

And outfit formulas can feel too specific to the point that it becomes generic: A button down + straight leg jean + loafer, a graphic tee + track pant + flip flop etc

I tend to look at outfits more broadly because an outfit is the sum of all the parts.

What can’t be solved for in one way can most often be solved another way (ie: not owning a red tee to recreate an inspo but owning a red shoe) which is where formulas can come in handy.

It’s not about copying and pasting a look you like but rather taking the “what” and applying the “how” through different formulas so that you can apply it to your own style and wardrobe.

I like to look at outfits holistically through three main buckets:

• Shape - The first thing I think about. Shape can make or break an outfit. When I speak about shape here, I also connect it back to proportions (what brings balance to a look). And what I love about it is that it’s the ultimate chameleon. You can shift and flex the shape and proportions in subtle ways through different combinations or styling tricks to suit your mood. If something feels off, it‘s most likely this.

• Texture - Whether it’s the details of a fabric or the combination you create when choosing a shoe or a bag. Even the jewelry you wear, or the way you wear your hair. This is like the icing on the cake. Without it, it can feel too boring or flat.

• Color/Print - Most of the time, color is the last thing I think about. (I love a neutral, can’t help it!) And it’s usually more of a feeling vs anything prescriptive. Some days I’m drawn to wearing a specific color. Other days, if I want to play with color, I’ll just grab whatever I want to wear and run it across my closet and see what combination catches my eye.

An example of how I prioritize shape when it comes to styling:

This client needed help styling her soft green sweater. Clients are often so focused on the color that they can easily forget about everything else! It’s like tunnel vision for our wardrobes.

My goal at the beginning of any session is to keep it simple - easy combinations that feel approachable and then we expand from there.

We styled with a blazer she was also struggling with and a pair of everyday denim. If you don’t know how to wear something, try styling it with something you always wear first! This way, the piece that feels challenging is grounded back to something that feels undeniably you.

I always tell my clients: If you can’t style something with your favorite thing to wear (ie: jeans), you will have even more trouble styling it with anything else. It’s not to say that every item in your closet should work with that one item but that sometimes, if we can’t make a simple outfit work, the item might not be the one for you.

We first styled with just the jeans she was wearing for our call which looked totally fine. I then had her switch to a pair that had more shape to create a stronger visual impact and POV (and we styled with a lavender patent Tibi heel!). We didn’t change anything else — just the shape of the pant to change the entire vibe of the outfit.

I find when I work with clients, that color is what stumps them first. We solved for color with a few different looks but if you are feeling stuck, start with neutrals first and focus on shape and then play around with other color combinations to make it easier.

If you think about shape first, it can feel easier to think about the different outfit combinations in your closet. Regardless of your aesthetic or what your style language is. From there, you can make little tweaks and swaps to solve for color if needed, and then weave in texture so you get to outfits that feel easy to put together and feel good to wear!

My favorite shape formula for Summer is the slouchy + slouchy method:

• slouchy top (could be a jacket)

• slouchy bottom

• slim shoe (barely there sandal, slim boot, sneaker etc)

• something textured

Why this works: The slouchy or oversized fits create that relaxed ease we all crave in the Summer but the slim shoe provides balance so the look doesn’t feel too heavy or big. It creates visual breathing room for the slouchy pieces!

A couple of my clients got this pant and love it for Summer. Looks great, comes in a Petite length, and I love how they styled it with this slouchy tee. Very into the fit. Something about white + black always feels so fresh in the heat. Except I would swap the shoe and bag per my formula and I did just that :) Which do you like better?

Other ideas using the same idea: slouchy top + slouchy or soft bottom + slim shoe (all sandals because its hot out!)

I use this same slouchy-on-slouchy formula for my clients and you can see how it comes through in different ways depending on their style:

Examples from past clients using new + existing pieces from their wardrobe. All with different aesthetics and pieces but each outfit was built from: 1) Shape 2) Texture 3) then color

Let’s break each one down using this method:

One of the formulas I rely on a lot is slouchy + slouchy + slim shoes. More on that below but it’s a good one if you like the same relaxed vibe!

A “how to style” skirt for a client. Again, the pattern was feeling challenging so we focused on simplicity (first with a simple neutral tank) while also playing with shape. Rather than something fitted to balance out the fullness of the skirt, we leaned into a wider tee so it created a more interesting shape. It happened to be a stripe which created a fun pattern mixing moment.

A vintage bomber that my client was having trouble styling. We could always style with jeans but because the leather jacket was boxier, I wanted to style with something that had a bit of movement. There are a lot of top options that work here but we added a fitted rib tee to create some defined texture and balance out the oversized shapes. Same with the shoe and bag which have more defined angles to balance the “roundness” of the jacket and the softness of the pant.

Similar to the “Classic” look, we did a slouchy + slouchy formula here but also played with tension with the more modern top and the chill track pant. A slim shoe that also had a lot of definition to balance out the fit. Then a final touch of texture and a pop of color with the bag. If the mood was more neutral, you could easily swap but I’d choose something with a similar defined structure or interesting texture like suede, woven, or patent.

overtly slouchy pieces to lean into the relaxed vibe, balanced with a slim shoe (mesh flats act as a “barely there” option) and weaving in texture through the shoe choice, bag, and jewelry

My versions of the slouchy + slouchy formula:

Linking what’s still available - everything else is old! 1// Olive Pant 2// Sandal 3// Shirt 4// Blazer (color is old but its this style; I’m wearing an XXS!) 5// Sheer Pant (restocked! also love the new blue) 6// Shirt 7// Sheer Tank with same pant (if you find this too sheer, I also pulled this set for a client which may be more practical)

Now some of my other favorite lazy day “shape” formulas I use to get dressed!

Formula #2: One Big / One Small Moment

• One visually “small” or bare element, like a short or a mini skirt

• One visually “big” element, like a long sleeve or oversized top

Why this works: What I love about this one is that it automatically introduces tension.

The first thing we most likely think about when trying to style something short is to pair with other bare pieces like a crop tee or a tank so by going for something like a sweater, it brings something more unexpected by playing with seasonal juxtaposition and visual tension.

lol, sorry Reformation for deciding to update your styling! The first outfit with the tank is totally great but the cardigan version just has that little extra something of visual tension.

A client who wanted help styling her tailored shorts (small) in a more casual way so we paired with an oversized leather jacket (big). This felt better for her frame and she could easily take the jacket off inside or throw over her shoulders to keep the shape.

And because I know you guys are visual like me!

shorter bottoms styled with sweaters, blazers, and long sleeves

can also swap in a long sleeve for a parka or windbreaker as a top (a la Tibi inspiration here)

Or do a micro/crop top and a full length voluminous bottom!

And it doesn’t always have to be clothes. You can use accessories to create that big vs small visual:

BIG outfits, small bag!

“small” or bare outfits, BIG bag! (the bigger, the better IMO)

My versions of the one big-one small formula:

1// Short 2// all old 3// Sweatshirt 4// Polo + Short

Formula #3: 1/2 Fitted, 1/2 Loose

• One fitted element

• One looser or wider element

Why this works: We are just taking the “One Big, One Small” idea and expanding on it by playing with proportions in a different way. I most often do this through a top that is the “small” or fitted/bare idea. Cool, balanced, and the epitome of Summer!

Simple but interesting - that feels right for Summer!

And if fitted tops aren’t your thing, you can apply the same idea elsewhere like an oversized shirt with a tapered pant or a slouchy open knit sweater with a cigarette jean

I live in my rib tanks all Summer so I knew I had to try the Tibi cut-out tank from the last newsletter. It looks like a basic tank but has the little cut-out details so it is anything but. The design is smart — shelf bra for support and coverage but the straps are designed to where you can still wear a bra if you need and cut-outs that you just get a peek of at certain angles. The one thing I don’t love about it is that it is quite long. I think the brand did it so you could play with proportions but it only works with flatter waistbands. I have it folded under and I plan to wear tucked in but I might just get it shortened a bit so it better suits my everyday preferences.

Wearing a M but could have probably done a Small. It’s quite stretchy but I like tops to fit with a bit of ease. (Need a tan, send help)

My versions of the 1/2 Fitted, 1/2 Loose formula:

1// Tibi tank + White Jean + Thong Wedge 2// same tank 3// Everlane tank (before they got sold!!) + Raspberry Shirt + Track Sweatpant 4// This isn’t super fitted but the bodice is more structured so I applied it the same way. St. Agni set (I bought at my friend Rachel’s store on our drive up from ATL. Can’t seem to find online anywhere but you can support her, her shop is amazing!! Wearing a L in the top as I have a wider ribcage and S in the pant)

Formula #4: A Long Plus One

This is basically any outfit + one visual length piece.

• literally any outfit - a tee and a short, a tank and a pant, a short dress, a long dress

• add one long piece - a lightweight jacket, a dress, a tunic, a duster

Why this works: Again, it’s creating that visual tension!

Whether it’s through seasonal mixings of fabrics (a trench coat with an airy summer dress), of formalities (a silk tunic over lived-in denim), or through proportion play.

For higher visual impact, play with short + long but even a more subtle difference still looks great (like Zoe in the middle or the image on the far right)

Also love the skirt+pant combo styles coming out. Feels cool and a bit funky and quirky but also so chill and easy?!

My version of the long plus one formula:

1// dress worn as a duster (old colorway but new colorway looks amazing) 2// boxer shorts 3// pants 4// stripe tee

Formula #5: Slouchy With Structure

• basically anything slouchy

• one structured element (a shoe, a bag, a piece of clothing)

Why this works: This is a nice option if you like your outfits to have a bit of refinement or tailoring but you want to wear things in a chill, not fussy, way. Or, if you like the look of the slouchy fit but want it to feel a bit sharper. The structure provides definition and angles to give your outfit some much needed shape.

flowy pieces balanced with something more tailored or structured

Similar to the “One Big, One Small” formula, if you have a more oversized fit, you can also use bags or shoes to add that definition and structure

My version of the slouchy with structure formula:

My go-to’s are usually a trouser or a blazer but when I don’t want layers, I will rely on a bag or shoe as I don’t typically love a structured top.

Ok, hope this helps!

Let me know which of the formulas you want to try this Summer!!

Whether it’s your first time or 20th time, thank you for being here and supporting my work.

See you next week!

xx,

Angie

1. Interested in working together? I’m now booking August for my signature Style Reset service. Not sure what you need? I’m always here to hear about your style challenges and goals and see what feels like the best fit. Book a free call here!