BLACK doesn’t take SUMMERS off
5 Black Summer Outfits (Because Personal Style Doesn't Have a Season)
Every Summer it happens.
The weather warms up, store windows fill with white linen and bright colors, and somewhere along the way we're told it's time to pack away the black clothes.
I never got that memo.
Or maybe I did. I just ignored it.
Because black doesn't take summers off.
If black is part of your personal style in January, why should it disappear in July?
5 Black Summer Outfits (Because Personal Style Doesn't Have a Season)
Every Summer it happens.
The weather warms up, store windows fill with white linen and bright colors, and somewhere along the way we're told it's time to pack away the black clothes.
I never got that memo.
Or maybe I did. I just ignored it.
Because black doesn't take summers off.
If black is part of your personal style in January, why should it disappear in July?
The trick isn't avoiding black.
It's changing how you wear it.
Black in Summer isn’t The Problem
When people say, "I can't wear black in summer," they're usually talking about comfort, not style.
And comfort has more to do with fabric, silhouette, and how you build an outfit than it does with color.
On those cooler summer mornings, breezy evenings, or rainy days, black feels exactly right. I simply reach for lighter fabrics, easy silhouettes, and pieces that let me move. The color stays. The weight of the clothes changes.
vintage track tank via 6 ft Closet Vintage; Ivy Potter vintage asymmetrical skirt; Caddis Mabuhay readers
This week's styling rack was proof that black can be anything but boring.
Five outfits.
Five different moods.
what’s on The Styling Rack?
tissue thin cotton racerback tank by Park Vogel (this one’s a vintage piece) similar here
Marie Adam Leenaerdt one shoulder, similar here
vintage TopShop mens graphic tee. similar here
MM6 campshirt. similar here
Mayle tuxedo short shorts. similar here
Vintage wrap skirt. similar here
EASY
Black denim and a black tank.
The outfit I throw on when I don't want to overthink getting dressed. Simple, comfortable, and proof that an all-black outfit doesn't have to feel heavy in the middle of summer.
UNEXPECTED LOVE
An avant-garde one-shoulder top paired with a vintage black skirt with white topstitching.
These two pieces shouldn't make sense together—and that's exactly why I love them.
The top feels modern and architectural. The skirt feels collected, vintage, and full of character. The contrast between those two personalities is what makes the outfit interesting.
It's definitely coming into consideration for our upcoming Montreal trip.
MENSWEAR, OF COURSE
A black camp shirt buttoned all the way up with black tuxedo short shorts.
I love a good menswear outfit esp in the summer. Buttoning the shirt to the top gives the outfit intention, while the shorts keep it feeling like summer.
OVERSIZED + OVERSIZED
Soft pleated drawsting pants and an oversized graphic tee.
Oversized doesn't have to mean sloppy.
When the fabrics are light and the proportions are intentional, it becomes one of the easiest, airiest outfits to wear on a summer day.
THE WILD CARD
A thrifted black leather mini dress I found in Paris.
Most people would probably save a leather mini dress for evening or maybe a special occassion.
I do the opposite.
I would (only) wear it during the day with red leather moccasins and a teal leather bag. It takes a piece that might feel "too much" at night with heels and gives it a completely different personality.
That's my favorite kind of styling…taking a piece people expect to go one direction and wearing it another.
the FALL DENIM edit 2025
It all started with a coat.
My camo coat by Paul Smith has barely seen the closet this season — it’s been my go-to for everything. Somewhere between wearing it again and realizing how good it looked with denim, I fell down the denim rabbit hole. Consider this my fall edit: four pairs + one outlier that are getting real rotation.
It all started with a coat.
My camo coat by Paul Smith has barely seen the closet this season — it’s been my go-to for everything. That says something cause I have easily five go-to outerwear pieces for fall
Somewhere between wearing it again and having some real fun pattern-mixing moments, I fell down the denim rabbit hole. Consider this my fall edit: four pairs + one outlier that are getting real rotation.
#1. Judi Rosen Stovepipe Jeans
Also known as the Stovepipe, Judi Rosen’s cult-favorite straight leg is made entirely of organic denim sourced from Japan and Italy — and that’s what gives them their magic fit. They sculpt, they lift (yes, the butt-lifting kind of lift), and they somehow feel structured without strangling your shape. Think classic lines, extra-high rise, and a cut that makes your legs (and confidence) look a mile long.
As Vogue put it:
“They’re the stuff of peachy dreams: sculpting and lifting your bum to the heavens as only a sturdy, extra-high-rise style can... they make me feel alive.”
Vogue called them “the stuff of peachy dreams,” and they weren’t wrong.
#2. Levi’s 501 Originals
The forever classic — this time in a washed-out black that reads soft grey. I went for a 32" length (two inches longer than usual) for more shoe options — and at 5'3", it’s the perfect way to play with proportion. They tuck easily into a boot but still break cleanly with loafers or sneakers.
#3 DL1961 WHITE Cropped High-Rise
White denim in fall? Yes, absolutely….my favorite color in the fall & winter. full stop. The cropped cut keeps it modern, and with heavier knits or boots, it feels intentional — not summer leftovers. And the color? Crisp and bright against all the seasonal layers.
GAP coulottes, JCrew Crewcuts checkerboard hoodie similar here, Rachel Comey suede western boot
#4 GAP Denim Coulottes
I actually bought these for the camo coat — the cropped length just works. And boots season? These were made for it. Gap nailed the denim here: super soft, but not flimsy, and genuinely comfortable. I sized down because they were sold out in my size — lucky I did, they fit perfectly. So size down!
Ruti the-off-duty-cargo jeans, vintage cotton cardi similar here, Loeffler Randal olive green knee high boot similar here
#5 Ruti Wide Leg Denim Cargos
A camo/cargo girl at heart, I can’t get enough of these. They look structured but are surprisingly so nice & soft, and that deep dark denim feels polished without being stiff. The wide, full leg is flowy and perfect under my 3/4-length camo coat, while the pocket details give serious “I mean BUSINESS” energy.
The Thread That Ties It All Together
Each pair holds its own, but the through-line is the camo coat. It’s been the anchor — the unexpected hero that makes evenmy classic straight leg denim feel new again. Sometimes one great piece (thank you, Paul Smith 🖤) pulls the whole season into focus.
Watch the full Fall Denim Edit 2025 on YouTube for styling videos, outfit combos, and fit notes.
Shop my denim edit and fall favorites over on ShopMy.
Drop me a comment and let me know what denim you’re digging right now! Would love to hear!