Layers aren’t just for fall and winter. They’re great for sun protection in the summer, as well as added comfort as you transition between the outside heat to the inside air throughout the day. A summer kimono, with its oversized sleeves and loose fit, especially allows air to flow in all the right places. Plus, it’s super cute! The trick is it’s gotta be lightweight, and it helps for wearability if the color(s) are fairly neutral, although a fun pattern is never a bad idea.
We’ve styled the Mirrored Paisley Cocoon Kimono in Blush by Anthropologie three ways, so that you can see the versatility of a kimono in summer. We love its light-as-air viscose material, fringe edge, and paisley pattern. Hopefully, one of these looks will work for you: 1) Elegant Swim, 2) Jeans and a T-Shirt, or 3) Sunday Best.
1. ELEGANT SWIM
With little effort, this kimono can take you from dressed down to dress up, and we’re going to show you how. This look is for when you want to elevate your pool attire beyond the typical flip-flops and gym shorts. With the busy print of the kimono, we’re keeping everything else pretty simple (minus the tote–we’ll come back to that!), but not plain. We’ll start with a base layer of the Classic One-Piece Suit in True Black by Gap, followed by Strappy Sandals with Metallic Details in Black by Zara, the Transparent-Trim Bangle Bracelet in Black/Clear by Forever 21, and the Florence Cat Eye Sunglasses in Black by Free People. We chose the Woven Straw Tote in Pink Multi by Rebecca Minkoff for a pop of color, which grounds the look with black and notes of blush from the kimono.
2. JEANS & T-SHIRT
Where else would we go for denim but Madewell? You may remember this 10″ High-Rise Skinny Crop Jeans: Button-Front Edition in Pure White by Madewell from our 10 White Jeans Ranked post from this past spring. We wanted to keep this casual weekend look cool and light with monochromatic white, so we’ve paired the jeans with the Scoopneck Tencel™ T-Shirt in Ivory by J. Crew and the Sanders Slip-On Sneaker in Off White by Vince. To add some texture to the sea of white, we chose the Straw Circle Crossbody Bag – A New Day™ in Natural by Target and the Greenport Wicker Drop Earrings in Ivory by Anthropologie, which maintain the neutral color palette but tie in with the kimono through subtle black details and summery materials.
3. SUNDAY BEST
This look transitions far beyond Sunday brunch, to the office, date night, girls night, just to name a few! Mixing prints can be tricky, but the polka dots on this All My Love Wrap Slip in Black Dot by Free People are so small that it totally works. The Jorjapeach Espadrille Wedge Sandal in Black by Nine West mixes leather and esparto for a more smooth, chic style. We’re balancing out the black with some rosey accents, such as the Goldie Choker Necklace In Rose Gold Filigree by Kendra Scott, the Tassel Hoop Earrings in Peach Blush by Madewell, and the Mini Bucket Bag in Pink by Zara.
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