I have a big shoot coming up in LA in a couple of weeks and I was tasked to find a wardrobe for a “fun, summer BBQ” which is obviously right up my alley (shooting in Orange County). I need 3-5 looks so I tried on a lot of tops (and a couple of dresses), and these are my favorites FOR SURE. So while I’m out of the country with my fam, here are some cute spring/summer blouses that I really love (just not sure I need ALL of them, but we’ll see). I haven’t really curated outfits yet, just dialing in the top first since that is what you’ll see the most, then I’ll pair it with the right pants/shorts. So if you are underwhelmed by the pants and shoes being the same I get that 🙂
Blouse | Pants | Shoes (similar)
Love this. It’s a solid yes because it’s a good cut, a good color, the embroidery detail is great, and it’s lightweight enough for summer, but still has good structure. The little princess sleeves are so flattering. I can’t tell if I need to size up as it’s pulling a bit in the chest area (wearing a size small), but I love it. The pants are the barrel pants that I LOVE right now (button-fly making them more flattering and the length is perfect). The shoes were from last year and I hadn’t worn them yet (from Beek which is spendy, but I love their shoes so much).
Another Sezane number that I thought would look good with white shorts (not these though). I love this top but my only beef with Sezane is that their fabric is often thick (which is great) but also long and with a straight hem, making them hard to 1/2 or even full tuck. This shirt is great on camera and has a lot of detail, but I wish it weren’t so thick so it could tuck better (and I have a short torso so if you have a longer torso you might not need to tuck).
Blouse (color unavailable, alt same blouse option + blue option) | Shorts
I love this blouse – a lot of detail, but still simple and easy to understand on camera I.e. not busy). It’s lightweight, has covered buttons, and that sweet little collar. I guess it’s all out of stock in this color (sorry!) even though I just bought it! Boo!
Blouse | Pants | Shorts | Shoes (similar)
10/10 I LOVE THIS and just ordered the dress version to see if it could work as well. This blouse is so pretty and flattering and the second I put it on I was like “Oh wow, this is so good”. Extremely airy/lightweight, the colors are so pretty, the neckline so flattering, easy to tuck, pretty sleeve details – just perfect. I tried it with these cute new shorts which I really love (and they come in a lot of colors) but I think I like it with the pants more.
I have this blouse in pink from last year which I love, but my only beef is that it’s really oversized intentionally. This is a small (I just ordered an XS to see if that would fit better). The pattern is so pretty and it’s so easy breezy to wear. Madewell did an almost exact knockoff of this shirt in white that is more affordable, but Doen has these pretty patterns.
LOVE THIS. I’m wearing this top on spring break a lot because no one does, “I still look nice, but I’m not sticky” like Emerson Fry. Such an easy cut to wear, so lightweight, with beautiful colors and patterns. LOVE.
Blouse (color unavailable but here’s an alt option) | Shorts
Here is another one that is oversized (only comes in one size, actually) and I think a better summer shirt than for a photo shoot. Comes in a lot of colors and is so easy to wear. Love those shorts, A LOT.
I was excited about this, but I think it’s giving safari in a way that I probably don’t want for my BBQ shoot. I love that top though, a lot. It’s a bit thicker (think denim weight) and is easy to tuck (and comes in a couple of other colors).
This is a nice, sweet blouse, with cute denim shorts – no one is mad at this outfit, but maybe could be more fun?
Blouse | Shorts | Shoes (similar)
I’ve been wearing this shirt a ton since I got it – thin, but not too thin, drapey denim with ruffles (that are holding up well after washing/drying a few times FYI). I want it in the short-sleeved version like the white one, too. Those Gap Bermuda shorts are SOLID.
I sent all of these to the client so we’ll see what they choose (and I have more to try on). However, if you are in the market for cute spring/summer blouses I really love all of these 🙂
