(UPDATE- CLICK HERE FOR THE 2023 VERSION!) It’s that time again, friends. The Late Spring/Early Summer Momiform Guide is HERE! If you’re unfamiliar with what these Momiform guides are, I pull together the pieces that will make a season of getting dressed a no brainer. I call it “The Momiform” because while you absolutely don’t need to be a mother to use these guides, I kept finding myself wildly unrepresented in mainstream style guides and wanted to create what I wished existed. Crop tops, bralettes as shirts, pencil skirts and high heels don’t make the list of “10 Key Pieces for Spring” in my book, you know? My hope with this guide is that you’d find a capsule wardrobe of sorts, knowing that every piece on the list makes up a complete wardrobe no matter what your day looks like as a mother. Going to the beach with the kids? You’re covered. School drop off and errands? Covered. A baby shower, a date night or a wedding? Covered. Home doing chores and working from bed? Covered. Let’s jump in to your shopping list for the sweetest seasons of the year! *this post is best viewed-and shopped- on a laptop!

We’ll go in order from head to toe to keep things organized. Even if you’re not a hat person, trust me, this is the time to give hats a try. Even if you’re not a person who cares deeply about sun protection, hats are my best friend in the spring and summer because I just don’t want to spend time doing my hair. While I absolutely love my straw hats and even wool hats all spring and summer, the two hats listed are the two I’d choose if I could only choose two. Therefore, they’re essential.
Baseball Caps: This is my favorite hat to have on hand because it can somehow look a little dressed up but totally works with my college t-shirt and leggings too. I have it in multiple colors, but here are a few other baseball caps I either own and love or highly recommend for the season.

Bucket Hats: If you’re thinking, “I haven’t worn a bucket hat since I was a toddler,” I get it. Just hear me out. Bucket hats are super trendy right now with their tie-dye and smiley faces…I’m going to urge you to run as far away from those as humanly possible. What you’re looking for is a chic, simple bucket hat you can wear on vacations, long walks, trips to the beach or pool and any time you’ll be in the sun for a while. I wore this Amazon bucket hat for pretty much all of Disney World and I’m not exaggerating when i say it kept me feeling ten degrees cooler than when I had it in the stroller.

Oversized Sunglasses: You don’t have to go with the oversized shape if that’s not your thing. Maybe you’re more a fan of the super trendy teeny rectangle 90’s shape or the cat-eye. You do you, boo. I lean more towards oversized sunglasses because 1. They suit my face shape the best and 2. If I don’t feel like getting ready, BAM. Sunglasses to the rescue. (This pair from Amazon is my absolute favorite and at less than $20, you can’t beat them.)

Small Hoops: I think these are an essential all year long. This pair in particular is my favorite to wear nearly every day (which I have for months) and this braided pair is so inexpensive but elevates any outfit- even a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops look which sums up much of summer.

The Light Layer: This could be in my top five of the warm weather essential list because it’s often overlooked. When we don’t consider light layers, we end up wearing our chunky sweaters, knits and too-heavy jackets all season long which is a bit miserable. I’m an enormous fan of the light cardigan and crewneck to pull over a tank and shorts or a bodysuit and flowy pants or even to pair with a dress or swimsuit.

Denim Jacket: I’ll love denim jackets always and forever, I don’t think they need much introduction. This has been my number one for years now.

Detailed Top: If you’re looking at this list and thinking, “I need to update a whole lot of these items in my wardrobe,” this is one of those things to get seventh, not first. But if your wardrobe staples are pretty solid, it’s time to get a detailed top. A top with even the littlest bit of detail elevates an outfit like none other. Swap out a crunchy t-shirt and replace it with this in nearly any outfit and you’ll be ready for girls night, date night, brunch or even just staying home and feeling lovely. These can vary wildly in price, but if you stick to a neutral color rather than a super bold print you can wear it over and over again and really get that cost-per-wear down.

Bodysuit: If you’re somewhere that feels like you’re sitting on the surface of the sun mid-summer, you might want to reserve this for Spring, but a great bodysuit is one of the most flattering things you can wear. Again, if you run hot, reach for a linen button-down with the sleeves rolled up before this, but if you’re more focused on the sleekness of an outfit, this will be your go-to. This bodysuit is my favorite short-sleeve and this is my favorite ever.

The Button Down: Welcome to the piece I put in the top 5 essentials all year round, friend. Button downs are the absolute most versatile piece to have in your wardrobe. Worn buttoned up and tucked into shorts with heels? You’re set for any dressed-up event. Worn with the sleeves pushed up and front tucked into jeans with sandals? Casual outfit of dreams. Work open over a swimsuit? Chic and covered and yet put-together. I think watching Barefoot Contessa constantly from childhood on had an impact on my wardrobe and I’m not mad at it. This H&M button-down is my current absolute favorite long-sleeve number. The weight, fit and length are perfection. But this is the shirt I’ve invested in three times (for three different colors) over the past four years because it’s unmatched. The shape is incredible but the natural linen makes it so lightweight and stylish, it’s hard to describe until you get it on your body. I almost always tie it in front and let the back hang long and this is the piece the most people buy on spot when I tell them where it’s from.

A Striped Layer: Maybe this is a tee, maybe it’s a dress, but most often, my striped layer is a sweater. Stripes bring a whole new layer of classic to an outfit and I find them to be worth the investment one hundred times over. This is the one I’m currently wearing most often because the cropped length works best with everything in my wardrobe, but I own many and recommend them all.

Short-Sleeved Tee: This is, again, a no brainer. My two favorites are this one, which is a splurge but fits better than any other tee I’ve put on my body (and as a stylist, I’ve put MANY tees on my body.) And this one, which is almost always on sale and yes, it’s from the men’s section.

Lightweight Sweatsuit: I wear sweats all year long. I keep our house tundra-temperature in the spring and summer and since I’m a homeschooling work-from-home mom, I spend a whole lot of time in these four walls. I also pull out a matching sweatsuit from this shop whenever I travel because it makes the perfect plane outfit (these sweats in particular) and find this brand to be one of the comfiest on the planet and also Target sweats will forever be a win.

Secure Swimwear: This goes without saying- swimming in the pool or going to the beach requires a different swimsuit than sitting poolside reapplying oil and sipping pineapple juice, you know? I prefer to know everything will be-and remain-in place. This is the suit that I’ve reached for most for over a decade now, this is the one I love that’s a little bit cheekier and every single suit from this brand tends to be lined well, great on coverage and well-cut. If i were going to spend days at the beach, though, I’d invest in a rashguard. This puff sleeved top might be too much for some, but it was my favorite suit last year and will continue to be! (there is an amazon dupe for it, which I can’t imagine how great the quality will be, but if you’re the gambling type, it’s for you.) Lastly- here is the cover up I recently bought that has become my new favorite. SO flattering. Here are some more that fit the bill.

White Denim: White jeans go with absolutely everything. I’m a person that believes being a mother won’t limit me from wearing the things I love which is something you have to believe to wear white jeans as much as I do. I wear all-white at least once a week year-round and that number skyrockets this time of year. This is my favorite and most flattering pair, but this Zara pair is one I wear constantly as well.

Breezy Shorts: These also make the top five for this season. Flowy shorts can be worn with heels, a detailed top and the right earring/lipstick combination and have you looking like you’re ready for the red carpet, but pair them with a t-shirt and flip flops and you’re ready for the beach. Versatility is the most important thing I look for in the items I add to my wardrobe so I prefer neutrals, but muted prints are included in that category.
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Tennis Skirt: This is another one that is the cherry on top of the wardrobe, not the bread and butter. That being said, I wear tennis skirts more than I ever thought I would (and I’ve never played tennis.) If I know I’m going to be on the go all day long, instead of wearing leggings, I’ll wear a tennis skirt. This way it looks a little sweeter and more elevated but the spandex underneath are so supportive and comfortable I feel like I’m wearing nothing. I work out in these as well and have two pairs that I recommend to anyone who will listen: this pair in white if you want to feel super secure (because they’re Spanx) and this pair in black to go with absolutely everything and feel breezy and cute.

Maxi Dress: I’m also going to throw midi-dresses here because I wear dresses most days no matter the season. If you’re a woman who disqualifies herself because of how her body looks and can’t bring yourself to wear a dress, I pray this is the summer you overcome your fear. There is something so beautiful in just throwing on a dress and calling it a day. My favorite maxi dresses are an absolute investment, but I waited years to take the leap and can’t quite express in words how wonderful they are. I bought two during my pregnancy and found them to be the piece I wanted to wear most since my body was doing some strange things and I wanted to feel put-together. Here are the other dresses that look like perfect additions to the spring/summer closet whether it’s for hanging with the kids all day, going on a beach trip or heading out for date night:

Rubber Flip Flops: We all know these are essential. I just had to include them because they get snuffed sometimes.

White Sneakers: The hero of summertime! I personally am drawn to a clean white sneaker (not a Golden Goose fan, personally) and I won’t say much here, but this brand is one I will get on a soapbox and promise you they’re worth it. The tongue is always stiff and takes about three wears to turn to butter, but it will turn to butter and these are the sneaker I wear most often. This pair is a big investment, but many say it’s another one that is absolutely worth it. If you just can’t get on board, I’ve found this dupe that looks excellent. I wear a size 12 shoe so I can’t try them on and tell you because neither brand makes me size (bummer of my life) but Nordstrom’s return policy makes it a breeze to try and return if need be.

Toe sandals: These sandals are the most flattering on the foot, in my opinion. The single toe band lengthens the foot and allows them to look dressy with zero effort.

Comfy Heel: This exact pair shown is MAGICAL, friends. I own the green (which is selling out like crazy) because it’s rare a brand makes a shoe in my size that comes in a fun color and so far, they’ve proven to be a neutral. I’ve even worn these with a bright orange dress and they’ve still been a neutral. They’re so comfortable and I can’t recommend them enough. I’ve just decided I’m not wearing uncomfortable shoes anymore so if you’re in the same boat-look for a stacked heel to ensure they’ll leave you smiling, not wincing.

Leather Slides: Realistically, they could be slides of any material. Slides make the world go ’round.

And finally, the thing I recommend every single woman on the face of the planet has on hand at all times this summer-a hair clip. It’s not pictured because, I mean, obviously. You can grab this on Amazon and have it delivered to you by dinnertime, pick one up at Target, or elevate it with these: