How to Look Great for Casual Summer Evenings

For casual evenings during the warm months from Spring through Summer, it’s easy to throw on something simple and go have fun.  But it feels good to add a little embellishment.  And it feels great to add something special to something simple and basic.  Age doesn’t matter.  Dare to look your best every day of your life!

Laid-back Ways to Dress Up on Casual Evenings Out

A maxi dress is simple to throw on and go yet it looks elegant, especially with a great piece of jewelry.  Then choose your footwear of choice, either flats or heels.

A flowing vest comes in beautiful colors and prints and may be made of chiffon, lace or crochet or it may even be fringed.  It’s a light and easy way to add a third layer to your top and bottom for extra style.

Never underestimate the power of accessories!  You can wear just about anything and dress it up instantly by adding a pair of gold cuffs or a beautiful scarf or wrap…or just add bling.

And that brings us to the statement piece of jewelry, especially the statement necklace:

A statement necklace will glam up anything for evening, even jeans and a tee.

• A short-sleeve black tee + destroyed skinny jeans.  Add a statement necklace + heels.
• A black camisole + an animal-print skirt + strappy black sandals.  Add a statement necklace + a bracelet.
• A black or navy short-sleeve scoopneck t-shirt over white pants.  Add an ivory multi-strand bib necklace + a gold cuff or bangle.

Adding any piece in a metallic fiber will glitz up your basic outfit.

• Try a silver top + black pants + a black and silver scarf just hanging straight down in front.  Add a black cuff or two.

A sheer blouse is lightweight and if it’s got a button front, it can be worn open as a jacket to let air flow through.

• A sheer blouse + chinos.

Just add red!  It has a festive air, so it tends to dress up what you’re wearing.

• A red camisole + blue jeans.
• A short-sleeve red tee + black knit pants.

Palazzo pants, gauchos and lightweight culottes are airy and can be quite elegant.  Wear with a fitted camisole, tank or tee, especially a lace t-shirt!

• A camisole or silk tee + culottes or gauchos.  Add delicate jewelry.
• A camisole or silk tee + culottes or gauchos.  Add delicate jewelry.

A slip dress is light and cool.  For coverage, add a camisole, tank top, short-sleeve t-shirt, or lace bralette underneath.  Or wear a sheer or silk shirt open as a jacket.

1. A slip dress over a black slip dress.  Pile on chunky accessories (i.e., sandals, a long pendant, bangles on both wrists.)
2. A slip dress + skinny jeans.
3. A black camisole under a gray slip dress + black leggings or footless tights.  Add black booties (preferably cutout or perforated for summer.)

A silk t-shirt is light and cool and can be dressed up or down.

1. A silk tee + white pants or jeans.  Add flat white or nude sandals.
2. A silky animal-print tee messy tucked into harem pants.  Add sandals + a silver cuff paired with a gold cuff.
3. A silk tee + blue jeans.  Add strappy sandals + gold bangles + hoop earrings.  You may want to add a bright clutch.
4. A silk tee + blue jeans.  Add strappy sandals + gold bangles + hoop earrings.  You may want to add a bright clutch.

A lightweight swing tee or tunic is easy with leggings or capris.  Add a pendant for the vertical line it adds.

1. A blue silk tunic + blue jeans.
2. A black silky tunic + black jeans.
3. A white silky tunic + white jeans.
4. A blush-color tunic + white skinnies + gold ballet flats.  Add statement earrings.
5. An embroidered mesh tunic tank + destroyed skinny jeans + a lightweight drape-front cardi.
6. A chiffon tunic + skinnies in shades of white.  Add embellished and/or metallic flat sandals or slip-ons.

All black or all white elevates any look.  You can be comfortable yet still look chic!

1. A white tank top + white pants + a colorful silk jacket.
2. A white lace tee + white pants.  Add delicate gold chain bracelets + as many fine gold rings as possible.
3. A short-sleeve black lace top or other black top + palazzo pants or jersey knit pants or any black pants.  This is like a painter’s canvas!  You can add a delicate necklace, or narrow bangles, or glittering earrings, or loads of pearls.
4. A sleeveless black top + black pants.  Add gold cuffs + black heels.
5. A lacy black tank top + black pants.  Add a black beaded bracelet.
6. A short-sleeve white top + white jeans.  Add nude heels + colorful chandelier earrings + colorful bangles.
7. A short-sleeve black lace top + black pants or jeans.  Add ethnic earrings or a delicate gold chain necklace.
8. A lightweight white drape-front cardi + a white shell + white jeans.  (Mix shades of white.)  Add gold, such as earrings.

A maxi skirt is airy and cool.  You can wear a casual jersey skirt with a bare top, or an embellished skirt with sparkle and a basic tank or tee on casual evenings.  A skirt with a slit allows for even more air circulation.

1. A metallic drape-neck tank over a tiered maxi skirt with a lace-trimmed hem.  Add flat or wedge-heeled sandals or thongs.
2. A wrap top over a jersey maxi skirt + strappy wedge sandals.
3. A black or gray tank top + a black peasant skirt with embellishment.  Add one or more black bracelets with a slice of color.
4. A graphic tee + a maxi skirt.
5. A tank top + a floral maxi skirt + an open-knit cardi.  Add gold sandals with a heel.
6. A t-shirt + a maxi-length jean skirt + a statement necklace.
7. A black tank top + a black peasant skirt, embellished or not + a jean jacket.  Add gold sandals with a heel.
8. A white top + a maxi-skirt or long pencil skirt.  Add heels.
9. A white tank top + a tiered sequined skirt.  Add nude or tan peep-toe heels.

A kimono dresses up anything.  Just throw one on over a basic tee and jeans, or any casual top and bottom.

1. A sheer black kimono + a soft-color tank top + blue jeans.  Add sandals.
2. A white tee + blue jeans + a lightweight kimono.  Add a pendant + some bangles + stud earrings.
3. A sheer kimono + a lacy, frilly and/or satiny cami + blue jeans.
4. A tank top over blue jeans + a semi-sheer kimono.  Add gold or silver earrings & bracelets.
5. A camisole + palazzo pants + a fringed kimono.  Add a long delicate pendant + flat metallic sandals.
6. A black tank + black jeans + a kimono.  Add a gold cuff.  Or, wear a white tank with white jeans.
7. A kimono belted over blue jeans.  Add a delicate gold necklace + narrow gold bangles.
8. A white camisole + white pants + any color kimono.
9. A body-conscious dress + leggings + a kimono.  Add flat tan or leopard-print sandals + long strands of colored beads with a tassel pendant.
10. A lightweight duster kimono over a column of color (top and bottoms in the same color.)  Add wedge sandals + a long pendant with a strand of beads that frame the pendant.

A lace or sequin top dresses up the most casual bottoms.  These tops are super useful for dressing up casual basics.

• A short-sleeve white lace top over blue jeans.  Add pearl drop earrings.  Style your hair up off your neck for ultimate coolness.
• A short-sleeve white lace top + denim shorts + sandals.
• A short-sleeve ivory lace top + blue jeans.  Add textured brown or ivory cuff + a special ring.  Or, add a pendant.
• A short-sleeve black lace top + white pants, or a short-sleeve white lace top + black pants.  Add gold earrings or a bold bracelet.
• A short-sleeve black lace top + blue jeans.  Add sneakers.
• A short-sleeve black lace top + blue jeans.  Add a black cuff + glittering earrings.
• A short-sleeve black lace top + dark-rinse blue jeans.  Add chain necklaces and/or bangles + black heeled sandals.
• A short-sleeve black lace top + a long gray knit skirt or gray pants.
• A short-sleeve lace top + jean shorts.  Add a charm necklace + a wrap bracelet.
• A short-sleeve lace top + black jeans.  Add gold bangles.
• A short-sleeve lace top + dark denim.  Add a dainty gold necklace + a couple of delicate gold bracelets together.
• A short-sleeve lace top or lace tank + a short jean skirt.  Add sandals, or heels + earrings.
• A short-sleeve lace top + white jeans or pants.
• A black lace tank + bootcut blue jeans.  Add a long beaded pendant + tan heeled booties.
• A black lace tank + blue jeans.  Add a long gold chain necklace + heeled sandals, or a delicate gold necklace + narrow gold bangles.
• A black lace tank + a black vest + jeans.  Add cut-out booties + a cuff + a statement ring.
• A lacy black tank top + blue jeans.  Add a tennis bracelet or black bracelet or a cuff + heels.
• A lace camisole + blue jeans.  Add crystal earrings + a crystal bracelet or two.
• A lace t-shirt + a maxi skirt or comfy jersey pants.
• A lace t-shirt + blue jeans.  Add a delicate necklace + narrow bangles.
• A short-sleeve sequin t-shirt + khakis.  Add a couple of tassel necklaces + a cuff paired with a bead bracelet + an ethnic embroidered purse.
• A short-sleeve sequin tee + jeans + sneakers.
• A long sequin top over skinny jeans.  Add bracelets + black heels.  Or, add nude/tan ballet slippers or other flats.
• A sequin tank + blue jeans.  Add bracelets or statement earrings.
• A sequin tank + floral skirt + a wide belt.  Add sandals + bangles + earrings.
• A sequin tank top + a short jean skirt.  Add nude sandals + some earrings.
• A sleeveless black sequined tunic + black yoga pants.

More Spring/Summer Easy Evening Outfit Ideas

• Easy restaurant dinner:  A tan safari jacket + tan trousers + a brown or black camisole or other bare black top.  Add a bronze sequined belt & sandals, or a leopard-print belt & shoes/boots.
• Summer dinner:  A navy bare t-shirt + navy silky pants + a pretty-color shirt worn open as a jacket.  Add a belt + sandals (try gold.)
• Summer drinks at a rooftop bar:  A long slim skirt + a tank top.  Add bright earrings + a shiny clutch.
• A casual date or weekend get-together:  A sweater in a matching color to track pants.  Add open shoes.  Use natural makeup.  If cool or rainy, you may want to add a windbreaker.
• A short-sleeve tee tucked into a tulle skirt.  Add slip-on sneakers.
• A graphic tee tucked inside a short chiffon mesh skirt.
• A fitted tee tucked into  a short chiffon skirt.
• A black surplice or wrap top + blue jeans + large sparkly earrings.
• A twist-front top + blue jeans.  Add a touch of sparkle.
• A soft cotton tee tucked into a short black skirt.
• Layer two tanks (or a camisole over a tank) and tuck inside a pencil skirt.  Add a belt + layered necklaces.
• A peplum top + blue jeans.  Add an openwork cuff + heels + a clutch.
• Black peplum top + black pants.  Add a chunky chain bracelet.
• A peplum top + slim pants.  Add metallic sandals + a delicate pendant.
• A black tank top + a black cashmere cardigan + black floral skirt.  Add a gold belt & sandals + a shawl.
• A longer-length short-sleeve black tee + skinny jeans.  Add black heels + a bracelet.
• A sexy black camisole + tan pants.  Add black heels + a gold clutch + delicate gold bracelets.
• A black cami + black or dark denim.  Add heels, whether shoes or booties.
• A black tank top + blue jeans.  Add black heels + a bracelet.

Were these ideas helpful to you?  Let us know in the comments below!

Like this post?  You might also want to read:  

• “Here Are 45 Sure-Fire Ways to Rock a Kimono!“
• “How to Look Cool in the Heat of Summer“
• “How to Style Palazzo Pants Your Own Special Way“

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