You Asked, Ali Answered: Best Summer Staples for 2020?
You can take the girl out of the fashion closet, but you can’t take the fashion closet out of the girl. goop fashion director Ali Pew reports from her post at home—giving us all the inspiration and sage styling advice, as well as a peek inside her exceptionally well-maintained wardrobe. Follow us on @goop to get your style q’s answered.
Q
What are the summer staples everyone can benefit from for 2020?
A
While there’s no crystal ball to predict what’s next for fashion, if I had to guess, we can expect to see—if we haven’t already—casual’s big comeback. Truth be told, we’re all looking for ways to make getting dressed less complicated, even if work-slash-life dress codes are nonexistent right now. Lately, I find myself reaching for easy fits and incredible-feeling fabrics that bring it all back to basics in an elevated way.
And that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice personal style. I’ve found that sometimes the most practical pieces can bring you joy, break up the week, and lift you out of a stretchy-waistband slump. These have no expiration date, so you can keep them in rotation from here on out.
1
the tee
Nothing is easier than a T-shirt (long-sleeve ones look particularly flattering with the sleeves pushed up). And when things get really hot, I usually go for a sleeveless style with a boxier cut or something with more shape that gives me options to play with styling. You can tuck it into a structured A-line skirt and add a heavier sandal, or you can wear it with simple shorts (I prefer longer cuts) and layer on the jewelry to add a little something to the neckline.
2
the dress
I love anything poplin, especially something long and comfortable that’s great to work in. I don’t wear tons of prints, but I love the patterned dress we did for G. Label; it’s classic and simple, and the silk is so lightweight. Dresses that I would normally wear as beach cover-ups have become housedresses because they’re so breezy.
3
the sandals
When I first moved from New York to LA, I held out on buying into Birkenstock culture for as long as I could. Fast-forward two years and I wear them all the time. I love the collaboration Proenza Schouler did with Birkenstock (I’ve been wearing my black slides nonstop)—they’re proof that these functional sandals can be fashionable, too. You can wear them with shorts and T-shirts or a simple silhouette, like a slim tank, to balance it out.
4
the long shorts
If you buy one thing this summer, make it long shorts. Finding the right fit is super important here: You either want them slim and straight or a true boyfriend cut (if you’re on the shorter side, the boyfriend is really flattering). The longer tailored style is easy and comfortable and looks cute with something more feminine, like a puff-sleeve shirt with striped detailing that’ll tie back to the tailoring.
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G. Label
JUSTIN PLEATED WIDE-LEG SHORTS
goop, $295SHOP NOW -
Studio Nicholson
shorts
goop, $100SHOP NOW -
Totême
shorts
goop, $385SHOP NOW -
Wear Them With
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Sophie Buhai
hoops
goop, $495SHOP NOW -
G. Label
NICOLE PUFF-SLEEVE BUTTON-DOWN WITH COLLAR
goop, $375SHOP NOW -
Loewe
slides
Matchesfashion, $550SHOP NOW
5
something loungy
As much as I try to get ready every day, some days, it’s just not in the cards. This is why having a corresponding sweat set is key. These lightweight matching sets make you feel a little bit more pulled-together. I also like having easy knits in great fabrics around that you can layer on top to make the whole look feel even more together.
6
the tote
Bags haven’t been getting much attention lately for obvious reasons, but I still find myself needing something practical that I can throw in the car for running errands. Hereu’s straw totes are great—mine comes with a pouch that you can use whenever you need to run inside somewhere (and it also doubles as a great beach bag). Rue de Verneuil also has so many new styles on goop in summery prints—I always throw a pouch inside so I have something smaller to grab and go.
7
the tank
No closet is complete without a ribbed tank, and we did a particularly amazing one for G. Label (I have it in a few colors). It’s sophisticated, it’s minimal, and the ribbing holds you in, so you don’t have to wear a bra. I originally bought it to go underneath a blazer and found myself wearing it all the time.
8
the workout upgrade
If you’ve neglected your workout drawer as I have, this is a perfect time to consider upgrading your leggings or investing in a lightweight track jacket for all those long walks (like this one from our G. Sport x Proenza Schouler collaboration)—anything that’ll get you motivated to move. We’re big fans of Patagonia at goop, and I picked up this mini fanny pack that was suggested to me by another editor, which has been great for hikes.
9
the summer sweater
You want something that’s easy and soft and just as great for chilly nights as it is for a weekend walk on the beach. I love this one from G. Label that doubles as a bomber. It’s chunky, it’s warm, and you can zip it all the way up with tees and shorts or even jeans. Another good option is this classic striped sweater. It’s cropped, so you can wear it with anything high-waisted and it’s really flattering. It also works well layered over a jumpsuit, which can be complicated to figure out what to throw on top of.
