This cardigan is so cute on its own that I wear nothing underneath it. (Size up for a louche, laid-back fit.)

1. Alex Mill cardigan,

2. Acne Studios shorts,

3. Bottega Veneta earrings,

4. Madewell crochet tote,

5. Tory Burch fisherman sandals,

The must-have shorts-and-shirt set that sold out several times over last summer are back--and even better. Made with organic cotton, the boxer-inspired bottoms and throw-on-and-go crisp tops come in a new vibrant array of colors and ! I'm leaning toward the endlessly versatile neutral combo, below, which I'd also sport separately, of course. Pick your favorite !

The Wall Street Journalrecently reported "joy dressing" is summer's biggest trend, with "exuberant, over-the-top clothing heralding happiness, relief and new beginnings." Well then, this vivid top is my kind of joy!

Unlike many people I know, I don't have a drawer full of denim shorts. I own just one pair--vintage Levi's cut-offs--because I am super discerning about fit, length and wash. But I am about to add another to my highly-curated drawer: The high-waist patch-pocket pair by , above, is a little more polished than my cut-offs, plus extremely comfy and flattering. And I love the cute to go with! I'd also team with this , , and .

All that time lounging around in gym clothes has made some of us masters at making them look super chic. , who splits her time between New York and Barcelona, is one of them. Her strategy is to pair her gym shorts (now a veritable summer trend) with more elevated--and unexpected--pieces, such as a polished button-down or stylish stripes. Of course, the right gym shorts (and their distant relatives) are clutch. So I boiled it down to these guys from , , , , , and .

The snow-dusted mountains above Malibu this weekend(!) didn't stop me from daydreaming about wearing these sandals to warm sandy beaches.

The last time I wore leather shorts was many moons ago (2012, to be exact), when they were all the rage. Although I felt like they were a little bit out of my style league, I was able to pull them off, toned down with elegant flats and a simple t-shirt. Now, I'm happy to report that I'm doing it again, despite Covid's slouchy-dressing dictates! I found the perfect pair in Topshop's . They're more like culottes with a knee-length hem, which makes them sophisticated yet laid-back, plus they're amazingly versatile: WFH-friendly as well as venture-proof. I teamed them with another Topshop score: a $95 do-it-all black (that will go over any dress, blouse, sweater, or even nothing!). If it sounds like I went on a bender, well, yes, I did: I also scooped up the chic (to wear over everything!), the super cute , below, and the cozy (ideal for transitional weather). Bring it all on, because I'm ready!

Soft, slouchy and chic--almost too good to be true at this price!

Loving this summer's power suit--a polished yet relaxed combo of shorts and a matching top (either a blouse or blazer). The full less-is-more look is in step with fashion's current ethos--and my state of mind. Slam-dunk versions come from (and ) above, , , , , and (last pic).

Typically by now our favorite white jeans are hard at work. This year, however, is a little different--to say the least. This summer's shortcut to style rests easy in a pair of white shorts, suitably relaxed but still crisp and cool. They look ideal, I think, when paired with a blazer or button-down shirt. The effect: dressed, but not too dressed, if you know what I mean. I like these combos from , , , , , and .