SHOP: Yes you CAN wear supermarket linen! It's the easiest way to look elegant this summerREAD MORE: The ultimate guide to feeling confident about your arms this summerSee more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy DINAH VAN TULLEKEN, FASHION EDITOR Updated: 15:36 BST, 15 June 2026
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn moreEvery summer, as temperatures rise, I dig out my summer wardrobe from yesteryear - the same few items that I have been wearing for, in some cases, decades. There are so few opportunities to wear these high-summer pieces that replacing them can feel hard to justify. But this year, they need a refresh. So, I've come up with five easy swaps that will breathe new life into a hot-weather wardrobe without requiring a complete overhaul. From replacing that old bikini with a chic swimsuit to ditching your trusty utility shorts for a more polished alternative, these are the simple switches that will instantly make your summer wardrobe feel more current.SWAP: Bikini for swimsuitFor years, bikinis were sold to us as the ultimate symbol of youthful confidence, but I'm delighted to report that the thing to be seen in now (whether you’re twenty-one or sixty-two) is a swimsuit. hurrah! Not only are one-pieces infinitely more forgiving, they're also considerably chicer. A great swimsuit looks polished in a way an old bikini rarely does. I’ve just treated myself to this rib texture square neck swimsuit from John Lewis, £45. Consider it the easiest summer upgrade you'll make.SWAP: Trainers for espadrillesAren’t trainers always a sensible choice? Not in summer, no. Warm weather requires footwear that works just as hard but doesn’t leave you with sweaty feet. Enter the espadrille. While rope sandals, gladiators, and sliders come and go, the timeless jute-soled design remains a steadfast summer favourite. Head straight to Penelope Chilvers for everything from flat fisherman styles to classic wedges, as well as a beautiful range of velvet designs. Dress them up, dress them down, wear them to the beach or the office, footwear doesn’t get more versatile than this.SWAP: Floaty floral maxi for anything with a drop-waistA throw-on dress is one of the great joys of summer dressing. But if you're still reaching for the same safe floral maxi you've been relying on for years, it might be time to broaden your horizons. Look for a style with a drop waist. Fitted through the top and flowing into a fuller skirt, it creates a flattering silhouette and the illusion of a longer torso, offering shape and structure without compromising on comfort. Opt for something with a fuller skirt, like this puff sleeve midi-dress from Albaray, £120 - it'll allow for a welcome breeze when temperatures become genuinely unbearable.SWAP: Utility shorts for long city shortsI know, I know, those khaki utility shorts are so easy. And they've probably been in your wardrobe for so long that parting with them feels emotionally challenging. But maybe it's time to put them to the back of the wardrobe this year. The long city short - cut looser through the leg and finishing on knee - offers the same practicality while looking infinitely more polished. Worn with a crisp shirt, simple tank or lightweight knit – I love how Next have styled their bright red, £32, with this stripe polo - they instantly elevate your summer wardrobe while remaining every bit as wearable as their more casual counterpart.SWAP: Basic T-shirt for a boho blouseA white T-shirt is an essential in every fashion editor's wardrobe, but if it's your summer go-to, now might be the moment to give it a rest. Instead, may I suggest a cotton blouse? It doesn't necessarily have to be full boho, but something with a little more detail will instantly lift an outfit. Think subtle embroidery, a bit of broderie or a softly puffed sleeves, like this from Per Una at Marks and Spencer, £32. It has the power to transform a simple jeans-and-t-shirt combination into something that feels considered. Exactly the sort of dressing shortcut we all need when it's too hot to think.
