Zimmermann Top, Pareo & Scarf, Sensi Studio Bag, Britt Netta Sandals

A great summer top might be the hardest-working piece in your closet this time of year. There’s no sweater to layer on top, no coat to finish the look. It has to stand on its own, which means it has to feel special enough to do exactly that.

It’s why a fresh rotation of tops feels like such a priority heading into the season. I think a lot about what’s worth adding to the mix, the kind I can pull on with the shorts, linen pants, and or a breezy skirt.  A scarf print, a tie shoulder, a bit of embroidery, crochet, or raffia trim can make a top feel like the whole outfit, which is exactly the job a great summer top is meant to do.

Calle del Mar Top & Skirt (last seen here), Gianvito Rossi Sandals, Etro Bag, JB x Jennifer Behr Necklace (from previous collection, similar here), Janessa Leone Hat

Every summer there ends up being one color that starts to define the season for me, and this year it’s shaping up to be shades of orange. It started showing up in the pieces I kept saving, and now orange has become the common thread running through the resort looks I’m pulling together for the new few months ahead.

There are so many shades to play with across an orange spectrum. Some pieces feel more reminiscent of coral, others tangerine, and some are closer to saffron or rust. That range makes the color feel easier to wear, pairing back to contrasting colors or other variations of the hue with ease. Instead of one loud note, it becomes a whole summer palette, working just as well in a small accessory as it does in the piece you build the whole look around.

Bondi Born Bikini, Julia Amory Pants, Magda Butrym Scarf

The best days on vacation follow no schedule at all. The morning starts slow, no pressure to get dressed, and somehow you’ve ended up in a bikini on the beach by the time you’ve finished your second cup of coffee.

Then comes the in-between hour. You’re either heading to lunch, or just stretching a day of leisure a little further. The afternoon doesn’t call for a full outfit change, but you want to feel a touch more put together.

Zimmermann Bikini, Soleil Soleil Pareo, Retrosuperfuture Sunglasses, Missoni Headband (available here) | Juilet Bikini, Soleil Soleil Pareo, Janessa Leone Hat

A floral pareo tied at the waist. Gauze shorts after the pool. A crochet mini dress for padding around the house before heading back out. These are the in-between pieces that stretch a vacation wardrobe all day long. Suddenly you have an outfit without the pressure of getting dressed.

To complete the look, a wide-brimmed hat, green sunglasses, or a striped headband. These are the finishing touches you reach for between swims, keep them on through lunch, and somehow they’re still on when the sun starts to drop.