What Stylish Women Are Wearing for Summer in the City
Words by Eleanor Hibberd
Cast off your coat! Leave the layers at home! Summer has finally arrived and we are once again blessed with the unburdened joy of warm-weather dressing. There’s nothing quite like a summer season in London, but it’s not a city known for its sunshine – so when blue skies appear, our wardrobes can feel somewhat unprepared. You could reach for your holiday pieces – but some things that look good on a boardwalk can feel out of context on a concrete pavement. So, how to approach dressing for summer in the city? We’ve looked to some of today’s most stylish women for the key pieces to buy.
Bermuda Shorts
How do you take the sophistication of a midiskirt and translate it to shorts? Michaela Coel and Ayo Edebiri have the answer. Tailored shorts have been a staple for several seasons now, but their elongated cousins have emerged as the marker of a truly cool dresser in 2026. Bermuda shorts, as they’re often known, are polished enough for the office or a lunch date, while somehow managing to retain that laid-back energy of an urban summer. Swap out your denim cut-offs for a knee-length pair too – you’ll be surprised just how much it freshens up your look.
The Colour-Block Dress
Little white and little black dresses deserve all the press they get for being chic and versatile, but they’re not the stars of summer 2026. Block brights and primary colours are a key trend in the SS26 collections, so expect to see plenty of them – they’re a great alternative to the tropical prints that feel more appropriate for holidays, but bring the same vibrant energy. Red has had a stellar couple of years that are only set to keep going, judging by the latest fashion-week trends, but there are plenty more colours in the rainbow, so don’t be shy.
The Fashion Flip-Flop
Once upon a time, we would have relegated flip-flops to the ‘never wear beyond the beach’ category. In fact, getting your toes out in a city is such a divisive topic that we’ve even written a guide to summer shoes that aren’t sandals. Nevertheless, something has happened to this humble piece of footwear. A follow-on from the recent resurgence of ‘90s minimalism, flip-flops have been dressed up in chic outfits on the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber – aka the queens of LA street-style. The trick is to look for finer finishes – leather, suede, satin, patent – or go for a little stiletto heel or an architectural wedge. They will quite literally go with anything in your wardrobe.
The Boho Top
How do you make denim feel summery? Pair it with broderie anglaise, cotton muslin and eyelash lace. The answer is nothing new – it’s the Chloé-girl formula – but it’s a look that’s been gaining fresh attention thanks to the popularity of boho-leaning brands, like the aforementioned Chloé under Chemena Kamali, Zimmermann, Ulla Johnson and coastal Californian brand Doên. If you’re styling with jeans as Katie Holmes and Rosé have, make sure they’re on the looser side – baggy boyfriend shapes or barrel legs. They’ll only enhance the nonchalant Cali-girl effect. On warmer days, try it with those knee-length denim shorts, too.
Katie Holmes, 2026, via Getty Images
Rosé, 2025, via Getty Images
White Jeans
Speaking of denim, have you invested in a pair of white jeans yet? They’re usually touted as a ‘transeasonal staple’ – for that in-between time when you don’t know what the weather’s doing. But let’s face it, that’s every day in London. When shorts and dresses are off the menu, white jeans hit that perfect sweet spot of lightness and substance – and, by the way, they look incredibly chic with a leather flip-flop.
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