The 23 Best New Pieces of Summer Menswear to Buy This Week by Eric Twardzik

The latest and greatest from 3Sixteen, Gucci, Brooks Brothers, and more.

Soon: Independence Day. Sooner: tastefully reimagined penny loafers from John Lobb, maritime shawl collar cardigans by Polo Ralph Lauren and vintage-inspired, pure silk aloha shirts via Valentino. And if that failed to get your taste buds tingling, this week happens to see Italian linen popovers from Drake’s and Gucci bit loafers made from faux raffia. As you were.

Kule The Men’s Pickleball Sock

Photo : Kule

Kule The Men’s Pickleball Sock

Signal your allegiance in the escalating tennis vs. pickleball conflict with these Kule socks that take the latter’s side. Alternatively, tennis partisans may use them as a disguise to infiltrate their court-stealing foes.

BUY NOW ON KULE: $30

The 17 Best Beach Bags and Totes for Summer 2023 by Julia Marzovilla

Now that we’re officially approaching the dog days of summer, a trip to the beach has never felt more necessary. Between the incessant heat, sticky humidity, and cramped feeling we’re all experiencing in our tiny apartments, the beach seems like a welcome escape–which means that finding the best beach bag, one that can hold all your oceanside essentials while looking stylish, has never been more important. 

Team Marie Claire has a penchant for finding the best bags for summer. Case in point: We’ve already uncovered the best basket bags and the best net bags. Naturally, finding a great beach bag was next up on our to-do list. Our picks run the gamut when it comes to style and substance. Some are made of raffia, while others are made from recycled cotton or sturdy canvas. Some of the beach bags on this list are foldable for easy storage in your closet, while some are great for sportier beach days that may or may not include a hike. These beach bags and totes will hold everything you need and keep your most prized possessions safe while you dip in the pool, courtesy of inner pockets and hidden pouches. 

So, pull out your cutest bikini or one-piece swimsuit, find your favorite pair of sandals in your collection, grab your best sunglasses from their case, and submit an official out-of-office request: it’s time for a beach day. Or, if you can’t get to the beach right now, feel free to settle for your nearest pool (just don’t forget your sunscreen). 

What to Look For in Beach Bags

“The ultimate beach bag needs to be two things: fun and practical,” says Rickie De Sole, the Women’s Fashion Director at Nordstrom. 

• Fun

“A day at the beach under the warm sun calls for color,” de Sole says. The Nordstrom fashion expert encourages you to seek out playful design details like crochet, embroidery, woven straw fabrications, striking patterns, and trendy color palettes. “I love a brightly-printed tote or a raffia bag with vibrant trim,” she specifically shouts out.

• Practical

“Beach bags, by nature, need to hold lots of stuff: suntan lotion, books, magazines, sunglasses, water bottles, towels—the list goes on! You’ll want to look for something roomy that you can pile your belongings into,” explains the Nordstrom fashion expert. “I look for totes that have pockets inside or a coordinating pouch to keep important items like my wallet secure.”

The Best Beach Bags

BEST GINGHAM BEACH BAG

KULE The All Over Gingham Tote

$198 at KULE

Carrying a lot of stuff? This 100 percent cotton bag from KULE will hold all of your essentials. It measures 25 inches across and is seven inches deep, meaning it can hold all your beach towels, bathing suits, sunscreen, and more. It’s made of 100 percent cotton canvas and features an undeniably summery gingham print. Bonus: you can even coordinate your outfit with your bag, courtesy of KULE’s matchy-matchy separates—like this collared polo shirt and knit bandana in the same picnic-ready pattern. 

Craft the Chicest Summer Capsule Wardrobe–All for Under $300 by Laura Jackson

Thanks to those high-street heroes we know and love, like Mango, Cos, and Everlane, crafting a perfectly uninformed look doesn’t have to break the bank. Even contemporary brands—think Staud, Reformation, and Ganni—offer up fabulous fashion finds for under $300. With temperatures on the rise, relying on a strong (and affordable!) foundation of style staples is one fail-proof way to tackle the season seamlessly–sartorially speaking, of course. 

This summer, our affordable capsule wardrobe begins and ends with the basics—and what is more basic than a delightful pair of denim or a breezy button-up? When it comes to sleek jeans, nothing achieves understated elegance quite like a white jean. Serving as the fashion foundation to any and all summer outfits to come, style yours from Agolde to Frame with the aforementioned button-ups, like those from Anine Bing and Vince. Similarly versatile to your warm weather wardrobe are crisp pairs of linen trousers. For workwear or beachwear, this is one essential to invest in all summer long. Meanwhile, lightweight, striped sweaters from La Ligne and The Frankie Shop are notably nautical, best worn with a pair of not-so-short shorts or even draped over a cheerful sundress. Speaking of dresses, flowy frocks from Dôen, Faithfull The Brand, and Polo Ralph Lauren are easy and most importantly, effortless. 

No summer capsule wardrobe is complete without a statement swimsuit or two, whether it’s Everlane’s little black bikini or Tory Burch’s perfect one-piece. And finally, to finish off any look, carry a festive beachy bag from Dragon Diffusion to DeMellier and step into simple sandals from A.Emery to ATP Atelier. 

All for under $300, these affordable capsule wardrobe pieces are as high-quality and chic as ever. Shop our edit, below.   

The Striped, Lightweight Sweater

Layering essentials that can easily be added in and out of a summer outfit are ideal for an affordable capsule wardrobe. Enter the striped sweater. Worn all on its own or atop a simple white dress, the nautical style thrives during the summer months. Get the look courtesy of La Ligne, Zara, Kule, and more. 

Kule The Betty sweater

$298

KULE

9 Affordable Outfit Ideas to Up Your Summer Style Game by Madeline Fass

Summer is the best season when you’re shopping on a budget. Behold, an assortment of cotton poplins, raffia accessories, tops and tanks that fall on the more approachable side of the price point spectrum. Follow the guide below to add a new piece or two to your current summer wardrobe for less than $300. From vacation-ready jewelry to add some pizazz to your current top rotation or a sandal in a new color to ground your go-to summer looks, there are a mix of staples and statements that won’t break the bank, plus head-to-toe outfit ideas to complement every look.  

Show Your Stripes

White cutaway tanks have become a summer wardrobe hero, but how about mixing in one with horizontal stripes? Just add pair of tailored shorts and an understated thong heel.

Kule tank

$75

KULE

Chic Button-Down Shirts for Women to Wear Everywhere by Cassie Hurwitz and Sara Klausing

A stylish wardrobe staple for this summer and beyond.

Is there anything quite as classic as a crisp button-down shirt for women? The style comes in nearly every color, pattern, fabric, and cut—from slouchy, oversize versions to crisp white shirts and breezy linen button downs. Plus, button-down shirts can be worn with a ton of different outfits and in a ton of different ways. You can’t go wrong by tucking one into a pair of jeans or tailored trousers. Button-downs are fantastic as layering pieces in the summer. Throw one over your bathing suit when you’re pool or beachside, or tie it over your shoulders to have as an added layer for strong AC. However you wear a button-down shirt, it’s bound to look stylish.

Because there are countless options out there, we’ve selected 20+ of the best button-down shirts around. The list includes everything—cotton poplin shirts, sustainable linen, and even washable silk. There are a range of fits, too, from tight to fitted to oversize. And some different cuts, like cropped shirts, and short sleeves button down tops.

Read on for our favorite button-down shirts for women to wear this summer and beyond.

18

Kule The Hutton Oversize Shirt

$228 AT KULE.COMCREDIT: KULE

Oprah-favorite brand Kule’s take on the button-down shirt is this classic, oversize cut. It’s 100 percent cotton and borrows its style from men’s shirting, meaning it’ll have a polished, crisp feel with a slouchy, relaxed fit. Best of both worlds, if you ask us.

The 12 Very Best Cashmere Sweaters: From wardrobe staples to bright color-blocked sweaters. by Arielle Avila

A cashmere sweater is a versatile, durable, seasonless investment that can last decades (as long as you keep the moths away). But choosing the right one can be overwhelming because you’re paying a premium price for an inherently luxurious staple. Cashmere comes at a heftier price because cashmere yarn comes from the fluffy undercoat of cashmere goats, which makes for a softer and warmer fiber than sheep’s wool. (Fascinatingly, cashmere goats are a type and not a breed; according to the Cashmere Goat Association, almost all goats can grow cashmere, but only selectively bred flocks produce it “in significant amounts.”)

Plenty of brands are now offering more affordable options. To make sure you’re not sacrificing quality for price, I tried out sweaters from some of the top budget brands in that space as well as some luxury options to see how they hold up. I mainly tested each sweater’s feel, weight, and durability. (Note: I’ve had the sweaters for as long as a couple of months and as short as one week. I’ll have updates on that last point as time goes on.) I also reached out to stylish folks to see which ones they thought are worth the cost or skimp on quality. Read on to see our picks from every price point.

What we’re looking for

Sizing, Quality, Style and details, Price

Best striped cashmere sweater

Kule The Sophie Sweater

$298

Sizing: XS to XL | Style details: Crewneck with stripes | Price: $$$

After a few of her sweaters “were decimated by moths,” former Strategist writer Hilary Reid bought this Kule cashmere sweater on sale. She says it’s the “softest, most substantial-feeling cashmere sweater” she owns. It has an “ideal and elusive crewneck fit: It’s cut comfortably close enough to wear on its own, but can still accommodate a shirt underneath without looking bulky.” It comes in a wide range of classic patterns of black, white, brown, and navy stripes, as well as less-traditional patterns that feature fun multicolored stripes.

$298 AT KULE