Essential Wardrobe Items for Summer 2026

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      What Fashion Editors Are Actually Buying for Summer 2026 | Who What Wear - YouTube

      As temperatures rise and daylight extends, it’s the perfect moment to revamp your summer wardrobe. In the newest episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, Kat Collings chats with Who What Wear’s Chichi Offor and Lauren Eggertsen about their essential summer pieces, trending styles, and beyond. Offor is leaning towards a classic summer staple: shorts. "I’ve been into jorts and generally long shorts," she mentioned. "Something long like Bermuda, but loose rather than tight." Eggertsen is eyeing a specific pair of cotton poplin pants from J.Crew that keeps selling out: "I’ve attempted to add them to my cart numerous times, but they’re always back-ordered. They’re just so adorable." For our editors' favorite summer picks for 2026, scroll down below.

      Let’s begin with the classics you reach for each summer.

      Chichi Offor: "I’m really into jorts and long shorts—something long like Bermuda, but I prefer them loose rather than tight. I love skirts; I’m definitely a skirt person… For summer, I'm leaning towards knee-length styles or I might incorporate some maxi options. Flowing pants are a must. Oh my gosh, everything needs to breathe, you know?"

      Soeur

      Black Henna Bermuda Shorts

      MANGO

      Straight Linen Bermuda Shorts

      Lauren Eggertsen: "I completely agree. I definitely gravitate towards flowy pants. I adore linen or poplin. Just before we started this, I was telling Kat about this J.Crew style, the Luna Pant, which keeps flying off the shelves, and I can’t seem to get a pair. I've tried adding them to my cart multiple times, but they keep going back-ordered, yet they’re just so cute. I love a flowy skirt and a button-down—pieces that I can easily mix and match with everything."

      J.Crew

      Luna Pant in Cotton Poplin

      Buck Mason

      Natural Sea Breeze Linen Pull-On Pant

      With Nothing Underneath

      The Boyfriend Exaggerated Cuff

      Hair accessories significantly reflect the current style trends. What does summer 2026 look like in terms of hair accessories?

      LE: "I was excited to discuss French combs because they’re incredibly chic. Hair pins are also clearly stylish. I believe the French twist, in general, has evolved from the claw clip. The claw clip used to be the go-to accessory, and now it seems to take on a more practical function."

      Machete

      Grande Heirloom Claw

      Kitsch

      Metal French Hair Pin

      CO: "I’ve noticed some striking hair pins with beads or adorable adornments, which I feel represents the trendy 2026 version."

      Jennifer Behr

      Paros Hair Pin

      Jennifer Behr

      Gretel Hairpin

      Dresses. I'm always in search of a "throw on and go" dress and would appreciate some guidance. What’s trending this summer?

      CO: "Last year, drop-waist styles were in vogue, and I think you’ll continue to see some drop-waist options this year. Baby-doll dresses are looking cute and fashionable."

      Gap

      Poplin Drop-Waist Maxi Dress

      COS

      Sculpted Drop-Waist Midi Dress

      Madewell

      The Chateau Mini Dress

      Now, let's discuss shoes, starting with sneakers. Are we sticking to sporty, low-profile designs or is there a shift approaching?

      LE: "I believe they’re still sporty and low-profile. It seems that luxury brands, like Celine, are leading the trend, which then trickles down to more accessible brands and price ranges. I noticed this during a visit to a Prada store last spring, where they had styles similar to Keds. I was curious to see how everyone interprets this."

      Keds

      Champion Canvas Lace-Up Sneakers

      Nike

      Moon Shoe OG Sneaker

      This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.