Emma Chamberlain dresses for summer the way most of us wish we did: thrifted finds next to designer pieces, odd texture pairings, and nothing she can't walk in. The looks below come from places she's been photographed, from grabbing iced coffee in Los Angeles to trips through the South of France and front-row seats at shows. I've broken each one down as a full outfit, top to shoes, and added what I'd check on fit and fabric before you copy it, because a formula that works on her frame sometimes needs a small adjustment on yours.
The Sock-and-Loafer Habit, Worked Out for Real Feet
Half of the looks below end in loafers or ballet flats with a visible sock, and it's the detail people ask me about most. It looks easy, but making it look deliberate comes down to a few small choices.
- Sock height: a crew sock pushed down so it gathers just above the ankle bone. Pulled straight up, it reads as school uniform; too low, it looks like an accident.
- Sock weight: thin cotton or a fine rib. Thick athletic socks make a slim loafer look stuffed and push your heel up out of the shoe.
- Color: white with black shoes is her version. Cream is softer if bright white feels loud next to your skin.
- Fit: try loafers on with the socks you'll actually wear. A half size of room can disappear once there's fabric in the shoe, and new leather loafers need a few short wears before a full day.
It suits anyone in a mid-calf or longer hem, or in shorts. It's harder with a knee-length skirt, where the bare stretch of calf between hem and sock can make the leg look cut in two. If that's your usual hem, go bare-ankled and keep the loafer.
1. Long White Maxi Skirt With Tank Top and Loafers
On paper the pairing sounds wrong: a crisp white tank tucked loosely into a white maxi skirt that falls to mid-calf or lower, then black leather loafers with white crew socks scrunched just above the ankle. In practice the loafers are what make it, because they pull a soft, long skirt toward something preppy and a little boyish. I'd pick a close-fitting ribbed stretch-cotton tank and a light skirt with some movement, but check it in daylight first. A see-through white skirt needs a slip close to your skin tone, not a white one. A slim black shoulder bag and small silver hoops finish it, and it holds up for a full day of walking a city.
2. Baby Blue Romper With Black Ballet Flats
She wore this one in SoHo: a baby blue romper with puff sleeves and a Peter Pan collar, cinched at the waist, with square-toe black ballet flats and thin white ankle socks. The black shoes and a sleek black leather shoulder bag do the real work here, keeping a sweet piece from looking childish. Rompers are tricky, though. Torso length matters more than the size on the tag; if the body is too short it pulls every time you sit, so I always have people raise their arms and sit down in the fitting room before deciding. A crisp cotton or linen blend with a defined waist reads grown-up enough for brunch.
3. Vintage Denim Shorts With Crochet Top and Loafers
This is her Y2K-leaning take on a summer basic: a neutral crochet top with an open knit, light-wash high-waisted Levi's cutoffs, black loafers and scrunched white socks. A mini shoulder bag in patent leather or raffia adds a second texture without fighting the crochet. With crochet I check two things. First, what shows through the open stitches, so plan a skin-tone bralette or slim tank underneath. Second, how it handles a bag strap, because a rough strap snags loops fast. It's the outfit I'd reach for at a festival or a long lunch outside on a properly hot day.
4. High-Waisted Baggy Jeans With Crop Top and Sneakers
Her summer denim is usually straight or slightly baggy, high-waisted, in a medium or light wash, worn with a fitted crop top in a plain color or a faded graphic. The proportion is the whole point: loose below, close on top, with the crop landing right at the waistband so only a sliver of skin shows, if any. Low-top canvas sneakers keep it walkable, and a light denim jacket over the shoulders covers a cool morning. One caution about baggy jeans in heat. Heavy rigid denim gets swampy by afternoon, so if this is your travel-day outfit, look for a lighter-weight pair.
5. Capri Pants With Peplum Jacket and Court Shoes
For the Paris Olympics opening ceremony she went dressier: knee-grazing capri pants, a structured cream peplum jacket with a high neck, and classic black court shoes, with almost no accessories so the tailoring could carry it. A peplum adds shape at the waist and flares over the hip, which suits a straight figure well. If you're already full through the hip, a shorter, flatter peplum is kinder. Make sure the capri hem clears the widest part of your calf, or the leg looks chopped. In a breathable weave, I'd happily send someone to a summer wedding in this.
6. Oversized Blazer With Crop Top and Miniskirt
One of her most saved looks, from an Aritzia campaign, layers an oversized blazer over a simple crop top with a tank-style miniskirt and chunky platform shoes. Broad shoulders against a fitted top and a short hem make the silhouette sharp and a bit playful at the same time. The blazer has to be cut big on purpose, with dropped shoulders and sleeves you can push up. A regular blazer two sizes up just looks borrowed. Beige or gray goes with nearly everything, and a tiny bag tucked under the arm keeps the top half clean for a summer dinner or a gallery night.
7. Sporty Shorts With Yellow Polo Shirt
On the French coast she paired sporty drawstring shorts with a sunny yellow ribbed-knit polo and a roomy canvas tote with contrast stripes. The collar gives the shorts a little structure, and the yellow does the cheerful part so nothing else has to. Her shoes weren't clear in the photos, so I'd finish it with flat sandals or low sneakers. Yellow is the color I test hardest against skin. A buttery shade flatters warm undertones, while cooler skin usually looks better in a lemon with a hint of green. Fit the polo slim through the body so the ribbing lies flat instead of rippling.
8. Breton Stripe Top With Straight-Leg Jeans and Boat Shoes
In Paris she gave the classic French Breton stripe top a twist by choosing red stripes instead of navy, tucked into straight-leg high-waisted jeans, with brown leather boat shoes and no visible socks. Dark sunglasses and a leather crossbody were the only extras. The red is exactly why it doesn't look like a costume in that city. For real summer heat I'd choose a light jersey stripe over the thick traditional cotton, which turns warm by afternoon. A full tuck only works if the top is thin enough not to bunch at the waistband.
9. Navy Tennis Skirt With Tank Top and White Sneakers
At the 2024 Olympics she wore a navy pleated tennis skirt with a USA tank, crisp white sneakers, an embroidered baseball cap and a red sweater tied loosely at the waist. That tied sweater is color and a later layer in one, which is how I sell it to anyone who's skeptical. Check the skirt length before you buy. Tennis skirts run short by design, and one that sits slightly lower on the hip covers more without losing the swing of the pleats. It's an easy, low-stakes way into the tenniscore trend for weekend errands or an afternoon in the stands.
10. Striped Bikini Top With Red Sunglasses
For yacht days and beach lounging she keeps swimwear simple: a striped bikini top, bold red oval sunglasses and one fine pendant necklace. Each piece has a clear personality, which is why three items read as a whole look. To get from the boat to lunch, add high-waisted linen shorts or a sheer wrap skirt, a straw tote and flat leather sandals. Fine chains and salt water don't get along over a summer, so I keep the necklace for the dry part of the day and rinse anything that does go in the sea.
11. Short-Sleeve Blouse With White Maxi Skirt and Ballet Flats
In her South of France capsule wardrobe she reused the white maxi skirt with a slightly structured ivory blouse with small puff sleeves, plus black square-toe ballet flats. Swapping the tank for a sleeved blouse is all it took to make the skirt dinner-ready. Watch the two whites, though. Ivory against bright white can look like a mismatch in photos, so either stay in one shade or make the difference obvious. A compact black shoulder bag echoes the flats and keeps the palette quiet for a meal outside.
12. Levi’s 501 Shorts With Basic White Tank and Vintage Bag
Worn-in Levi's 501 cutoffs, a plain white tank and a vintage bag across the body might be her most repeated summer formula, and it works because each piece is good on its own. A thin brown belt, small gold hoops, and black loafers with white socks make the basics look finished. The bag carries the personality, so I'd spend time finding one with interesting hardware or properly aged leather. Cutoff length is the fit detail people forget: a raw hem frays upward with every wash, so cut them a little longer than you want them to end up.
13. Low-Rise Cargo Pants With Fitted Top and Loafers
Cargo pants had a real run in her wardrobe, styled with a fitted top and designer loafers. The low-rise, slightly oversized trousers sit against a slim ribbed tank or baby tee with only the front tucked, and a small structured bag keeps attention on the pants. Low rise is where most people struggle. It sits at the hip bone and can gap at the back when you bend, so I check that in a mirror and add a belt if needed. For hot travel days, a lighter cotton breathes far better than heavy twill.
14. Graphic T-Shirt With Long Shorts and Chunky Sneakers
She's said in interviews that she's been reaching for longer shorts and capris, and this is the casual version: an oversized graphic or band tee with knee-skimming shorts, chunky retro sneakers, white crew socks and sometimes a cap. Slouchy from top to bottom is risky. The chunky shoe is what anchors it, so the shorts don't look like they're swallowing you. If you're petite, keep the shorts just above the knee and tuck the front of the tee. I'd wear this on a road trip.
15. Denim Cargo Shorts With Oversized Tee and Sneakers
Denim cargo shorts with an oversized tee and plain sneakers show how utility pieces can look fresh in summer. The pockets add weight and texture low on the body, and the loose tee keeps the outfit from getting busy. She often tucks only the front, which gives you a waist without losing the relaxed shape. Keep the extras small: white sneakers, a canvas tote, tiny silver jewelry. Bellowed side pockets add width at the thigh, so if that's somewhere you'd rather not add volume, choose a pair where the pockets sit flat.
16. Cropped Button-Up With Black Capri Pants and Pointed Pumps
For a show appearance she wore a cropped white button-up with long, exaggerated sleeves, slim black capris, a black City bag and pointed pumps. Only a sliver of midriff shows, the capris end just below the knee, and the pointed toe stretches the leg line back out. It's a good lesson in balancing a little skin with a lot of structure. If cropped shirts make you self-conscious, a full shirt knotted at the waist gives the same idea. Don't swap the shoe for a round-toe flat; next to a capri, it shortens the leg noticeably.
17. Rugby Shirt With White Tennis Skirt and Knee Socks
At a Prada event in Milan she paired a color-blocked rugby shirt with a white tennis skirt and sheer knee-high stockings, plus pointed heels and a structured bag. The fitted rugby brings the collegiate part, and the sheer stockings add an odd, slightly subversive note. That's the perverse-prep idea she's been playing with. For daytime I'd trade the heels for chunky loafers. Rugby cotton is heavy, though, so in real summer heat I'd save this for an evening or somewhere air-conditioned.
18. White Crochet Top With High-Waisted White Trousers
A white crochet crop top with high-waisted white trousers is a tonal look that gets all its interest from texture: open weave against smooth cotton or linen. She warms the white up with tan leather sandals, a woven bag and tortoiseshell sunglasses. All-white needs its underlayers planned. I'd go for a bra close to your skin tone, never white, and check the trousers for pocket linings showing through. It suits a garden party or a bridal shower, though I'd keep all-white away from someone else's wedding.
19. Biker Shorts With Oversized Graphic Tee and Chunky Sneakers
Her laziest days get biker shorts under an oversized vintage graphic tee that falls past the hips, chunky sock-style sneakers with tube socks pulled up, and sporty oval sunglasses. A cap covers a hot afternoon. Tee length is what makes it look intended: it should cover the top of the shorts by a few inches, so it reads as a long layer rather than a tee that shrank. Pick biker shorts with a wide waistband that won't roll down when you walk.
20. Sweater Vest With Midi Skirt and Loafers
Cooler summer evenings bring out her sweater vests, thin knits in a plain color or argyle, worn over a fitted tee or alone above a midi skirt, with loafers, white socks and a structured bag. A vest adds texture without the heat of sleeves, which is why it bridges late summer and early fall so well. Keep the knit fine. A chunky vest over a midi skirt piles bulk at the middle. In summer, cotton or a cotton-linen blend breathes better than wool, and it's the layer I'd pack for a coastal night.
21. Olive Green Plisket Skirt With Crop Top and Mules
She's worn a long olive pleated skirt with a simple white crop top and backless mules, and it manages to look retro and current at once. Accordion pleats run vertically, so they lengthen the body, while the short top keeps the proportion young. Dark sunglasses and a small structured bag finish it. Olive grounds an outfit more softly than black in summer and suits a wide range of skin tones. Most pleated skirts like this are polyester, which holds its pleats through washing but hates a hot iron; steam it or use low heat.
22. Matching Lace Set With Minimal Jewelry
Lace looks current on her because she wears it as a matching top and skirt in one soft neutral, with fine gold jewelry and barely-there sandals. Staying in a single color family keeps it romantic without getting fussy. The first thing I look at on a lace set is the lining: a good one is lined to just short of the scalloped hem, while a cheap one skips the lining or lets it peek out. Clean shapes, nothing tight. It's lovely for an anniversary dinner, but skip white or ivory lace as a wedding guest.
23. Denim Dress With Chunky Platform Shoes
A vintage-style denim dress worn on its own is another favorite, usually an A-line or shift in a medium or dark wash with contrast stitching or a pointed collar. Chunky platform loafers or clogs add height and a 90s feel, and on a breezy day she adds a thin white long-sleeve tee underneath. Structured denim dresses don't stretch, so fit the shoulders and bust first and let a tailor take in the waist. A crossbody and plain hoops are enough. It's the dress I'd grab on a morning when I can't face putting two pieces together.
24. Ribbed Polo Shirt With Drawstring Shorts and Tote Bag
This is close to her seaside look, minus the yellow: a fitted ribbed polo with relaxed drawstring shorts and a big canvas or leather tote. The collar makes it a step neater than a tee, and the shorts keep it breathable. Her shoes change with the plan, ballet flats for lunch and sneakers for a lot of walking. Keep the colors neutral or tonal so the polo can rotate with your other summer bottoms. Ribbed knits cling, so size for a smooth fit rather than a tight one.
25. White Tennis Dress With Baseball Cap and Sneakers
On sporty days she's worn a crisp white tennis dress with a pleated skirt, a front zip and small cutouts, styled with a USA cap, white sneakers and crew socks. The dress does most of the work, so the accessories stay practical. Choose a performance fabric or a cotton blend that moves with you, and check outside that the white isn't sheer in full sun. Cutouts also leave tan lines in odd places, which is worth thinking about before a whole day watching a match outdoors.
Scaling Her Long Hems and Big Shapes Down for a Petite Frame
Many of these outfits rely on long hems and loose shapes, and on a shorter frame the same pieces can swallow you. These are the adjustments I make first.
Maxi and midi skirts
Hem the maxi so it just clears your ankle bone; a skirt that pools on the shoe drags the eye down. Tuck the top fully and keep the shoe slim.
Long shorts and capris
These are the hardest. Knee-length shorts and below-knee capris cut a short leg in half. I'd go an inch or two shorter than her versions and pick a pointed or low-cut shoe that shows more of the foot.
Oversized blazers and tees
Go big through the shoulders but no longer than the top of your thigh. Sleeves you can push up help too, because a cuff sitting at your knuckles makes any jacket look borrowed.
Tall readers have the opposite problem. Capris and crop tops often land higher than intended, so check the rise and torso length before you buy.
Hunting Down Vintage 501s Like Hers
The cutoffs and straight jeans she wears are mostly worn-in vintage, and buying old denim isn't like buying new. Older 501s are usually all cotton with no stretch, so they won't give at the waist the way modern jeans do. The size on the label is often off, too, because jeans shrink over years of washing. I ignore the tag and bring a tape measure: lay the jeans flat, measure straight across the waistband, double it, and compare that with a pair you already love.
Check the inner thighs and the crotch seam for thin spots, since that's where old denim tears first. If you're cutting your own shorts, cut longer than you think and wash them once before deciding; the fringe takes up more length than you'd expect.
One Solid Base, One Odd Detail
Her summer clothes work because she dresses for her day, not for the camera. Nearly every look starts with one solid base, like a long skirt, worn-in jeans or a structured romper, then adds one detail that's slightly off, such as socks with loafers or stockings with a tennis skirt. If you copy anything, copy that habit rather than a specific piece. Pick the base you'd honestly wear twice a week, and let the odd detail be the part you play with.
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