While purchasing off-beat products is mood-boosting, having the essentials in your wardrobe is mood-matching. No matter how hot it gets, it’s important to know what clothes to pick for the summer season. This summer we’re crushing on mini skirts, hot shorts and dresses that are made with breathable fabrics in easy fits and all in all, provide comfort.

Optimism comes from a palette of colours that include vibrant hues, almost-neon tones and sometimes, pastels. While an array of clothes are normcore and are seen summer after summer, looks are elevated with clever styling - say wearing basic denim shorts with a trendy one-shoulder top, accessorising with layered necklaces and tying an old-school braid. And honestly, styling tips are aplenty only if we have these must-have summer clothes in handy in our wardrobes:

Mini Skirts

Resurging from the 2000s era, mini skirts are appearing as fashion favourites this year. This summer will see styles of mini skirts presented by fashion brands - ruched, denim, pleated, flared, asymmetrical and all that lies in our memory after two decades of being dormant. These skirts can transition from day to night wear with little effort involved.

Look to Khushi Kapoor for vacation styling. She is seen wearing a white cropped top with an immensely trending lavender coloured skirt.

Pro tip: Every kind of mini skirt style is trending. Go by your preference and style it with a boxy or fitted top.
 

Breezy Maxi Dresses

You can never go wrong with long dresses. They’re one of the most versatile fashion pieces that can transition you from the office to a party, or even to the seaside. Maxi dresses, as they're also known, have been there for a while, but this summer, it’s becoming a celebrity choice.

Style-setter Sonam Kapoor looked chic in a long white dress, paired with stilettos and a micro bag.

For a day meant for relaxing, be on the lookout for a long kaftan dress like Sonakshi Sinha’s.

Pro tip: For a formal event, wear your long dress with studded earrings, and heels of your choice and carry a handbag. For casual outings, wear hoops and flat sandals and carry a crossbody bag. Note, that white is a popular choice!
 

Mini Dresses

Short dresses and summer go hand in hand. If we had to name one thing we love about them, it’ll be the grace it displays. Just like mini skirts and long dresses, short dresses, too, come in a variety of patterns.

Breezy pastel dresses with an add-on, say belts or bows, can be worn on any day, proved Katrina Kaif. Her lemon dress also features puffed sleeves and ruffles. What more can a woman ask for?

Pro tip: Wear short dresses with complementing belts to make a style statement and wear flat footwear for all-day comfort.
 

Shorts

Shorts need no introduction as they're a girl’s best friend (after diamonds of, course?). The ones who are conscious can opt for the Bermuda style, while other women can try wearing hot shorts like Ananya Panday or Alia Bhatt.

For a get-together with friends, Ananya Panday wore a corset top, greige shorts and platform heels.

For a more casual look, be inspired by Alia Bhatt as she wore a loose tee with denim shorts.

Pro tip: Shorts can be styled with countless tops or tees too. Wear it with cropped tops, t-shirts, shirts, blouses, and honestly, how you like it the most! We’d suggest you pair it with sneakers.
 

Shirts

Shirts are a classic, irrespective of the season. But while florals, bright hues or stripes exist, look to the most basic option - the collared white shirt - to wear this season. Thinking whether to button it up or layer it over a bralette? You can do both!

Athiya Shetty presented an effortless look with a white shirt. Perfect for a hot day, she wore it with wide-leg floral shorts.

Shanaya Kapoor posed at home in a bralette layered with a half-sleeved shirt.

Pro tip: Wear it with shorts as you saw as well as with straight denim or coloured pants.
 

Co-ord Sets

Printed or solid coloured coordinates are taking the internet by storm. It’s seen everywhere from the runways to the streets and honestly, you can wear it anywhere, depending on its kind. A family meeting, a shopping spree, or at the gym - are few to name.

Add a look similar to Diana Penty’s to your vacation wardrobe. The set comprises a long skirt and off-shoulder cropped top in a zesty print.

Kiara Advani looked powerful in a blotch-dyed denim set.

Pro tip: Co-ord sets are fun to experiment with and you can do it as per your mood. We’d suggest you try wearing them with a selection of footwear such as strappy heels, flip flops, chic sliders and sneakers. For casual sets, pick a crossbody bag and for formal occasions, create a statement look with a mini bag.
 

One-Shoulder Tops

The ascend of one-shoulder styles is at its peak today with it being seen in western clothes as well as Indian wear. One-shoulder tops, in particular, are separate that can be tucked into bottoms ranging from joggers to jeans and skirts to shorts.

Karisma Kapoor was captured in a black one-shoulder top featuring ruffles that are tucked into beige trousers.

Alia Bhatt, on the other hand, wore a one-shoulder jersey top with denim for a casual look.

Pro tip: Make sure to pair it with some accessories, be it statement earrings or a short-chain necklace.
 

Kurtas

We bet, this is your favourite summer go-to. Breezy cotton on a humid day is an easy way to escape the heat while completing the scheduled tasks simultaneously. If work lasts from the AM to PM, we’d recommend you to wear a light kurta, if you don’t already.

Diana Penty chose an ikkat-like print in a boxy silhouette (exactly what we desire).

Pro tip: Pair your summer kurta with matching pants or ankle-length tights for maximum comfort. You can also wear oxidised jewellery if you wish.