Memorial Day Sales: What To Buy For Your Summer Outfits

Memorial Day sales have begun! This weekend is a great time to stock up on summer essentials, and refresh your wardrobe with some fashion updates. You’ll find new styles discounted for a limited time, as well as sale-on-sale items (just be aware that these are often from previous seasons, and sometimes final sale). Some of the best Memorial Day sales are happening at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor. Here’s what to put into your shopping cart…

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. As a ShopStyle Member, I earn a smallcommission when you purchase through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for reading and supporting Fashionipa.

T-Shirts & Tanks

This is the perfect time to go through your t-shirt collection so that you can replace the ones that are ripped, stained, stretched, or just don’t fit. Replace them with these:

Organic Cotton T-shirts

Cotton production creates a pretty high toxic load on our environment, so if you’re buying something new, consider organic cotton (which is pesticide-free and uses much less water than traditional cotton). Organic cotton t-shirts have become easier to find and more affordable as more brands are becoming environmentally conscious.

One of my favorite new t-shirts is Athleta’s Daily Printed Tee – this print has sold out but this newer Organic Daily Printed Tee is currently available and on sale.

I also love my Everlane Organic Cotton Box Cut Tee and Cutaway Tank which I wrote about in my 5 Basic T-Shirts To Add To Your Collection Now post. Aftera year of washing and wearing, they’ve held up well!

All of these organic cotton t-shirts are super soft and comfortable.

Puff-Sleeved T-shirts

Puff sleeves are still going strong and range from 80s style oversized puffs to more subtle gathered sleeves. I love Sanctuary’s Not So Basic T-Shirt which has pretty eyelet sleeves and comes in two colors.

Muscle T-shirts

Another throwback to the 80s is the muscle t-shirt which sometimes even includes shoulder pads. If you’re ready to show off those arms take a look at the Coni Shoulder Pad Cotton Sleeveless Muscle T-Shirt or this endless rose Padded Shoulder T-Shirt:

A Lightweight T-Shirt Or Tank

Madewell’s Whisper Cotton V-Neck Tee is another favorite of mine so I’m thinking about stocking up on new colors. I love that it’s not too tight (or too loose) and the darker colors are not sheer.

If you’re petite like me, you’ll also appreciate that the v-neck doesn’t come down too low. This style also comes as a tank top.

Graphic T-Shirt

J.Crew factory always has some fun graphic t-shirts. My current favorite is the pink lobster.

If you know your size at Everlane, the 100% Human Being Human Tee is currently 50% off but is a final sale item.

Summer Dresses

Who doesn’t love the simplicity of a dress?! I wear my short t-shirt dresses all the time, and am adding some midi and maxi styles to my closet.

I just bought this J.Crew Tiered Tank Dress in Stripe. It runs big so you may want to size down. It’s also a final sale item, so if you have the option of trying it on at a store, I highly recommend that. (GAP has a similar tiered tank dress on sale this weekend).

If you like softer colors, (and are tall) try Aqua’s Striped Maxi Dress. For something bright and bold, take a look at Banana Republic’s Halter Midi Dress.

If you are starting to go out to parties and events again, you might like Hobbs London’s Palm Leaf Midi Dress. It’s a pretty dress for graduations, date nights, or when you want to dress up on vacation.

Straw, Raffia Or Macrame Accessories

For a casual, DIY look, carry your essentials in a Macrame Bag.

If you don’t already have a straw hat to finish off your summer outfits, take a look at JCrew’s Textured Straw Hat Or Banana Republic’s Packable Raffia Hat. (Mine is an old one by Sole Society).

(For more of my favorite handbag styles of the season take a look at my Staud Mini Soft Moon Bag and Other Cute Handbags post).

Sandals

More details on summer shoes, coming soon, but in the meantime, here are some summer essentials!

Quilted And Woven Slides

I have a few pairs of Andre Assous shoes and love them, so I bought these Rylee Slide sandals, but unfortunately, they were just a tad loose on me. I’m looking at their Nicki Slides in woven leather hoping they might be a better fit.

Flatforms

Flatforms are still on-trend, so if you haven’t picked up a pair, there are lots of choices. My choice would be Teva’s Universal Sandals but I haven’t been able to find them in any of the Memorial Day sales, so if you’re looking for a bargain, try Steve Madden’s Henley sandals which are currently on sale at Nordstrom.

Shorts

What’s new in shorts? Super comfortable Pull On Shorts and Sweater Shorts. If you prefer denim shorts, you now have the option to buy longer, no-distress ones like Everlane’s 90’s Cheeky Denim Shorts or Levi’s Bermuda Shorts.

A Few Tips Before You Shop The Memorial Day Sales

First, take a look at these posts: 7 Shopping Mistakes And How To Avoid Them and 7 Questions To Ask Before You Buy (Especially During A Sale).

Then, take a long hard look at your calendar. Are you traveling again? Going back to the office? Staying home? Shop for your lifestyle. It’s all too easy to be tempted by the sales to buy what we don’t need!

Let me know what you’re buying during the Memorial Day sales!