We all have our go-to pieces when we’re not feeling like dressing up — pieces that we feel good in, can wear for a variety of occasions, and ideally can be layered to take us from day to night, summer to fall. Personally, I have a few: wide leg trousers and a T-shirt; a simple but chic ribbed maxi dress; and a combo that Blake Lively wore recently.
When actress Lively was spotted walking arm-in-arm in New York City with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, she wore an easy outfit combo that I wear all year round: classic straight-leg jeans and a basic black tank top. Lively paired these basics with mustard yellow Converse sneakers, honey-colored sunglasses, and a raffia Chanel bag for the perfect summer look.
Mother the Kick It High Waist Straight Leg Jeans
Nordstrom
Hanes Racerback Tank Top
Amazon
In my opinion, your seasonal uniform should lean more towards classics than trends. For a few reasons: First, re-wearing timeless pieces is much less conspicuous than wearing the season’s biggest and boldest trends, but perhaps more importantly, it can be anything with minimal effort. Lively paired her tank top and jeans with a light brown handbag and bright sneakers for a look that’s perfect for summer days: light, sunny, and simple. But swap out the shoes for some strappy heels and a leather jacket for a look you can wear to a late-night dinner or beyond.
While most wardrobe basics can accomplish this goal, I particularly love Lively’s choice. Her straight-leg jeans will never go out of style, but they’ve become the “it” jean this year. They’re figure-flattering, roomy, not skintight, not overly oversized, and easy to wear with anything, and they have a clean silhouette that enhances your outfit instead of stealing it. I also love that she opted for a black tank top instead of the typical white one. It’s a simple swap, but I think it makes the outfit look chicer and more luxurious.
We think Lively’s versatile two-piece summer outfit is a must-have for every wardrobe, and you can shop more jeans and tank tops inspired by her style below.
Get the look:
Levi’s wedge straight jeans
buy now: $46 (original price $80); amazon.com
Madewell baggy straight jeans
buy now: $98Author:
Favorite tank tops from Gap
buy now: $7; amazon.com
J.Crew Classic Straight Jeans
buy now: $75 (original price $148); jcrew.com
NYDJ Marilyn Straight Jeans
buy now: $78-$109 (list price $119); amazon.com
Vichy tank top
buy now: $19; amazon.com
Slouchy straight jeans in frame
buy now: $268 Nordstrom
Skims cotton jersey tank top
buy now: $40 Nordstrom
