Reading time: 4 min
Table of Contents
The edit:
- Three bold color combinations that define summer 2026: apricot and sage, cobalt and coral, and aubergine and gold.
- A-line shorts are the answer for those seeking a looser fit—think linen or denim with a 4-inch inseam.
- Lace-trim shorts can be elegant for a 40+ woman when the lace matches the fabric and the color is deep.
The three color stories of June
This season’s answer to the predictable white-and-beige uniform is a triad of intentional, unexpected palettes. The discerning traveler knows that a capsule is not about fewer choices but better ones. Here, the three combinations that feel right for June 2026.
Apricot and sage. A soft, sunbaked orange paired with a muted green—the kind of pairing that looks effortless but requires a precise eye. Think a linen blazer in apricot over a sage silk shell.
Cobalt and coral. Electric blue meets the last gasp of sunset. Wear it on a weekend in Montauk or at al fresco dinner on the Amalfi Coast. Worth every mile.
Aubergine and gold. For evening, nothing seduces like this. A velvet slip under a lamé blazer. Quietly, this became the most talked-about color story at the spring shows.
The great short hunt
“What do girls with thicker thighs wear for shorts?” a reader asked. The answer, truly, is an A-line. The kind of short that flares slightly at the hem, creating air and ease. Pistola makes a denim pair worth every mile. Madewell has one in rigid denim. Banana Republic offers a linen version that feels like a second skin. For athletic builds, the Lululemon A-line is the best. And for plus-size silhouettes? Universal Standard has a chambray pair that is quietly exceptional.
The golden rules: a 4-inch inseam, no drawstring, and darker colors. As a reader sagely noted, “I am 46 and had my first bout with vertigo—scary indeed. But I still want shorts that don’t scream ‘trying too hard.’”
Lace shorts: yes for 38
A DM arrived while I was in Colorado: “Are we really wearing lace shorts? I’M 38 FOR GAH SAKES!” The answer is yes, and the secret lies in the detail. The lace and satin must be the same color; a 4-inch inseam is non-negotiable; no drawstring helps; and darker colors elevate the look to something elegant rather than boudoir. The pair I found at Nordstrom (satin and lace in deep navy) is the kind of piece that transitions from a garden party to an evening terrace with singular grace.
“I got my first pair at 39,” a reader wrote. “If I like a trend, I may as well try it now.”
The birthday conundrum
A niece turns 19, the gift under $250, and no clothes, money, or gift cards. A reader proposed $250 worth of books with a gift receipt—an idea that was instantly praised as “genuinely luxurious.” Another suggested a Mason Pearson hairbrush (TikTok’s latest darling) or the Le Pliage bag. Analog gifts—a Polaroid camera, a CD burner, a Leatherman—have a quiet magnetism.
My own vote? The Alex Mill tote. It’s the kind of thing you don’t know you need until you have it.
My best buy so far
If one purchase defines my year so far, it’s the Aveda Volumizing Hair Tonic. The kind of product that delivers volume without crunch, and that’s worth every mile.
This post may contain affiliate links