I tend to be an emotional dresser. I wake up with a gut feeling about what I’m going to wear, and I just let it roll. It’s part of why I’ve always struggled with adopting a capsule wardrobe—yes, I own a collection of reliable summer basics—but to limit my creativity to a handful of mix-and-match options makes me positively itchy.

So, as I’m preparing to pack for my summer getaways, and double down on my 90-degree-appropriate workwear, I’ve started to cherry-pick the additions I’ll be making to my summer wardrobe. As a Capricorn, and therefore a staunchly practical person, I always start with a few fundamental rules. Firstly: I must be able to wear anything I buy beyond the next three months. If it can’t transition to fall, or I won’t love it for years to come, it’s an instant no-go. Second: It can’t be so trendy that I’ll get tired of it. Yes, tapping into what’s cool is part of being a shopper. I see things on the runway and patiently wait for them to finally hit stores (and eventually, if I’m lucky, my body). But I avoid buyers’ remorse by making sure anything that I bring home I like because it suits me, not because I’m seeing it everywhere.

So what’s piqueing my interest when it comes to summer essentials? Let’s take a closer look.