5 Summer Style Mistakes AGING Your Look - And How To Fix Them

Summer styles should make you look fresh, modern, and effortlessly put together. But every year, I see women making the same mistakes that age their look, usually because they're trying to stay cool and comfortable. The good news? Most of these mistakes are easy to fix. Today, I'm sharing five common summer style mistakes that can add years to your appearance, and the simple swaps that make you look more modern, current, and polished instead. And make sure you stay to the end, because I have a bonus mistake. It's the one that I see most often, and it's the easiest to fix. Let's start with the biggest offender. Mistake number one is stopping at your feet. You style a beautiful breezy outfit, but then you ruin the entire silhouette by adding a pair of chunky running shoes or orthopedic looking sandals, you know, with the velcro straps. Look, I'm right there with you. Comfort is non-negotiable, but please hear me. You do not have to sacrifice style for comfort's sake. I promise you, I never show shoes on my channel that hurt my feet. If I do show a shoe that hurts, I disclose that. But I choose my footwear intentionally to be both stylish and comfortable. And one brand that perfectly bridges that gap between true comfort and high-end style is Vivaya. They're the sponsor today, and you guys know I've worked with Vivaya for years. I have a ton of their shoes. I honestly love them. So, I wanted to share some new arrivals for summer 2026. First is their new all-day sneakers. These are made of breathable knit mesh, which is very on trend for summer 2026. They're extremely lightweight. They are machine washable, and they have that step in and go design. You tie the laces once, and then all you have to do is step in and go. No hands required. These are a much more stylish design than wearing your chunky, clunky, athletic shoes with your street clothes. Next is the Margot Mary Jane. I already have a couple of these, but for summer 2026, they have brought this style out in that same breathable mesh. One reason I wear sandals all summer is because my feet get hot. But these, with the mesh design, keep your feet cool and looking stylish. These have arch support in their insole, which sets it apart from typical flat shoes like this that have no support whatsoever. And they have this anti-blister pad in the back of the heel, so you can put these on right out of the box and wear them all day. That's going to cushion the back of your heel so that you don't get a blister. These shoes are travel friendly because they pack down flat, and they fold easily. Let me guess. It's Coco. Who wants in? Entree voo. Had to take a little break to let the dogs in to my studio while I film. Next, I have the Kara 2.0 sandals. These super comfortable sandals have dual arch support. They also have this anti-rub heel design in the sling back portion. And the sling back portion is elastic and flexible, so you get a more precise and comfortable fit. And these next ones, you saw these in my summer shoe trends video. In case you missed that, I will link it up here and in the description. These are the Cecily Hybrid Mary Jane shoes. Again, these are a mesh upper. They have that square-shaped toe box with a wider toe area for comfort. And all Vivaya shoes are made that way, making them perfect for people like me who have bunions and need that extra space in the toe box. But these perfectly strike that balance between flat and sneaker. They have the Mary Jane styling, but then they have the sneaker-like sole. So, you can't have both. Ditch the clunky outfit-killing shoes and swap them for a sleek, breathable knit flat or a structured sandal that elongates your leg line instead of chopping it off. And I have a code just for you guys. For Vivaya shoes, you can use SERENA12 at checkout and you'll save 12% on your purchase. So, thanks to Vivaya for sponsoring today. Now, before we continue on to mistake number two, quick reminder. Everything that you see in today's video will be linked in three places. The YouTube shopping links will pop up here on screen and appear at the bottom or below the video. That's the easiest, quickest way to shop. You can scroll further down into the video description. That's where I list my sizes and everything. The links are also there. And I put all that info in a comment that I pinned to the top of the comment section. So, YouTube shopping links, description, pinned comment. You can find everything there. Now, let's talk about silhouettes. Mistake number two is the short and wide silhouette. I'm talking about dated capri pants that cut your leg off at the widest part of your calf, especially when they're paired with a loose or baggy t-shirt or tunic type top. I see this combination every time I leave my house. And ladies, it is a total style abomination. I understand the temptation. It's hot. You want something cool. Maybe you're a little insecure about your legs. But this exact proportion right here screams old lady. Now, I know what some of you are going to say in the comments. But Serena, they still sell capris at Chico's or Talbot's or J. Jill or Kohl's. And to that I say, exactly. That proves my point. Those stores are intentionally catering to a very mature traditional shopper. And don't try to tell me capris are back for 2026. You're right. A very specific slim fitting capri pant that ends just below the knee. This look has been trending for 2026. But they are styled very intentionally, most of the time with some sort of heel and a tailored top of some sort. Not an oversized tunic. And you can't fool me. I know that you are not wearing capris like this. You're wearing them like this. There are so many better choices for staying cool without becoming a cliche. These Spanx wide leg cropped twill pants are just as cool as your capris and infinitely more modern. They can be styled with sneakers, flats, or a sandal with a heel. So versatile. Same goes for these linen barrel pants from Athleta. They're not too exaggerated of a barrel. They're just like a relaxed pant. And these are so cool. They're very stylish. And I wore them recently on a work trip to Austin, Texas. And they were perfect for surviving that Texas heat. And it was already really hot and humid in Austin last week. And if you want the polish of a skirt with the utility of a short, try a skort. I am a huge fan of skorts. I wear them all summer long. And this one here, you guys have loved it. It's been a bestseller. It's still available. I've worn this one a ton already this summer. Or better yet, wear a dress. Now, I know we can't always wear a dress. But dresses are the coolest things we can put on our bodies in the summer. This eyelet dress from Land's End is 100% cotton. And this green is a great pop of color. But if it's not your cup of tea, it comes in beautiful white as well. This dress can easily transition from casual to more dressy. This chambray midi dress from Walmart is affordable, incredibly versatile, and it allows for maximum airflow. And this cotton tiered mini dress from Land's End is the perfect one and done outfit when you want to look put together without a lot of thinking. This is a perfect vacation dress too because you can throw it on over a swimsuit or anything. You just pop it on, go get coffee, go get breakfast. I love it. Similarly, this dress that I'm wearing today from Amazon. I bought this on a whim. I don't have a lot of luck with Amazon clothes, but this was really a winner. And I love the polo style collar. It's super comfortable and I know I'm going to get a ton of use out of it this summer. Comes in a ton of different colors too. And finally, just wear shorts. One of my top selling items for this past month is this pair of linen pull-on shorts from Land's End. I don't have them yet and they've already become a best seller just from a post here on the community tab of YouTube. They're high-waisted. They have that seven inch inseam, making them easy for anyone to wear. And let me get on my soap box for just a minute. I see men of all ages, well into their eighties or beyond wearing shorts with their varicose veins, sunspots, and everything else on full display. And absolutely no one cares. They just want to be cool and comfortable. Why should it be any different for us? It shouldn't be. The only person keeping you from wearing shorts is you. And if it's a matter of confidence, use a little self-tanner. This is the one that I use. I've been using this for a while. It's my favorite. It's the Loving Tan Two Hour Express. And that means it's got the instant bronzer in it, but after two hours, you can rinse that off and the tan will remain. As opposed to others that you have to wait for, you know, six to eight hours for the color to develop. And I find that this one is the most natural looking for me, and it fades evenly. It doesn't leave patches or splotches like some other ones can. And if you want actual coverage, this Westmore Beauty Body Perfector, it is like airbrushing in a tube. It completely hides spider veins, age spots, sun damage. It's more like a body makeup, but it will last for a couple of days, even in the shower. If you don't use anything oil-based, that will break it down. But otherwise, you can get through a day or two with this on. So there's lots of ways you can get a little boost of self-confidence to show a little leg this summer. I will be sure to have both of these products linked for you down below. Mistake number three should be self-explanatory, but I see it every summer, and that is the undergarment fail. White linen pants and some white denim and other pants, they can show everything. So with those lighter colors and lighter fabrics, you need underwear that is the tone of your skin, whatever that is. Don't wear white under white. They will glow, literally. Match your undies to your skin. My favorite undies are from Ebbe, and I have some from Amazon that I really like. But these are the ones from Ebbe, and of course, they're not, these are not skin tone, because I'm not purple, but I do have them in many flesh tone colors. But these are seamless. They don't have elastic, and it's that elastic that really cuts into your hips or the side of your legs and creates those panty lines in the back. So these are completely seamless, and they have the laser cut edges, so they're going to lay flat against you. I wear these under all my white or lighter colored garments, and you can't see them at all. The other biggie is not wearing the right bra. We wear less clothing in the summer, which is fine, but your underpinnings have to do their job. There's nothing tackier than regular bra straps showing when you wear a tank top or a beautiful halter top of some kind. And there's nothing more aging than having the girls sag down to your waist because of an ill-fitting bra. Get fitted and get yourself a good supportive bra. And yes, you can find a strapless bra that actually supports you without feeling like a medieval torture device. I have worn and replaced this bra for the past 20 years. No kidding. It's from Wacoal or Wacoal, however you say it. It's the Halo Lace Strapless Bra, and it also comes in a convertible style with straps, but this is just the strapless. It is not uncomfortable. It does not slide down, and I have 34 double Ds, okay? And this works on me, and it just has stretchy. Now the cups are sheer. They're not lined. You might need to wear some of the little silicone pasty things for modesty, which is what I do, but I love this one. And one that I just got from Wacoal is this. It's called the Comfort First Convertible Bra. So it is an underwire. It has straps, but they are detachable. So they're detachable in the front and in the back. So you can wear it regular like this. You can crisscross the straps. You can even take one strap and lengthen it and wear it halter style around your neck. And now this one has the silicone grippy stuff. You can see there all along the edges. That really helps it stay in place. And this is another great comfortable bra. It's lightly lined, not padded. I just can't say enough good things about Wacoal if you need a supportive bra. And yes, it's underwire, but I'm telling you ladies, nothing supports like underwire. No matter what all these other bras claim, they can do a decent job, but nothing is going to give you the support that an underwire does. But if you want a wire-free option to wear under those summer t-shirts that's going to give you a nice smooth silhouette, then 100% I will recommend this bra every time. It is the relief bra from Ebbe. And I have it in multiple colors at this point. I love it. It's my favorite. It does have molded cups, but you can remove those if you want to. If you don't want that structured cup in there, you can take those out. But these have, you know, wider straps and wider around the edges. And for a wire-free option, like I said, you can't beat this one. This is my favorite and I've tried a bunch and I'm in love with the Ebbe relief bra. And you can get matching undies. So you have a nice little set and they come in tons of different colors. I have a discount code with Ebbe. It's Serena15. So you can use that when you check out and get a little discount. I'll link all my favorite underwire and wire-free bras for you down in the description and the pinned comment. A proper fitting bra is the absolute key to looking youthful and lifted in all your summer clothes. And while you're checking out those links down in the description, be sure to also check out the link to my newsletter. I send it out every weekend. It's free. And there I round up all the weekly bestsellers, the best sales, trending looks of the week, a YouTube recap, and a healthy living tip or recipe. So you'll find the link for that down there along with everything else. Mistake number four that really is aging in the summertime is falling into that loud floral polyester trap. For some reason, some clothing designers assume that when a woman turns 50, she suddenly wants to dress like a character from the Golden Girls. But nothing screams old lady faster than a loud chaotic floral print cut into a loose shapeless tunic. And oftentimes, these tops are polyester. And we all know polyester traps heat. It clings to us. It's hot and just feels ick in the summer. Not to mention, it looks cheap. To stay cool and comfortable, choose high quality natural fabrics like linen, cotton gauze, or pima cotton. They breathe with you and they look infinitely more expensive. So look at the difference here. The subtle pleats on this quince linen tank completely dress up a basic outfit. This cotton gauze pop over from J.Crew Factory literally feels like nothing on your skin. It's so airy and light, and the matching shorts make a really cute set. And this quince organic cotton sweater tank is a huge bestseller on my channel. I have it in numerous colors because it's the ultimate answer for an elevated tank top that you can wear alone or layered under something else. There are way too many chic and comfortable options out there for us this summer without settling for the retirement home look. Mistake number five is the three-quarter sleeve security blanket. Now, I know I'm going to get some heat in the comments for this, but nothing says I'm trying to hide my arms quite like three-quarter sleeve t-shirt worn in 90 degree heat. And it's especially those three-quarter sleeve tops like this that have, you know, the fake little cuffs and that little tab that folds up and buttons or snaps right there. Those and the three-quarter sleeve tees with the boat neck and the horizontal stripes. Those really, really scream retirement home chic. Now, I show my arms in the summer because I live in Alabama where in the summer we can hit triple digits and the humidity makes it feel like a sauna the minute you step outside. But I get it. Some of you don't like showing your arms. And honestly, even I need a layer sometimes because of the frigid A.C. they pump into grocery stores, offices, and restaurants. And that is where a lightweight third piece comes in. You'll hear people call this a third layer a lot of the time, but it's really not a third layer. It's a layer. So, I call it a third piece because we have our top and our bottom that we always wear. So, you need that third piece. That's what finishes an outfit or in this case, that's what provides some coverage. This linen jacket from Quince is a massive seller on my channel because it's breathable, it provides a little structure, and it's infinitely more stylish than a three-quarter or long sleeve t-shirt. You can layer it over any kind of tank top or tee for instant coverage without overheating. A linen or gauze button-up shirt worn open as a jacket, that works beautifully too. Just be sure not to leave your sleeves all the way down. You want to cuff them, you know, to show your wrist, maybe show some bracelets, just to show a little bit of skin. And I just discovered this sort of cropped white long-sleeve eyelet shirt from Land's End. It makes the most gorgeous summertime layering piece. It provides coverage without screaming, I'm trying to hide old lady arms. And you've almost made it through my video, congratulations. So, as promised, here's a little bonus for you. Carrying the same heavy dark leather handbag in the dead of summer that you carried back in December. A bulky black or dark brown leather structured handbag completely weighs down a light airy summer outfit and it just looks out of place. It creates a visual mismatch that instantly dates your look. Instead, opt for summer textures. Swap it out for a woven straw or raffia tote bag. Even a stylish canvas bag like this nautical one from Walmart works beautifully on casual days. High quality synthetic bags work too, like this nylon version of the Lowen Sons Aoyama bag or a gorgeous woven style like this one from If you must wear leather, keep it light. Ivory, taupe, or a warm cognac color. Bonus points if it's woven texture leather, which instantly gives a lighter more summer appropriate feel to the bag. And a metallic leather like this camera style crossbody from Apache London, this can work really well too because it's light, it's reflective, it's leather, but it doesn't feel heavy. So, tell me down in the Which of these mistakes are you guilty of or which ones do you see more often? Leave a comment and let us know. And don't forget, if you want to grab any of the items featured in today's video, they will be in three places. The little shopping shelf right below the video screen with the YouTube shopping picture links further down in the description and in the pinned comment. Thank you all so much for watching. Thanks to Vivaya for sponsoring today. Remember, you can use code Serena12 for 12% off your purchase at Vivaya. And I will see you all in the next one. Bye!