Every fall, winter and spring, I find myself looking forward to summer. Summer means I can take a much-needed break from school, sleep in, hang out with friends, vacation (or staycation). But, this much awaited hot season also brings shorts, crop tops, and bikinis—and with those, my mixed feelings, too. There’s nothing I’d rather do than spend all day at the beach with my girls but getting ready is always unexpectedly hard. While I am a proponent of body positive movements, I still struggle with feeling confident in my own skin. I don’t always feel entirely comfortable baring my midriff or wearing short shorts.

Self-love is an ongoing process—nothing that will “happen” overnight. While it may seem odd, there is an element of faking it until you make it; an artificial production of confidence that will become real with belief and practice. Actually practicing mantras of self-love does feel awkward at first, but over time I started to believe myself.

If you’re like me, though, you want a quick fix. Clothing has always been my steadfast armor. I can express myself creatively and speak to the world in a way that can’t be articulated in words while also feeling confident in my skin. I’ve always prided myself on my style—looks that are loud, different, weird, but most of all, me. So, the answer to my insecurities?

A killer outfit.

Forget the tiny bikini and cut off shorts – finding a balance between trends, what I’m comfortable with, and what’s actually cute is the secret to the best kind of summer outfit.

I put together three of my favorite summer outfits that give me that quick boost of confidence. To be clear, I am not suggesting that you shop for each item that I am wearing. What I do hope you do instead is see elements of my own style demonstrated in these pictures and reflect on what that looks like for yourself. These outfits mirror my different moods, and I know you probably have clothes that do the same thing for you.

[Image One] My most comfortable summer outfit is this soft, sleeveless navy blue shirt tucked into incredibly comfortable denim shorts. I throw on this outfit any time I want to feel comfy and effortlessly cool, adding my red neck scarf and Dr. Martens oxfords for a little extra spice. They’re small touches, but they show the world that I simply don’t care. Those words — "Don’t Care” — are actually emblazoned on the back of my shoes. Do you get how I really feel yet? When I want to leave everything in the dust, I know exactly what to grab out of my closet.

[Image Two] This is my boldest and brightest look, but it’s like insurance for having a really good day. I give off major tropical vibes with my bralette-skirt set’s bright yellow leaves and bold contrasts. I usually pair it with strappy sandals or heels, but I can always tone it down with sneakers. If I’m looking for some drama to add to this happy-go-lucky look, my dark, cat-eye sunglasses do the trick. This outfit is my go-to mood booster – surrounding myself in vibrant colors can always set the tone for the rest of my day.

[Image Three] This third outfit is perfect for heading straight to the beach. I can button up my blue and white checkered dress over a bathing suit, put on my Stan Smiths, and be ready to go. When worst comes to worst in the stress of getting ready, I always tell myself that simple is best. I find that having one go-to dress or jumpsuit is key to feeling my best because they say, “Look good, feel good.” That way, when I feel like nothing looks good, I know I’ll always have my trusty dress to throw on.

These clothes allow me to put my best foot forward. Like I said, self-love can be a long journey, but having a killer outfit can make any day just a little bit (or lot) easier.

By Lola Proctor

NYU Student, cool connoisseur and undercover revolutionary.