Many people adore summer for its sunny weather. It’s certainly perfect for plenty of fun activities, including picnics at the park and outings to the beach. If you’re planning to spend a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to choose outfits that look chic and feel comfy. Most people opt to stay cool by wearing clothes that expose more of their skin. Shorts are particularly popular as they don’t feel heavy and restrictive like jeans do. If they aren’t an option for you, however, don’t fret. You have plenty of other options for keeping your outfit breezy without exposing your limbs.

Whether you are following a dress code or simply prefer to keep your legs covered, summer style can actually be a lot more exciting when you don’t default to shorts for your bottoms. Here are five chic summer outfit ideas that can help you stay cool and comfortable with zero to minimal leg exposure.

Leggings 

Pants are the best way to get full coverage for your legs, but this doesn’t mean that you’re limited to wearing heavy denims and thick trousers. You can cover up your legs and still feel cool with versatile pieces like a pair of leggings. These bottom garments are made of lightweight and breathable materials that stretch to adapt to your figure. Their elasticity makes them very easy to move in and also very comfortable to wear. Best of all, even the most basic black leggings can be the perfect bottom pairing for many stylish outfits. 

In the summer, leggings work as a good substitute for trousers because they’re light enough for air to flow through the garment. They also come in various colors and styles, so you have plenty of options to choose from. Some leggings are made to resemble denim jeans, while other designs only cover three-quarters of the legs, like capri pants. The latter is a good option if you just need to keep your knees covered but are okay with exposing the lower part of your shins.

When it comes to styling these leggings, they’d go well with just about any kind of top. You can pair them with a flowy blouse or even a dress and be ready for the hot weather. But if you want to create a more stylish summer outfit, wear a wrap in a colorful and fun design over your tank top and leggings. The flowy garment serves as a light cover that can protect your arms from the sun’s heat while adding a creative touch to a basic outfit. 

Maxi Dresses

One summer favorite among many fashionable women is the maxi dress. It’s a casual dress with a loose silhouette and a long flowy hem that provides ample leg coverage. The relaxed fit allows for maximum airflow to keep you cool and comfortable even on the hottest summer days.

Maxi dresses come in a wide range of styles and designs. You can find pieces with long sleeves as well as dresses with spaghetti straps, so you can pick the one that best suits your look. They’re also quite effortless to wear and style. You can pair the billowing frock with chunky sandals for a modern vibe, or some gladiator-style sandals for a bohemian feel. You can also wear wedge sandals and carry a basket bag for the classic summer look.

Palazzo Pants and Tank Top

Unless you’ve discovered a great pair of palazzo pants, you probably won’t choose pants as a staple piece in your summer wardrobe. Palazzo pants are perfect for the hot weather due to the loose way they wrap around your legs, so there’s adequate air flow to keep you cool even while your limbs remain covered.

In some ways, palazzo pants are similar to other wide-leg pants styles since they also fit well at the waist and flare out from the thighs. But the main difference is that wide-leg pants maintain the same width from the hips to the hem, while palazzo pants flare out past the hips to create a more dramatic silhouette. This gives the wearer the illusion of having longer and leaner legs. 

Choose palazzo pants with a vibrant print for a bold statement, or go for a more understated look with neutral-colored pants. Both styles pair well with a plain tank top to balance the voluminous bottom. Either way, you’ll certainly look chic and feel comfortable.

Linen Trousers and a Structured Top

Sometimes, choosing the fabric and construction of your clothes is the best strategy to look good and feel comfy during summer. For example, wearing linen trousers and a structured top can be very flattering and won’t require exposing your legs. Linen is a quick-drying and breathable material that makes it perfect to wear in hot weather. You can balance the fabric’s soft appearance with a top that creates a defined shape for your torso without being skin-tight. A boxy fit and padded shoulders also look more fashion-forward than simply pairing your pants with a plain t-shirt.

Match a pastel-colored top with white linen pants for a refreshing look, or go monochromatic in white and achieve a classic summer vibe. Whatever your choice may be, you’ll certainly appear stylish and still be able to enjoy the summer breeze. 

Jumpsuits

Are you having trouble picking tops to match your bottoms? If so, wearing a jumpsuit may be the best option for you. It’s a one-piece garment that already has the top and pants constructed together, so you can easily put it on and be fully dressed in no time. Some jumpsuit designs are even dressy enough to wear to the office, so you’d have the perfect summer outfit for looking polished at work and keeping cool when you need to step out.

Apart from the ease of wear and comfort that they offer, jumpsuits complement many body types due to their flattering silhouette. Most garments come with a stretchable waistband that helps make your waist appear smaller and have wide-leg hems that make your legs appear longer and slimmer. Complete your outfit with heels for more height and maximum glam.

A stylish summer look doesn’t always have to mean exposing your legs. You have many fashionable options to choose from, and you can add even more to this list. The key is selecting lightweight and breathable fabrics that allow you to stay cool even when you’re completely covered. Have fun experimenting with different looks, and you’ll never associate summer wear with shorts again.