the edit: summer '17 — Vanessa in Boston.

It's already mid-June and only now have the warm spring days decided to show up. I suppose this is good because after a recent evaluation, I'm noticeably underprepared for the summer, sartorially speaking. Since I spend Monday through Friday at the office, all you really need are a few dresses, shorts and versatile tops that can take you from indoor to outdoor seamlessly. But when it comes to the causal, well, let's just say that my closet could use a little love.

My shopping list is filled with cute pieces that I will want to wear no matter how humid it is but the trick is to also find items that will age with me. As an almost 28 year-old, I refuse to wear teeny, tiny shorts, passé skin-tight tube tops or anything else I used to get away with the last time I update my summer wardrobe. The challenge in creating chic summer style is in selecting light, fun and versatile tops, bottoms and accessories that you can mix and match for weekends, stay-cations or vacations at a reasonable price point. And so, without further ado, here are my summer "must haves" you should consider adding to your closet (and they're all under $100)!

Dresses | The ultimate all-in-one outfit.