• Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Wardrobe Capsules
    • What I Wore
    • How To Wear It
    • Casual Work Wear
    • Mom Style
    • Travel
    • Holidays
    • Trends To Try
    • Maternity Style
    • Thrifty Tips
    • Shopping
    • Beauty
  • Shop my outfits
  • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

Affordable Summer Shirts To Wear With Shorts

June 13, 2022 by Katie H.

Top || Shorts || Shoes || Hat || Sunglasses (similar)

Every season I go through my closet to see what clothes I want to keep and what to get rid of. I also like to see what’s missing, so I can make a wishlist of items to shop for each season. This year as I was going through my summer clothes, I realized that my wardrobe was lacking in cute summer tops to wear with shorts. I have tons of basic tank tops and t-shirts, but I needed something fun that I could wear with shorts this summer.

*This post contains affiliate links.

I sometimes struggle with finding summer shirts to wear with shorts with the trends that are currently in stores. Many of the shirts that I have tried on feel thick and stiff. They have lots of ruffles and puffy sleeves. I prefer something simple that feels soft and lightweight for summer. When my top has too many ruffles I feel like I get lost in the material. That’s why I am really excited about the shirts that I found. They were just what I was looking for to make my summer shirt collection a little more fun, without getting too frilly. They are also affordable!

Loft- Navy and White Polka-dot Blouse– Size x-small

First is this cute polka-dot blouse from Loft. It is the perfect cute summer shirt to wear with shorts. It’s the perfect length to either tuck or leave untucked. It has little ruffled sleeves that are not overly ruffled. The material is light and breathable. Plus, the navy and white make it perfect to wear for the 4th of July, but it’s also a great year-round top as well!

Top || Shorts || Shoes

J.Crew Factory- Flutter Sleeve Top– Size x-small

I fell in love with this flutter sleeve top from J.Crew Factory right away when I saw it. The cut of the shirt is very cute with the v-neck and flutter sleeves, but what I love best about this top is the textured polka-dot pattern. It adds a lot of detail to the top. This shirt comes in several different colors, but I am a big fan of this sage green color!

Cute Summer Shirts

Top || Shorts (similar) || Shoes (similar) || Purse (similar)

Express- Petal Sleeve T-shirt– Size x-small

I actually bought this metallic petal sleeve t-shirt last fall at Express and I had forgotten about it. I recently pulled it out of my closet and styled it with some shorts. I love that it’s just a basic t-shirt, but the sleeves give it a little more detail than a normal t-shirt. This top comes in several different colors. I also have it in a rust color as well.

Cute Summer Shirts

Top || Shorts (similar) || Shoes || Purse || Sunglasses (similar)

Loft- Peplum Tank top– Size 2

The last top I want to share today is this watermelon print peplum top from Loft. To be honest, I don’t really love peplum tops on me, so I almost returned this one. But then I gave it a second chance and decided to keep it. I love the orange print with little watermelons. Fuirt prints are very trendy this summer, so I felt that it would be the perfect fun summer top to own. In the back, there is a little tie, which I like because you can adjust the top to fit your bust better if needed.

Cute Summer Shirts

Top || Shorts || Shoes || Purse (similar)

Shop More Cute Summer Shirts!

Make sure that you tune back in to see how I style these shirts this summer in my daily outfits!

Signature
Cute Summer Shirts

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailAffordable Mom-Friendly Denim Shorts Default ThumbnailMom Outfits To Wear On A Field Trip Default Thumbnail9 Affordable Effortless Summer Outfits

Filed in: Affordable Fashion, Shopping, Summer Style, Uncategorized • by Katie H. • Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Thrifty Wife Happy Life Profile picture

Hi I'm Katie! Welcome to my blog! I am on a mission to help women build a wardrobe that they love without spending a lot of money doing it. I believe that everyone has the right to feel good in their outfit, no matter what your budget is! I am excited to have you here!
About me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Follow me

Amazon favorites

Search

Archives

Disclosure

This blog contains affiliate links, which means by clicking on and/or making a purchase through a link I earn a small commission.  For more information click HERE!  Thank you for your support!

Follow

@thriftywifehappylife

thriftywifehappylife

Affordable everyday petite (5’1) mom style
A mix of affordable retailers + thrifted fashion
👨‍✈️Wife + Mom of 2 💙💗
💌 katie@thriftywifehappylife.com

What I wore then vs. what I wore now! Today I’m What I wore then vs. what I wore now!

Today I’m updating a longtime favorite look with a maxi dress that has a little more shape and structure—but still has all the things I loved about the original. Same formula (maxi + denim jacket), just a bit more refined.

🛍️Comment UPDATE and I will send you the shopping link to this outfit! 🔗https://liketk.it/5eYBg

#whatiworethenvsnow #updatingmillenialoutfits #millenialmom #millenialstyle #updatingoutfits #outfitideas #maxidresses #styletips
My favorite bathing suits as a 40-year old mom of My favorite bathing suits as a 40-year old mom of 2! 👙

What mom-friendly bathing suit means to me:
✔️ Good booty coverage
✔️ Hides my stretch marks + tummy support! 
✔️ And I can actually move, swim, and chase my kids without worrying about anything falling out 🙃

Swipe to see some of my favorites!! 

🛍️ Comment BATHING SUIT and I will send you the shopping link to this post! 

#momfriendlybathingsuits #bathingsuits #swimwear #affordableswimwear #amazonbathingsuits #amazonfinds
Mom-Friendly Summer Capsule Wardrobe: 20 Pieces, 9 Mom-Friendly Summer Capsule Wardrobe: 20 Pieces, 96 Outfits!! 

All the shopping details are LIVE on the blog!! Comment CAPSULE and I will send you the link to the post!! 

🔗https://thriftywifehappylife.com/2025/05/effortless-summer-mom-capsule-wardrobe-2025/

#capsulewardrobeblogger #capsulewardrobe #summercapsulewardrobe #momcapsulewardrobe #momstyle #summerstyle
What I wore this week as a 40-year old mom of 2! What I wore this week as a 40-year old mom of 2! 

The weather had been terrible this week 😩 So I basically wore my go-to comfort outfit combo all week long— thrifted jeans + cardigan/sweater + ballet flats. 

How is the weather where you live this spring?? 

🛍️Comment OUTFITS and I will send you the link to all my daily outfits! 

#dailyoutfit #realoutfit #thriftedstyle #momstyle #momoutfits #momfashion #wiwtw
My Mom-Friendly Summer Capsule Wardrobe is LIVE on My Mom-Friendly Summer Capsule Wardrobe is LIVE on the blog! ☀️

✨See all 96 outfits in blog post!! Outfit reel coming soon!! 

🛍️Comment SUMMER and I will send you the
link to the blog post!! 🔗https://thriftywifehappylife.com/2025/05/effortless-summer-mom-capsule-wardrobe-2025/

#capsulewardrobe #summercapsule #momoutfits #momstyle #summerstyle #effortlessstyle #affordablefashion
What I wore then vs. What I wore now I have alway What I wore then vs. What I wore now

I have always loved cardigan sweaters. Lately I’ve been wearing them buttoned up, which is an easy way to update the style and wear it in a new way! 

🛍️ Comment LINK and I will send you the shopping link to the updated outfit! 🔗https://liketk.it/5erRV

#whatiworethenvsnow #outfitideas #updatingmillenialoutfits #updatingoutfits #whitepants #cardiganoutfit
If you are over spending money this school year, b If you are over spending money this school year, but still want to send in a little end of the year appreciation gift to your kid’s teacher then this $5 gift idea is a perfect! 

@walmart has these cute little faux plants for under $5! I googled these free printable tags and used some left over Christmas ribbon to make these cute little end of year teacher gifts. 🪴

🛍️Comment TEACHER GIFT and I will send you the shopping links to this post! 🔗https://liketk.it/5emTs

#teacherappreciation #teachergift #walmartgifts #walmartfinds #giftsunder5 #affordablegifts
Field trips, field day, park day… if you’re lo Field trips, field day, park day… if you’re looking for a cute casual outfit to wear to any of these places, this is a great go-to! 

This top has a built in bra which is so convenient and comfortable! Skirt has built in shorts! Both are super easy to accessorize! 

🛍️Comment LINK and I will send you the shopping link to this post! 🔗https://liketk.it/5edIb

#amazonfinds #amzonstyle #fieldtripoutfit #momootd #momoutfits #momstyle
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Thrifty Wife Happy Life