Care x Elm
Spring Summer 2026

Dress
with
Ease

SS26
Style Compass Seasonal Guide

For Style Compass Members

Elizabeth, Care x Elm branding
A Note from Elizabeth
Elizabeth, Care x Elm

Getting dressed
should feel
like you.

Last season we focused on building a foundation: understanding your personal style, identifying the pieces that actually work for your life, and letting go of the rest. This season we build on that.

SS26 is about wearing what you know with more intention. More color if you want it. More texture. More confidence in the combinations you have already started to discover. The guide you are looking at reflects exactly that.

Throughout you will find seasonal color direction, outfit formulas, and the ideas worth paying attention to this season. All of it filtered through the Care x Elm lens. Practical, wearable, and fun, with you in mind.

Consider this your seasonal roadmap. I will be referring back to these themes throughout the season, sharing more detailed edits, specific links, and ideas that build on what you find here. So keep this close and stay tuned for more.

Elizabeth
SS26 Mood Board

The feeling
we are dressing toward.

SS26 outfit inspo
SS26 sculptural jewelry
SS26 layered dressing
SS26 beaded texture
SS26 embroidered detail
Effortless proportion
Layered dressing
Sculptural hardware
Beaded detail
Embroidered texture
Your Summer Anchor Outfit
Elizabeth, Care x Elm

Three formulas.
One effortless summer.

An anchor outfit is the combination you reach for without thinking. It fits, it works, it is yours. Here are three versions calibrated for a warm-weather wardrobe.

Formula A: The Classic
Formula A: linen trouser, fitted tank, block heel sandal, statement earring
Linen trouser + Fitted tank + Block heel sandal + Statement earring
Formula B: Relaxed
Formula B: midi slip skirt, oversized linen shirt, flat sandal, woven tote
Midi slip skirt + Oversized linen shirt + Flat sandal + Woven tote
Formula C: Dressed Up
Formula C: tailored shorts, silk top, kitten heel mule, structured bag, chain belt
Tailored shorts + Silk or satin top + Kitten heel mule + Structured bag + Chain belt
The Summer Third Piece

The layer that makes
the outfit complete.

In summer, the third piece is not about warmth. It is about finishing the look. It is the thing that makes your outfit interesting from across the room.

Linen Overshirt
Worn open over a tank. The easiest third piece in summer.
Woven Bag
Adds texture and grounds the whole look.
Silk Scarf
As a waist tie, neck detail, or knotted on your bag.
Lightweight Duster
The modern cardigan. Works on everything.
Accessories as the Outfit

The right accessories
do not complete an outfit.

They make it.

SS26 accessories are not afterthoughts. They are the point. Here is what is worth knowing this season, sourced from Vogue, Marie Claire, and Who What Wear SS26 reports.

Elizabeth, Care x Elm
Raffia bag
Raffia and Woven Bags
Cemented as a staple this season. Not a trend. A wardrobe baseline now.
Jewelry
Beaded and Layered Jewelry
Stacked gold, beaded strands, layered chains. More is intentional now.
Belt
Sculptural Buckle Belts
Acts like jewelry for your waist. Elevates even the simplest dress.
Scarf
The Scarf Reimagined
Seen at Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, and Hermès. Worn four ways. See below.
Sunglasses
Oversize Aviators
The sunglasses of the season. Effortless across every aesthetic.
Shop all accessories
Spotlight on

The Scarf, Worn Your Way

If there is one accessory worth adding to your summer rotation, it is a silk or printed scarf. Not because it is trending, but because it is endlessly wearable. Knotted at the waist, tied in your hair, draped at the neck, or wrapped on your bag, one scarf does the work of five accessories. It is the easiest way to add interest to any outfit without buying anything new.

Scarf as bag accent
Head wrap
Scarf as waist belt
Tied at the hips
Scarf draped over shoulders
Belted
Scarf in hair
In the hair
Scarf draped at neck
Draped at the neck
Scarf knotted at neck
Knotted at the neck
Runway waist wrap
Waist highlight
Texture in a Warm Weather Wardrobe
Beaded texture detail
Embroidered silk detail

You do not need more clothes.
Add more texture.

When the palette simplifies in summer, texture becomes the language of personal style. The difference between a forgettable outfit and an interesting one is often just what the fabric is doing.

Eyelet and broderie fabric
Eyelet and Broderie
The most elegant summer texture. Light, breathable, and inherently sophisticated. Look for it in tops, skirts, and lightweight dresses.
Crochet and open weave fabric
Crochet and Open Weave
No longer a beach coverup. Seen over slip dresses, worn as a layer, styled with tailored pieces. It is a real fabric now.
Linen fabric
Linen and Slubby Weaves
The texture that signals ease. Wrinkles are part of it. Linen says you got dressed intentionally and then lived your life.
Silk satin fabric
Silk and Satin Slips
The contrast piece. A silk slip against linen, denim, or woven texture is the combination that always works.
Raffia and natural fiber
Raffia and Natural Fibers
In bags, sandals, and accessories. The organic material that grounds everything and adds warmth without weight.
Ribbed knit fabric
Ribbed Knit
A summer knit that reads structured and intentional. In tanks, sleeveless tops, and lightweight sets.
Playing with Color

SS26 gives you permission
to wear color your way.

Start with your neutrals as the base. Add one or two pop colors that genuinely appeal to you. Build from there. The framework below makes it simple.

Your Neutrals
Warm White
Wears with everything
Caramel
The new neutral brown
Sage
Works as neutral or pop
Your Pop Colors
Burnished Lilac
The color of the season
Pale Banana
Soft and wearable
Deep Teal
Rich and unexpected
Cobalt Blue
Runway standout
Mandarin Orange
Bold and confident
Chartreuse
For the brave
How to wear neutrals
How to wear neutrals
Stack your three neutrals in one outfit. White, caramel, sage. Let texture do the work.
How to wear a pop color
How to wear a pop color
One pop color per outfit. Let the rest go neutral. The pop color becomes the statement; everything else supports it.
Just go for it color pairing
Just go for it
Lilac and cobalt. Banana and teal. Sage and chartreuse. SS26 was made for unexpected pairings. Try one and see how it feels.
Dressed for the Moment
Elizabeth, Care x Elm

Three occasions.
Three ways to show up
fully dressed.

Summer is full of occasions that require more than a tank and jeans but less than a full formal look. Here is how to navigate each one with confidence.

Wedding Guest
A midi dress or wide-leg trouser suit in a pop color. Sculptural sandal. Minimal jewelry. Let the color carry it.
Summer Dinner or Event
Silk or satin slip + linen blazer or duster. Block heel. The combination that reads polished without trying.
Founder or Professional Setting
Tailored linen set in a neutral. Statement earrings. Structured bag. You look like yourself and you also mean business.
Is It Time for a Closet Edit?

Getting dressed feels hard when your closet no longer reflects who you are now.

You open the closet and nothing feels quite right. Maybe your routine has changed. Maybe you've picked up a few new pieces but still find yourself reaching for the same outfits, or feeling like everything suddenly seems a little disconnected.

If it's been a while since we've worked together, a Closet Clarity Session is a great place to start. We'll look at what you have, identify what's genuinely missing, and build a clear picture of the wardrobe that works for your life right now.

It might be time if…
  • ·You keep reaching for the same 20% of your closet.
  • ·You've been shopping but nothing seems to click.
  • ·Something feels off and you can't quite put your finger on it.
  • ·Your life or style has shifted since we last met.

If any of this sounds familiar, I'd love to reconnect.

Work With Elizabeth

Let's keep
building together.

Your Style Compass membership is the foundation. Here is everything available to you as a member and how to access it.

Sessions Available

As a member, you receive priority booking and member pricing on all sessions.

Closet Clarity
A focused styling session to assess what's working, refine your direction, and identify next steps. Virtual or in-person.
Closet Edit
Full closet audit, outfit building, and gap analysis. In-person, bi-monthly add-on available.
Shopping Edit
Curated pieces sourced specifically for your life, body, and budget.
Nove Direct Message
Send me a photo from your closet, a fitting room, or while you're shopping. I'll give you feedback directly in the app.
New from Nove
Shop together in real time.

You can now install your own version of the Nove Chrome extension. When you spot something you love while browsing, you can send it directly to me with one click. I will review it, let you know if it works for you, and add it to your closet or recommendations, all in one place.

How the Nove extension works
How it works
1
Install the Nove Chrome extension using the link below
2
Browse as normal and click the extension when you spot something interesting
3
I receive it instantly and review it for you
4
Approved pieces go straight into your Nove closet with my notes

Message me in Nove to get started and I'll walk you through setup.

Install the Nove Extension
Care x Elm

Until next season.

Thank you for being a Style Compass member.
This guide was made for you. Use what resonates, revisit what does not land yet, and reach out whenever you need eyes on what you are working with.

Book a Session @elizabethleemahoney
Elizabeth