20 Memorable Memorial Day Outfits

The first big holiday of the summer is right around the corner. Time to get memorable!

Whether it’s a post-parade picnic with the family, a backyard BBQ with friends, or fun by the water, choosing the right outfit for a Memorial Day family BBQ is all about striking a balance between style, comfort, and appropriateness. By incorporating patriotic colors, casual chic elements, and summery vibes, you can create an ensemble that pays tribute to the occasion while looking fabulous.

Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Our editors have put together twenty fabulous fits to help you navigate the festivities with confidence and style.

CASUAL CHIC WITH A PATRIOTIC TWIST

For a laid-back yet stylish look, opt for a casual chic outfit with a patriotic twist. Start with a pair of well-fitting denim shorts or distressed jeans. Pair them with a comfortable white or navy blue tank top or a striped T-shirt. To add a patriotic touch, accessorize with red statement earrings, a red bandana tied around your wrist or hair, and white canvas sneakers. This ensemble will effortlessly blend comfort, style, and a touch of patriotism.

Starting with this fun fit that gives a nod to some patriotic touches, like Knockaround’s Fast Lanes in Rocket Pop and Windsor’s cowgirl cute tee. Of course some ankle jeans from Mott & Bow in faded blue add even more Americana touch. Then we finish off with a darling draft horse cap from Red Bubble and some low cut Air Jordan 1’s in red and white.

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Talk about one-and-done, this white tee dress with red and blue stripes is so quick and easy, all you need is few accessories and you are out the door in no time. And since tees and aviators are an iconic match, we’re loving how these white rimmed, oversized ones from Dolce & Gabbana play so well with the dress. Some denim-stitch inspired slides by adidas are next, and for a touch of bling we finished with some gold drop earrings from Kendra Scott.

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This next look is pure Americana. A sweet hearted tee with some cute jean skorts (made fresh with this season’s asymmetrical button up) looks just right with some turquoise hoops and red tie-dye slip-ons. All that’s left are to slide on some vintage style sunnies from Knockaround in a cool surfer blue.

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Letting your lips do the talking in this next fit, we pair a tee with a love smack of red, white and blue with the ultimate trending utilitarian piece of the season – cargo pants. Keeping the fresh going, we grab a pair of new season suede sneaks from adidas and some uber-trending shield sunglasses from Blenders. Last, we pop on a pair of cute pearl drop earrings by Martha Calvo.

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Finally, we mix our patriotic flavor and go a little punk. These striped denims from Elisabetta Franchi are spot on when combined with Windsor’s Punk Girl tee and some low cut Converse Chucks. Some red and gold drop hoop earrings at some interest and we close out this look with some Y2K rimless.

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CLASSIC SUMMER DRESS

A classic summer dress is a versatile and timeless option for a Memorial Day family BBQ. Choose a sundress in a light fabric such as cotton or linen to keep cool during the festivities. Opt for a dress with a subtle red, white, or blue pattern, a summery pastel, or a classic floral. Complete the look with comfortable sandals or wedges, a straw hat to protect yourself from the sun, and a denim jacket for when the evening gets cooler. This outfit is effortlessly feminine and perfect for a summer celebration.

Starting with this peachy short floral from Windsor that’s pure flowy fun. We paired it with some cool, woven espadrilles by Nina and a pair of round sunnies from Vogue eyewear (on sale!). Last, we add a little summertime nostalgia with Baublebar’s playful trailblazer bracelet. Bonus, it can be customized with your name (up to nine characters).

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Looking for a subtle take on the old RW&B theme? This red bandana print sundress from Versona gives a nice nod, especially when paired with Kendra Scott’s charming bracelet, a bright red pair of cat-eye sunnies and Idowela’s cheery, red cherry sunhat. All that’s left is to slide into some super-comfy sandals from Chaco and you are good to go.

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What channels summertime better than a white eyelet dress? This light and airy A-line midi by Windsor is hot weather perfection. Something this gorg deserves equally exuberant accessories, so we’re adding in Lauren Rubinski’s Happy necklace, playful heart-shaped sunglasses and some Birks in lovely lavender. Of course we can’t forget the hat, and this medium brimmed, striped fellow from Badgley Mischka will keep you well covered.

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Pretty as a picnic, we’re loving this blue and white mini dress by Sugarlips. Speaking of picnics, don’t let your day be ruined by uneven ground. These strappy sandals by Croft & Barrow have an Ortholite hybrid foam footbed that will keep you in comfort all day. For accessories, we add some multi-colored stone embellished hoops and Blenders’ Millenia X2 wayfarer-style sunglasses in Crimson Night, for your dose of red.

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Finally, we inject a little boho with our patriotic look. We start with this true-blue, ombre midi dress by Sundry, and build in some supporting red and white with a colorful bucket hat from H.O.P.E., some cool, crocheted drop earrings by Roller Rabbit and Vera Wang’s bright white, square sunglasses. And just to really spice things up, Reef’s unexpected fuzzy sandals complete the look.

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NAUTICAL-INSPIRED ENSEMBLE

Nautical-inspired outfits are a perfect fit for Memorial Day gatherings, as they evoke a sense of seaside charm and patriotism. Start with a pair of white or navy blue shorts and pair them with a Breton-striped boat neck top. Accessorize with a red belt to add a pop of color and a straw tote bag for a summery vibe. Complete the look with white canvas sneakers or espadrilles and some delicate anchor-themed jewelry. This outfit will give you a fresh and playful look that’s perfect for a family BBQ by the water.

Starting with this clean and easy look that pairs Mott & Bow’s super soft tee with a stretch twill, pinstriped short that features tiny little sailboats in its preppy pattern. We continue our ocean-friendly vibe with a pair of mother-of-pearl earrings (love the organic stripes), and Blenders wavy pattern sunglasses (bonus – these are part of their Float2O series, so they won’t sink in water). We finish up with a sturdy pair of waterproof sandals by Teva.

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Nothing says nautical like stripes, and this next look is an absolute classic. We start with Madewell’s striped tee in ribbed cotton and pair it with crisp white denim shorts from Universal Standard. Next, some thoughtful accessories, including Gucci’s oversized sunnies that echo the stripe element (and did we mention they’re on sale? oh yes!) and as a nice color pop, some red ankle strap sandals by Beek. We complete the look with some sunny earrings from Satya jewelry.

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Add some yacht-worthy glam with this next look. A navy blue high-neck dress from Boston Proper starts us off (made with wrinkle resistant fibers so you’ll always look sleek). Next comes the fun accessories, including an 18k gold pendant from Baublebar and these cork and raffia flatforms we found for a steal. Finally, complete your posh look by sliding on these oversized Pradas, which again, we found on sale for you. YW!

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You’ll be looking sexy in stripes in this next fit, with Windsor’s tie-front mini dress, named appropriately enough Chic Nautical Vibes. There’s plenty more to go around with some stomping stylish sandals by Circus NY and Vera & Co.’s (so cute!) tiny silver anchor earrings. And of course, we won’t forget our sun protection when they’re this stylish – cool rectangular frames by Ray-Ban and Aili’s Corner’s beautiful braided hat.

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STYLISH ROMPER

If you prefer a trendy and effortless look, consider wearing a stylish romper. Choose a romper in a light and breathable fabric, such as linen or cotton, with a patriotic print or a solid color like red, white, or blue. Pair it with comfortable sandals or espadrilles and accessorize with delicate jewelry, like a simple pendant necklace and hoop earrings. This outfit is not only fashionable but also practical for outdoor activities and mingling with family members.

Starting with this very on-trend denim romper by Windsor that’s playful and flirty. We pair it with an adorbs pair of eyelet shoes from Hey Dude’s new season. Add some colorful fun with a multi-tiered necklace and Madewell’s dust darling dust drop earrings. Last but not least, pop on a graffiti-inspired bucket hat from the adidas Originals collection and you’re ready for a romping good time.

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Another cute romper from Windsor, we’re loving how this ditsy floral has all the flirtation factor of a mini dress with the ease of shorts. Channel a little yeehaw attitude with Peter Grimm’s woven cowboy hat and a pair of iconic Ray-Bans. A touch of silver and red comes courtesy of a sweet bracelet by TOUS and lastly, slide into some kicking sneaks from Nina.

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This nearly-nautical romper look almost made it into our other category. With it’s striped abstract pattern in Delphi blue and crisp while, we’re loving the mood this romper from Lulus is giving off. Keeping it simple, we pair it with clean pieces, including Alexander McQueen’s bone-white and yellow-tinted sunglasses, a beautiful white turquoise bracelet by Satya Jewelry and some very water-friendly slides from Reef in deep navy blue.

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This one-shouldered romper from Sugarlips gives us just that little bit of asymmetrical silhouette that draws us in and wants this piece all the more. Playing off that vibe, we’ve added equally interesting accessories, including Joomi Lim’s “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” clever earrings (hint: one is a butterfly and the other is a flower). Next we have M.Gemi’s ballet *flats* which aren’t really flats at all (they have a hidden wedge to give you a hint of lift) and these rather simple and sleek shades from Zenni that have a fun secret…they glow in the dark!

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Our final fit is for those who love the ease of a romper, but like the look of a two piece. A lovely lacy top and crocheted mid-section that flow into a flowy floral short, people will do a double-take when you tell them this is actually a one piece. Pair this perfectly textured piece with equally eye-catching items such as San Diego Hat Co.’s crocheted bucket hat, Karl Lagerfeld’s metallic and pearl sandals, Chloe’s neutral-striped sunglasses and as the final piece, a delicate, gold initial necklace by Jane Basch.

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