We are in the full swing of summer with hot, muggy days and weekends packed with activities. Whether you’re camping, running kids to Little League games, or knee-deep in home projects, chances are you have at least one pair of summer jean shorts that are mostly functional. Once you hit your 30s and 40s, chances are also good that you’ve found your personal style and hopefully feel comfortable in your skin. However, don’t relegate your jean shorts to the purely practical drawer of your summer wardrobe. With the right top and accessories, a plain old pair of jean shorts can inject your summer style with some youthful flair, while still being age appropriate.

Thinking about dreamy summer nostalgia, try pairing a romantic top with faded cutoffs and heeled sandals as a sundress alternative for casual nights out. I love the idea of a breezy white shirt half-tucked into a light-washed cutoff (with a minimally frayed hem) for evening cookouts or checking out fireworks. You can go with a neutral wedge, or colorful sandal, either would work with a straw tote—a warm-weather essential.

For a polished daytime look, try cuffed denim shorts, flat espadrilles, and a linen-blend tee. The details of the cuffs, woven soles of the shoes, and shirt fabric give a basic jeans-and-tee outfit a bit more polish, while still encapsulating those lazy-days-of-summer vibes. Plus, this rudimentary outfit combination gives you a lot to play around with in terms of t-shirt/shoe color and fit and length of the shorts. Feel free to incorporate the jewelry and bag of your choice!

If you’re feeling a bit quirky this season, consider pairing longer jean shorts with Hawaiian-esque shirts and sporty sandals. You can go the classic route with a vintage shirt, the kind dad used to wear on vacation, or go for a trendier option with feminine-cut top in tropical prints. Further embrace the beachy vibe of this ensemble mashup with waterproof athletic sandals and don’t forget some aviator sunglasses.

Lastly, for those nights around the fire-pit, or on the river, go with a laid-back chic outfit of chambray drawstring shorts, and a summer-weight long-sleeve sweater. Whether you go for a pullover or cardigan, a longer-length open-weave knit is great for layering over your standard tanks, tees, or camisoles for when temps dip after sunset. Chambray in a pull-on silhouette is just as easy to wear as a gym short, but feels more put together and comes with pockets. Additionally, both a loose cardi and drawstring shorts can do double duty as bathing suit cover-ups (either together, or each on their own). A simple slip-on sneaker completes this casual, yet stylish summer nighttime look.

There are countless ways and occasions to style denim shorts beyond sporting your old cutoffs to mow the grass. They key to pulling off jean shorts in your 30s and 40s is to style them in ways that aren’t so run-of-the-mill and to keep things tidy. Leave the raw edges and sloppy tops to the younger ladies.