Remember when I mentioned that I had guest-blogged for a friend, and that I'd post the link as soon as I had it? Well, time got away from her and the post is now on official delay/hiatus, but we discussed it, and decided I should post it here in the meantime. My friend Jessica's blog Revampitude is amazing, so please check it out if you can. Without further ado, below is what I wrote for summer trends last year, and even though it's slightly dated, I still think there are a few things you can take away from it for this summer. (Which I am dreaming about, because I am so done with this winter weather, I can't even tell you.) I split it up into two parts at Jessica's request, one post for women, and one post for men, so here's the first one, for the ladies...
To help you cool down in the mind-melting heat, I’ve put together a list of things to keep you feeling and looking frosty.
Summer weather means everything has to be distilled to its essence—is it necessary? If not, off it goes. There will always be wardrobe staples that no one can ignore, and a lot of options depending on how far you want to take your look. Forward-thinking fashion types and your average everywoman intersect stylistically more than you’d think.
Number one on my list is what can safely be termed the eternal Summer Shoe—the Espadrille. Espadrilles are classic, easy, and depending on what style you go with, can be quite cutting-edge. They instantly make whatever you are wearing look like summer personified.
You can go cheap and buy them someplace really accessible, like Madewell or the Gap whose collaboration with Pierre Hardy has resulted in these lovely lace-ups:
Or you can be a rich bitch and buy them from Castañer, which has been making espadrilles in Spain since 1927.
Online, Espadrilles Etc has a wonderful variety of classic and wacky styles. Shoe sites like Zappos and Endless also have a plethora of options to choose from.
Second on my list, especially for this summer, are shorts, which this season I am craving in a lightweight silk. Silk shorts are a more adult version of the summer skirt. They flow nicely, women of any size can wear them (for those who disagree with this, I maintain that the secret to any body type wearing shorts successfully has everything to do with inseam length), and there is nothing cooler than silk in the summer. Trust me.
JCrew has some nice options, like the silk Déjeuner short:
If wearing silk has you worried about wrinkles, cotton blends in a breezy, flowing style like these fun TopShop butterfly-printed shorts might be a better idea.
The final item on my short list starts with L and ends with –ucite. Summer makes transparency in accessories seem like an absolute must. I know what you’re thinking—clear heels? Clear heels? (I think of Chris Rock whenever this issue comes up.) But Lucite doesn’t have to be a one-way street to stripper-ville. It can be classy and glamorous, as exemplified by the gorgeous Prada Chandelier shoes on Emily Eiesen in Tommy Ton’s Jak & Jil blog:
If shoes are too daring for you, necklaces and bracelets are an easy way to incorporate this trend. I was fortunate enough to score Erickson Beamon’s bubble drop necklace during their Target collaboration last summer, and I love being able to pull it out right now. There’s just something so light and refreshing about wearing clear accessories.
Tomorrow we’ll have Part Two of my Summer List, where I will focus on suggestions for menswear.
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