It’s always somewhat sad to retire your favorite Topsiders or strappy sandals for the fall or winter. Even if you don’t necessarily live in a city in which your shoe choice should change that dramatically according to the weather, you’ll still have to somewhat readjust your shoe artillery accordingly.
So what’s the secret to not having to completely overhaul the styles you like to wear? Clearly, you’ll need to find shoes that will transition well from at least one season to another. This can be tricky, however, because although it is possible to wear some types of open toed-shoes or even strappy-ish heels with tights or with long pants, not every single type will work.
The key is finding shoes in darker or earth-tone colors, with thicker straps and/or more coverage in the toe area, even if they are an open-toe style. Generally, you’ll want to avoid cork and espadrille in the heel area, though sometimes they actually can work well, but you’ll have to choose and accessorize carefully.
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August and September can be a pain when shopping for weather-appropriate clothes. It’s sort of catch-22: it’s still warm enough to be wearing summer clothes, but most stores are only selling fall clothes. And yet, you don’t necessarily want to spend money on clothes that will soon meet their impending exile until next year.
Fortunately, khaki, with its breathe-ability and warm color-range perfect for any season is an ideal solution for transitioning your existing wardrobe or informing your in-between-season clothing purchases.
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We love throwing on a a pile of bracelets in the summer–as we always say, as the clothes become “less,” the accessories become “more,” and vice versa. Here’s a few easy picks to get you through the rest of summer and well into the autumn.
First up is this bangin’ braided bracelet from Banana Republic. The beaded leather and mixed metal details are killer, and we’re liking the idea of mixing it with a big mens watch, or some jangly vintage silver bangles. For $24, this is a style steal you can’t afford to miss.
House of Harlow has been cooking up some killer accessories this season, and these heavy gold bangles are covered in textured leather and tiny pyramid studs. We love that they’re simple at first glance, but still designed and elegant upon closer inspection. $113 each.
Last but not least, we’re ordering these purple rhinestone leather bracelets from American Eagle post-haste. The criss-crossed yarn details and amethyst-like color would be perfect with a gaggle of mixed chain bracelets, or a great big cuff. Props are definitely due to American Eagle for stepping up their game–and for their buy one, get one 50% off promotion!
Some summer staples never go out of style. A pair of lived-in cutoff shorts will serve you in a style pinch, or will get you through a long day of errand-running. You might think they’re too casual for dinner or a summer party, but au countraire: this season, top designers whipped up high-end interpretations of this sunny-weather classic.
Kain label’s ikat cutoffs are cut “up to there” and come with a quirky embroidered print. There’s even a touch of hillbilly charm with the exposed pocket liners and super low-slung styling. We think the unusual print would look great with a pale blue button down or a gauzy white henley.
If you prefer something a little more classic, check out J Brand’s white cutoff short-shorts, which come in a subtle pale gray wash with just enough distressing along the front pockets (we’re sick to death of that ripped-to-shreds denim look. We can pulverize our own jeans, thanksverymuch). We also love the soft frayed hem, which is we guarantee will continue to fray and warp with every wash. Pair with lace-up sandals, a chunky bracelet and silky top for beat-the-heat summer style.
Yeah yeah yeah, so it’s 98 degrees outside (and your electric bill–if it’s anything like ours–is starting to look like a zipcode), but some of the most awesome seasonal accessories are just plain impractical. So, we offer you this meditation on the summer scarf – one of our favorite, if slightly paradoxical summer accessories–but also caution you against wearing any this week, because let’s face it: your stylish self might pass out on the sidewalk.
A lightweight summer scarf is perfect for reasonable climates when, come 5 o’clock, the temperature drops ten degrees and you need an extra layer to wrap around your shoulders. For some reason, summer scarves also look fantastic worn over simple tank tops–almost like a giant necklace. Our first pick is this crepey fringey scarf by Chan Luu, in a crinkled viscose.
Summer scarves are also excellent “transitional’ pieces, which means you can go from Indian Summer to full-blown Fall with the same accessory tied about your neck. We like a soft print or floral pattern, like the above pale lilac option from Ann Taylor Loft. At just $40, we guarantee this little guy will see you through months of use. For now, though, maybe only wear it indoors, with the air-conditioning blasting.
Korres has always been a go-to source for high quality products that incorporate natural ingredients. Our summer fave? Their decadent Mango Butter Lipstick, formulated without parabens, sulfates, petro chemicals and GMO–none of which we care to have near our mouth anyway, thankyouverymuch.
The mango butter lipstick is a super hydrating formula that keeps our lips soft without getting goopy or slimy-looking. As an extra bonus, the lipstick has protective SPF 10, so you can do some serious summer lounging without fear of burning. Available in eight natural pink shades, we guarantee you’ll be reaching for this tube again and again. Personally, we go for the Natural Pink 13 as a day-to-day color, but the Fuschia comes out on special occasions, or as a pop of color with an all-white outfit.
If you’re more of a lip balm type of gal, be sure to to check out Korres’ super-soft Lip Butters. We love the Jasmine as a neutral to wear over a more saturated lip color, and the Quince is handy if you’re looking to add a hint of color without looking overly made-up.
We were so pleased that top designers rolled out some fabulous “star spangled” options this season, because we’re always a bit hung up about what to wear on the Fourth of July. While we don’t exactly want to walk out of the apartment looking like we put a belt around the American flag, we don’t want to be party poopers, either.
Happily, everyone was loving stripes this season, so there are automatically about two thousand fashionably festive options to choose from. If you’re doing something a tad ritzy this weekend, go with Jean Paul Gaultier’s couture, which features sequined stripes on a classic white A-line dress. This would pair wonderfully with a picnic basket and some white d’orsay pumps.
For a more colorful (not to mention more affordable) option, check out the striped cotton knit dress from See by Chloe. We like that it still incorporates the stripe trend, and keeps things summery with a splash of yellow and cream. Pair with a panama hat, some beat-up brown sandals and slices of watermelon. Now on sale for $82.50, this little number is sure to go in a hurry.
After spending far too many summer afternoons clutching on to my flared skirt as gusts of wind roll off the Hudson River, I have decided that there must be an alternative to the high waisted, full skirts that are so popular this season. It doesn’t matter how long or short my skirt is: I’ll be walking down the subway steps or waiting on the street corner when a gust of wind comes along and exposes WAY too much of my, ahem, legs. What to do? Enter in the flounce short. Disguised as a miniskirt and incredibly flattering, flounce shorts have all the fun and fullness of a skirt while being as functional as a pair of shorts. They usually come with a high waist, and have a certain vintage vibe about them.
These flirty shorts from Nordstrom look straight out of Dirty Dancing Havana Nights. With a bold, fluid tropical print, you can wear them to a concert in the park or to your favorite cocktail spot. Just make sure to add on a pair of strappy platform sandals and some bangles if you’re sporting them at night.
This pair of stripe pocket shorts is casual, comfy, and ready for the flea market or even the beach. The soft, faded cotton would pair perfectly with slouchy tank, fedora, and flat sandals. There are many flounce shorts out there to fit your style, from dressy silks to casual cottons. So go grab a pair and sit, stand, romp and wait on the street corner with confidence.
We all know there’s nothing stylish about a sunburn (remember all the burnt calves walking around after Memorial Day? Yuck.), so this summer we propose you invest some spare cash in a fabulous sun hat, not only to protect your fragile epidermis, but to look downright magnifique.
It seems there are more sun hat options available than ever, from colored fedoras with embellished ribbon trims to big, floppy caps hats to dainty cloches a la Coco Chanel. We see no reason not to embrace all summer sun hat styles, since they’re all suited to slightly different occasions (do not wear a giant hat to your office unless you like strange looks) and slightly different outfits.
In the floppy category, we’re loving Roxy’s budget friendly “sandbox hat” for just $28. Pack along with a teeny polka dot bikini and some strappy sandals for your next beach escape, or just loll about in the park with a good book.
As for the uber-hip fedora, we were shocked to find a sweet, logo-less option from American Eagle for $26.50. If you’re not prepared to spend a lot of money on a fedora, try to keep the style as simple as possible. Too much design on a bargain-priced hat can start to look cheap and–yikes–a touch tacky, if you’re not careful.
Last but not least, we were thrilled to discover that Talbots is currently offering a chic straw cloche, complete with adorable belt buckle detail, for $34. Coco would be proud.
We never thought it would happen, but cargo pants have returned in a big way for summer 2010, only this time they’ve been reincarnated as long, leggy utility pants. Indeed, the cargo pockets are the same, but where the extra slouchy pant legs used is a super tailored silhouette. Basically, they’re just skinny jeans–but with pockets that you can actually use!
Our primo pick is the cargo ankle jean by Vince. At $241, they’re definitely an investment, but consider how much you’ll wear them this summer (they look spectacular with everything from wifebeaters to dressier blouses) and the cost feels justified. For a casual day in the park, be sure to pair with a beat up baseball hat and creamy white converse.
Of course, the notorious pair of skinny cargos that set off the whole frenzy was Houlihan by J Brand, on which Cathy Horyn based an entire post on her New York Times blog, On the Runway. Sold out for months, the style has only just returned to shopbop, where they will no doubt sell out again if you don’t act quickly. Alas, they’re also priced steep at $231, but you can’t put a price on looking this effortlessly hip.
