Summer
Transition Dressing: Fashion Advice
As August starts to wind down, thoughts turn to fall . . . and fall fashion. While we’re always anxious to jump into the season’s latest look, there’s the pesky matter of weather to contend with—and while the calendar may say it’s fall, there’s that in between time—when the mornings are brisk but by noon the mercury’s hit a sticky 80 degrees—that is soooooo very challenging to dress for. Of course, any fashionista worth her salt knows that layering is the way to go, but what to layer? We’ve got some ideas for what layering pieces will work to keep you both comfortable and in style as we bridge summer to fall 08:
Sleeveless or Short-Sleeved Tops
Think cotton, soft jersey, sheer, and keep the colors soft or neutral—no neon but not quite holiday-ready jewel tones either. This Women’s Twisted Neck Top at Old Navy is a perfect choice to layer under a jacket or cardigan, being sleeveless and a light breathable fabric, in a color like bordeaux, which could be appropriate almost year round. Another good choice—a short-sleeve turtleneck in a light, 100% cotton knit, like this Cinched Turtle Neck Top at Wet Seal, which will be stylish and comfortable both under a jacket and on it’s own, depending on whether you’re heading to work in the a.m. or on your way home . . .
Jackets
Consider a three-quarter length sleeve in either a curve-conscious fitted style or the 60s inspired cropped jackets that are still popular (like this City Style 1-Snap Jacket, $59.50 at New York & Co.)—and think a mid-weight cotton or even a linen in a fall-ready pattern like this Textured Linen Tie Blazer in plaid, on sale $24.99 at La Redoute
Short Sleeve or Elbow Sleeve Cardigans
Three-quarter length and shorter sleeved cardies are all over right now, and are the perfect layering piece to slip on over that cami or sleeveless blouse (and later, under a tailored jacket, assuming the sweater is short enough). This Elbow-Sleeved Cardigan at Gap is a versatile wardrobe staple for $44, while an Xhilaration Cap Sleeved Open Cardigan is a slightly trendier option, for $17.99.
Vests
Not quite ready for a jacket? Transition with a vest—they’re popular this year (though it seems people either love ‘em or hate ‘em), especially with the sort of vintage/glam/menswear/tweed trends we’re seeing—meaning they’ll be super versatile. Right now wear one alone over a short-sleeved blouse and make it work later (when the chill really sets in) by putting it over a long-sleeved top and/or under a cardie or jacket. A fall-friendly option? This Herringbone Vest, $22, at Forever21.
Scarves
Lightweight scarves are super hot this summer and fall, and are a no brainer for adding a little extra style and warmth (and easy enough to shed later when you don’t need it). At the moment, you’ll find scarves to suit just about everyone—from this funky Flight Pattern Silk Scarf for $28 at Urban Outfitters to this sort of ethereal Ombre Scarf for $10.99 at Charlotte Russe.
A note: Make sure that whatever layers you use, the base piece or pieces are appropriate enough to stand alone should you need to peel away as the temps cruise up to the afternoon high . . .
Summer Clearance Sale at NY and Co.
The Deal: New York and Company is slashing prices on summer merchandise down to the single digits—sale ends July 26.
What We Say: As July winds down, retailers are looking forward to autumn. But as long as the weather is hot, we can’t picture ourselves in long sleeves quite yet, so we’re loving the prices on the summer apparel. Starting at $7.99 T-shirts and tops and ranging to a $41.96 ballet jacket, the sale contains items that represent NY and Company’s city chic persona.
Check out our picks:
The twist neck tank is adorable and fun, but also sexy enough to wear out at night. Now $16.66.
For $7.99 the pleated scoop neck top is a great deal—a basic and cute style like this will have longevity in your closet.
Pictured: So you like plaid, but you don’t want to look preppy or flannel-shirt grunge. This brushstroke plaid dress is a great alternative—it puts a painterly twist on a classic print.Now $29.99.
High vs. Low: Color Sunglasses
We can all pretty much agree that summer is the perfect season to put some color into your wardrobe. After all, there’s plenty of time in the autumn and winter months to adopt a much more drab color palette. One of the best ways to add color to your look without channeling Rainbow Brite is with accessories. A brightly colored handbag or shoe can add pizzazz to your look without going overboard. It’s especially great if you are afraid of color, and want to maintain a simpler look, but still want a hint of a bold hue. So, if you’re a little color shy, we suggest starting out with colorful accessories. Besides handbags and shoes, try wearing bright jewelry, or better yet, sunglasses! Color sunglasses are a hot trend right now, and we think that they’re just perfect for the fashionista who loves statement accessories. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes you just gotta stand out from the sea of dark black sunglasses. So, which is which?
On the right: Louis Vuitton “Gina” sunglasses in turquoise, $530, available at louisvuitton.com. On the left: Fossil’s “Georgia” sunglasses in aqua, $44, available at fossil.com.
High vs. Low: Summer Party Dress
We absolutely love summer style, and one of our favorite pieces is the summer party dress. For many, summer is the ideal party season with reasons to celebrate constantly around the corner. As your invitations to clam bakes, barbecues and dances pile up, one thing you won’t have to worry about is what to wear. The fun and flirty summer party dress works for almost any occasion. Wear it to a beach party with flip flops, or to a summer dance party just by adding your favorite pair of heels. Accessorize with chunky jewelry or a quirky bag, and you’ll be the belle of the beach. Thankfully, this look doesn’t have to cost you your savings because we found seriously adorable high and low options. So, which is which?
Up top is Betsey Johnson’s Embroidered Daisy Dot dress, $345, available at betseyjohnson.com. On the bottom is the Laser-Cut Eyelet Strapless dress, $89, available at bebe.com.
Summer Fashion: Fresh Ways to do Florals
While we’ve loved the return of florals, we’ve had our fill of the floral print dresses and skirts for the moment, and we know plenty of you were never quite ready to deck your whole person out in a veritable garden of giant blooms. Fortunately, summer is bringing us a whole new, er, crop of floral items that are less tablecloth, more simple chic. Some options to consider:
On Your Feet: We have fallen madly in love with these pretty Luichiny Women’s Sammie Sandals, for $59.95, at Amazon.com. Seriously—satin, rosette, rich color—what’s not to love?
On Your Wrist: A delicate pattern for a more subtle statement—Betsey Johnson BJ7019 Floral Watch, $64.95, Amazon.com
Clip One On: (a la Michelle Obama—look closely at her shoulder in this Michelle Obama Look for Less post and you‘ll see she‘s added a flower at the shoulder): Vanda Orchid Salon Clip, $18, Amazon.com or for a little color, this Karin’s Garden Gerbera Daisy Pin-Clip, $26
On Your Finger: We’ve written about the floral cocktail ring recently, but we love this bouquet-on-your-finger enough to repeat ourselves: Glitzs Gold Flower Ring, $28.26, Amazon.com
Talk about this and other fashionable topics on our forum.
Urban Outfitters’ Sale is on Sale
What: Urban Outfitters always has a section online and in stores for discounted and marked down items, but now until Monday June 30 their sale items are discounted an additional 20 percent!
What We Say: Urban Outfitters’ regular prices are occasionally too steep for our wallets, but their sale section is consistently awesome. Especially now that we can get an additional 20 percent off that merchandise. Their style is always edgy and fashion forward and they often adapt the trends to their sometimes bohemian, hip ethos. The silhouettes of the dresses on sale are all loose and fluid, but the designs differ greatly. Many styles are for the bold and daring, while others are safer and sweet.
A controversial fashion debate revolves around high-waisted pants. Some love them, others hate. If you want to cause some sartorial conflict check out the High Waisted Skinny Pants. These pants come in three conversation-starter colors. The blue and purple are $29.99, the black is full price.
The name of the Ojo de Dios Tank translates to Eye of God—that’s a bit much, but we do like it greatly. It’s very low cut in the back, with pretty beading on the straps. Now $24.99.
Pictured: We love the Lux Daydreamer Dress for the cute watercolor flowers and tiered fabric. Be flirty and sweet while comfortable in the heat (rhyme intended). The model is wearing flats. You can pair with anything from flip flops to high heeled sandals. Now $39.99.
$1 Old Navy Flip Flops
“THIS SALE HAS ENDED”
What: Yep, you read that correctly. Tomorrow, Saturday, June 28, Old Navy flip flops are one dollar. The sale is ONE DAY ONLY so head to your local Old Navy with lots of singles.
What We Say: Word has gotten around quick about this sweet deal so we suggest you head to your local store early so you’re not left with a small selection of colors and sizes at the end of the day. Old Navy has, without a doubt, cornered the budget flip-flop market because of the huge variety of colors and sizes. They’re cute basics that are affordable enough to buy new every summer. We’re getting up early tomorrow and purchasing pairs in every color of the rainbow.
High vs. Low: Beach Tote
Let’s face it, summer is the season for accessories. Bikinis, sandals, sunglasses, hats, headbands - pretty much every accessory has a role during summertime. And no true fashionista can go through the hottest season of the year without having all the beach and pool essentials, right? What better way to tote (pun intended) all of your fabulous summer accessories than in a stylish beach tote! Considering that your beach tote is going to be languishing under the hot sun all day, half buried in sand, you might want to spare your wallet some pain. You can thank us later for tracking down gorgeous high and low versions of the summer beach tote. For now, tell us which is which…
Up top: Michael Kors’s Malibu Animal Print Tote in black, $148.50, at macys.com. Below: American Living Large Iconic Tote, $27.99, available at jcpenney.com.
High vs. Low: Embellished Flip Flops
“SOME PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
They may not be the sexiest footwear, but they are pretty darn comfortable. Flip flops are must-haves for summer as fashionistas flock to the beach, park and pool for some much-needed respite from the heat. Despite their reputation for being somewhat dowdy, there’s no reason that flip flops can’t be cute and fashionable. Instead of opting for the usual plain rubber flip flops, we wanted to look a little more stylish this summer without sacrificing the all-important comfort. Enter embellished flip flops - they’re everything you could want from a traditional pair of flip flops, but they also happen to be, well, pretty. Proof that you don’t have to give up style for comfort, or comfort for style. It’s a win-win situation with both high and low pairs we have picked out for you. Of course, the low option is definitely more of a winner in our opinion. So, which is which?
On the bottom: Havaianas Crystal Mesh flip flops in Silver Moon, $195, available at havaianas.com. On the top: Merona Winda Beaded Champagne flip flops, $17.99, available at Target.com
Flying off the Shelves at Bluefly: Daily Deal
Deal: This Kooba tote is 40% off—originally $545, now $327.
The Lowdown: The leather on this tote is rich and luxurious looking and comes in both cognac and black. This will make a good everyday, do-everything bag. You can take it grocery shopping, but it’s also appropriate for a night out to dinner. The dark color might remind you of autumn, but don’t be afraid to wear it in the summer, too. This purse has many hidden pockets where you can stash your cell and other items you need accessible at all times. The versatility of this bag ups the amount of times you can carry it, which lowers your cost per wear. Check out www.bluefly.com for other great deals.
eDressme.com: Daily Deal
The Deal: Up to 80% off summer dresses by well-known designers.
The Lowdown: When we saw the prices of these dresses, our jaws dropped. Dresses by the likes of Nanette Lepore, Nicole Miller, BCBG and Shoshanna are so well-priced that we want to pick up more than one. It’s not just casual dresses that they’re offering either—it’s full fledged cocktail dresses and gowns, too. The latest trends are present in this sale too—mod, florals, fluid silhouettes, and more. These dresses range from sex kitten-seductive to girlishly cute, but they all have one thing in common—they’re affordable.
After much deliberation, here are some of our favorites:
This green and purple floral shift dress by Nicole Miller, now $125.
The daring cut outs and metallics on this gown require a bold woman to pull off the style. Now only $75.
This Nicole Miller dress is curve-hugging in a good way. $199.00
Pictured: The modern lines and unique neckline make the dress. Signette, $245.
High vs. Low: Tinted Moisturizer
This summer, we’re looking for a multi-use moisturizer. Layering moisturizer and foundation and sunscreen that will just melt off in the sun isn’t our idea of a relaxing day strolling a boardwalk or playing soccer in the backyard. A moisturizer that moonlights as light foundation and sun protection sounds perfect—a high SPF, a tint of color and the ability to cover up blemishes adequately are requirements. Here are two options—choose the one that fits your budget.
Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30, $36.00
This oil-free moisturizer protects skin from the sun and evens skin tone while absorbing oil and providing medium coverage. Plus, the moisturizer smooths skin with amino acids. This moisturizer comes in six shades.
jane Nearly Foundation Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30, $4.99
This oil-free moisturizer, 31 dollars less than Stila’s, triples as a light foundation, moisturizer and protection from the sun. Our fellow consumers at Walgreen’s reviewed it, giving it three and a half out of five stars. This moisturizer comes in three shades: fair, medium and deep.
Photos from stila.com and walgreens.com
Lucky’s New Face
What: Before Mickey Mouse, there was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald was a little-known Disney cartoon character, Walt’s first icon in fact, who was traded from Disney in 1927 and returned in 2006. Lucky Brand is the first retailer to manufacture Oswald apparel. It’s one of the first times Oswald is appearing in public in any form since 1927, and the first time he’s appearing on apparel in the USA.
What We Say: A comfortable T-shirt is great for the summer when you don’t need to dress up for anything. Pair it with jeans, shorts or a denim mini-skirt. We love the retro, grainy look to the graphic. Wearing Oswald is more unique than the tried and true Disney characters (although we still love those, too) and people will wonder who that funny rabbit on your shirt is, and is he cooler than Bugs?
Pictured: The women’s Oswald T-shirt, $44.
Faux Bronze Glow: Beauty Trend 2008
What: Skip the (unhealthy) suntan in favor of summer’s best bronzers.
What the experts say: Tanning is so passé, but appearing sun-kissed is still as striking as ever. Yet, choose your bronzer wisely.
“The big changes in bronzer this year are the shift from shimmer to matte, as well as placement,��? editorial makeup artist Elke Von Freudenberg tells us. “Now we’re using bronzer to contour: under cheekbones, along the sides of forehead and at the bottom of the chin. Find a warm honey bronze; this works great on almost all skin tones without being too red, dark or orange. And don’t overdo it; nothing looks worse than too much bronzer.��?
What we say: Anything that mimics the look of spending our days frolicking in the sun without actually having to subject our skin to dangerous UV rays sounds perfect to us. We love the faux glow Charlize Theron flaunted at the MTV Movie Awards, and we’re willing to bet we can fake it just like her on the cheap. Sephora’s Bronzer Powder SPF 15 helps us fake that trip to St. Tropez we’ve been dreaming about—all while protecting our skin against the sun. Sure, at $15 it’s pricey—but the added SPF makes it worth the cost. For all of us whose skin tends to gush oil during the summer months, Jane offers Oil-Free Bronzing Powder, which gives us a gorgeous sunless glow while not clogging pores or emptying our wallets ($3.69). Our personal fave: Wet ‘N Wild Bronzzer Compact. Not only does it come in a variety of tones perfect for all types of skin, but also it doesn’t streak when you sweat. For $2.99, that’s a deal worth its weight in gold…er, bronze.
Photo: Getty Images
Attention DSW Rewards Members
The Deal: For a limited time, DSW Rewards Program members will get free shipping on any purchase you make on their website. If you’re a Premier Rewards member, your shipment will arrive the next day for free. They have deals for non-members too—till June 25, get free shipping on orders $50 or more. It’s a discount coming at a convenient time in the summer, before beach weather really kicks up. You still have time to find your dream shoes for the summer, so get to it. We are.
Above: Embellished gladiator sandals, $54.95.
Gap Swimwear Daily Deals
“THIS SALE HAS ENDED”
The Deal: 25% off women’s swimwear at GapBody until June 12, and their SummerWear campaign ends June 8.
The Lowdown: Find your summer suit both online and in stores. We’ve never understood the $300 bathing suit. Unless it’s covered with Louis Vuitton signature print, you can’t tell that it’s designer. The only requirement should be that it looks great on you. The best swimsuit is the one you don’t feel self-conscious in. If you can lay out on the beach or by the pool feeling at least fairly confident that your swimsuit complements you, you’re successful. There are so many mix and match suits to choose from that they flatter practically any body type. Their site has: triangle tops, halter tops, bandeau tops, tankinis, string bikinis, hipsters, skirt hipsters, boy shorts, and one pieces. We see trends all over their site—polka dots, animal prints, and nautical. Put together your favorites for as little as 20 bucks.
Pictured at top: Cut out one pieces are especially popular now—here’s Gap’s version for $37.50.
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