Summer is the time of year to let your worries melt away and enjoy the sun and warmth. However, if you are unsure of how to dress in the heat and wonder what is and is not appropriate to wear it can create more stress than it is worth. With the goal of making summer dressing as easy and breezy as your actual summer hopefully is here are a few pointers.
Under Garments: In the summer we tend to wear a lot more white (a big trend this season) and light colored clothing. Make sure that you wear nude under garments with these pieces. A lot of women tend to think that wearing a white bra under a white shirt will help the bra to not stand out, but this just isn’t the case, especially if you have a tan. A nude colored bra will actually be less noticeable underneath and focus the attention on what you are wearing.
For the office: Just because it is 90 degrees outside does not make it okay to wear a strapless sundress. Strapless at work is just not appropriate, nor is a sundress. Some creative offices may be more accepting of it, but in all other offices it is a no go. If you are worried about the heat outside and want to stay cool try an of-the-moment pencil skirt, in a lighter weight fabric, with a sleeveless button up and lightweight blazer over it. You can keep the blazer off until you get into work, put it on until you get to your office and then can take it back off again if you so desire. This way you look polished, stay cool during transit and have something to throw on for meetings or if your office blasts the air conditioning.
Hair: Our hair tends to have a mind of its own in heat and humidity; no matter how hard we try. Instead of worrying about how your hair will look by the end of your commute try styling your hair in some of this summer’s trends such as braids and buns. There are endless varieties that you can try. For the weekend, go for whatever style you would like. For work, let your office dress code be your guide. If you work in a more creative environment try a braid. There are so many different versions that are popular right now (and how-to tutorials on the internet) that you can really have some fun and look polished at the same time. If you are in a more conservative setting try a bun. It’s not that I think buns are necessarily more “conservative” looking but they do tend to look a bit more finished depending on how you style them. For an office with a strict dress code try a bun at the nape of your neck. This style will keep your hair in control and look polished.
Have Fun: Summer is a great time of year to try new colors and styles you may have been hesitant to try during the winter. If you have been wanting to try all the great bright colored tops, dresses and pants out there now is your time to give it a shot. There are plenty of pieces to choose from and it is always easier to wear a bright color when the sun is shining! Also, now would be a great time to try the new wide legged pant trend that will be upon us before we know it. They will provide you with some breathability and movement to keep you cool during these warm months. If you wear blazers to work and are tired of all of your old options try a white blazer for the summer. It is a refreshed look and a key piece for this season. It will keep you pulled together while looking fashion forward.
No matter what you wear I hope you enjoy the summer and all of the fun that it holds, and remember, sunblock is your best accessory, it goes with everything!