Andra Naylor
I was a little annoyed when my latest magazine arrived boasting "what's new for fall fashion". Fall? I know it's just the way fashion works - the industry is always one season ahead of the consumers that wear the clothes. But I'm not ready to fathom tweed and wool. I haven't even gone through one third of my summer dresses, let alone my cover-ups and open-toe shoes. So this column is a celebration of summer, during summer, in honor of summer.
Bring On The Heat
Anyone who knows me knows that the hotter it is outside, the happier I am. Eighty-eight degrees and humid is a perfect day for me. So I definitely gravitate toward light, loose-fitting styles that are perfect for hot and hazy days. So I'm instantly drawn to a bohemian style like the Joie Cece dress, a print V-neck silk-chiffon dress with pleated empire waist and long dolman sleeves ($298 at shopbop.com). I also love when bohemian meets luxe, something Haute Hippie does very well. The chiffon jersey dress with embellished neckline dress is the perfect dress for a hot night, especially since it comes in the color "fire" ($595 at revolveclothing.com).
Keeping Cool
For every warm day, there's often a cool evening, a lake breeze or an unfortunate office seat near the AC vent. In those cases, every girl needs the perfect cardigan. I love J.Crew's gauzy version, a linen silk-product cardigan that is light and airy ($88 at jcrew.com). For more of a statement piece, I'd opt for a fun floral piece like Anthropologie's "Wild and Wondrous" cardigan ($118 at anthropologie.com), made of a super-soft sweaterknit. Pair it with skinny jeans or complement a little black dress - either way it will keep away the chills and look fantastic, too.
The Hottest Accessories
Although it's the norm to lighten up during summer, sometimes I just want to pile on the accessories when getting dressed. I see it as another way to layer, just warm weather-style. I think bare arms call for a stack of bangles, just like perfectly pedicured feet require a killer pair of sandals. The Zuba Africa Coral Bead Necklace comes layered for you, featuring fabric-covered beads and lacquered recycled paper beads ($198 at shopbop.com). And Alaia's leather wedge sandals are so much more than leather wedge sandals. Words can not describe. They're $2,090 at net-a-porter.com, but I like to include in every column at least one a-girl-can-dream item!
1. Joie Cece Dress $298
2. Haute Hippie Chiffon Jersey Embellished Neckline Dress in Fire $595
3. J. Crew Linen Silk-Pocket Cardigan $88
4. Wild & Wondrous Cardigan $118
5. Zuba Africa Coral Bead Necklace Set $198
6. Alaia Leather Wedge Sandals $2,090
Image Layout: Laura Funk
