When did it become acceptable to splash any and every bright colored piece of clothing across a body? It seems that once summer hits, retail stores become a bucket for rainbows to splat into. The first step in not looking like Blossom from the 80's is to avoid the urge to purchase all the bubblegum pink, screaming green, or Ferrari yellow adornments! Begin with deeper hues, such as, rusted oranges, mustard yellows, delicious plums and chocolate browns. Now, stop getting all bent out of shape, I know these may seem like the colors of the distant Autumn. However, these colors will bring out your best complexion and you may be surprised to see how they pop when paired with the whites you picked up this spring. If you've had enough white, wrestle those khaki linens out of the closet! Nude shades paired with dark colors look very natural and are easy to accessorize.
There are three main looks of the summer season that I have put together. Each one makes for an easy transformation from a day at the mall to a night out on the town. Firstly, if you splurged on a militia jacket over the past few months, one outfit will be simple to create. Start with a white mini-dress or a white top and bottom, add the military blazer with white or metallic sandals (heels for night) and pop on some deep blue sea shades.
Deep blue stone jewelry that is translucent couples nicely with faded army green and is very noticeable against bright whites. A touch of hemp in bracelets (no anklets) will also make the look appear more natural and casual.
For the diva in every girl I have developed a look that speaks to the rock and glam in all of us. One detail that is everywhere is STUDS!
There is studded denim crawling out from every designer and it's great because it is very easy to work with when creating an outfit. Take a pair of studded shorts (even the boy fit styles are edgy), top with a white tee (tees with gold sequined sleeves glam it up a notch), add a denim vest or strings of wooden jewelry and a straw fedora, and DONE! Keep away from belting studded denim. Not only does it take the attention from the studs but it makes jewelry appear as over accessorizing. Take a look at Beyonce's Dereon add in Glamour's May issue for an example of this look.
My favorite look of the three brings dark warm hues into the sunlight. White shorts coupled with burnt orange (or mustard yellow) tanks and tees are very fitting. You could even try lightweight cardigans with an in-elaborate camisole. It is a simple look that can easily be dressed up with mahogany accessories. A brown belt with large brown floral focal points are perfect with a fedora. Look for thick silky ribbons and strappy leather shoes to tone down rusty or mustard tints. Straw textures also are a natural addition to this look.
Accessories this season should be designed around textures. Wooden beads, cloth strands, and hemp braids are all amazing in dark or bright colors. Do not be afraid to mix several shades of one color into one outfit. If you decide to wear white shorts with a plum top add a few wooden necklaces that present several shades of purple and other warm colors. Mahogany jewelry can tone down an array of colors in any one look. Also, that shag shoulder bag you've been dying to switch to is beyond acceptable.
The key to fashion success this summer is to tone down bright hues. You are free to dazzle the public with cape cod blues as long as they are broken up by a brown leather belt and metallic gladiators. Faded denim vests are perfect with ocean blues and chocolate browns. Also, colors on the darker end of the spectrum make faded denim look classy yet effortless.
Lastly, and most importantly, DO NOT, under any circumstances, purchase anything tie-dyed. This trend will come and go quicker than harem pants. Tie-dyed pieces were good in the 60's and are a fun project for fourth graders, but not for present fashion; It is simply unacceptable. Now, go on and see what natural looks you can cultivate!
There is studded denim crawling out from every designer and it's great because it is very easy to work with when creating an outfit. Take a pair of studded shorts (even the boy fit styles are edgy), top with a white tee (tees with gold sequined sleeves glam it up a notch), add a denim vest or strings of wooden jewelry and a straw fedora, and DONE! Keep away from belting studded denim. Not only does it take the attention from the studs but it makes jewelry appear as over accessorizing. Take a look at Beyonce's Dereon add in Glamour's May issue for an example of this look. 
