At last, blue skies and sunshine have replaced gray drizzle and chilly
temperatures, and long pants and those hideous foam clown shoes known
as Crocs are making way for cute sundresses and sandals. In short,
summer is here, and fashionable people everywhere are taking a look
into their closets so see what's what. If you're looking to upgrade
your wardrobe and get in on the summer fashion trends of celebrities
and celebrity stylists, look no further. Here's a peek at the styles
that are hot this season; and the good news is that, because many of
these picks are classics, you probably already own a piece or two
(meaning you'll be able to splurge on a few extras.) We've got the top
picks for clothes, shoes and even accessories that no A-list celeb or
self-respecting fashionista will want to be without this summer. Read
away, figure out what looks you can rock, and get shopping! Fun!
Choose it:
- Jean shorts. Kate Moss, Jessica Simpson and Lindsay Lohan are fans
of the jean short, which they can dress up or down. Choose a pair in a
dark wash that fits well, meaning the shorts don't ride up in the
crotch and don't sit too high on the waist. Opt for a pair that falls
mid-thigh for the most flattering look. Do like Nicky Hilton does and
pair shorts with flats, a chic jacket and an oversize bag; the Britney
Spears faded cutoff short-short look is so tacky.
- Tie espadrilles. Eva Longoria and Carmen Electra rock this look,
which calls attention to your ankles and is flattering on most
everyone. Pair your tie espadrilles with skirts, or cropped pants or
jeans. (If you're wearing a mini, though, it's best to stick with
flats; the shoe should be the focus of the outfit, and a mini is just
too much.) And keep the ties to a minimum, meaning if your shoes have
ties, don't choose pants or a top that does too.
- Thong sandals. Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss and Reese Witherspoon are
fans of this chic style, which looks great with jeans, shorts and
minidresses. Opt for a natural material, or get in on the metallic
trend by choosing silver sandals. J. Crew, Nine West, Banana Republic,
Mia, Miu Miu and Gucci all make great, classic styles.
- Oversize sunglasses. Think Victoria Beckham, Lauren Conrad and Kylie
Minogue. Styles we like: "Glossy" plastic oversize sunglasses from
Dior. Though gorgeous, these babies retail for $260. If you can't
afford to splurge, Forever 21 makes a similar pair for $4.80. I also
picked up a great pair of white oversize glasses with rhinestone
detail from Old Navy for $8. Now, if my puppy chews on them, I won't
be that upset (unless they cause an intestinal blockage that costs,
say $2000 to fix). Don't laugh, it's happened.
- Straw or canvas tote. Stash your sunscreen and beach reads in the
must-have summer accessory: the classic tote. Of course, LL Bean makes
the ultimate canvas beach bag (add your initials or your name for fun
and practical purposes), or try J Crew, Lilly Pulitzer or Land's End.
Straw totes are great too. Just type 'straw tote' into any search
engine and take your pick.
- Pink pearls. What better way to accessorize casual beachwear than
with the sea's own gemstone? White pearls are classic and elegant, but
natural pink pearls, with their softly flattering rosy luster, are
perfect against summer skin. Choose classic looks like pink pearl
studs, a pink pearl pendant (a pink pearl strand might be a bit too
stuffy for the beach, although it's great for the office), or a pink
pearl ankle bracelet to work the look. Simple yet elegant, pink pearls
go with everything. They're a no-brainer accessory, they're timeless,
and, since natural pink pearls come from freshwater mussels, they
won't break the bank. Search for "pink pearls" or "pink pearl jewelry"
online to find a variety of affordable styles. Just be sure to check
return policies before ordering online.
- Minidresses. Popsicle-inspired colors and simple, flattering
patterns make these carefree dresses a no-brainer option for summer
dressing. Kirsten Dunst and Kate Hudson are fans of the minidress,
which can go from beach to dinner effortlessly. Three to try: Michael
Kors' jersey A-line tunic dress ($65), Gap striped terry sweatshirt
dress ($45) and Ella Moss sleeveless dress with button detail ($178).
Also in for summer:
- Cute, non-fussy beach cover-ups. The look is simple and functional;
don't overdo. Think a simple cotton tank in one cheerful color (steer
clear of black or brown!) or a graphic floral print. It's very
European to wear a matching swimsuit and coverup combo; only sport
this look if you want attention.
- Lavender pearl jewelry. We already said that luminous freshwater
pink pearls go great with summer fashions and sun-kissed skin. Equally
hot? Metallic lavender pearls. They're a new twist on classic white
and they flatter every skin tone.
- Shell jewelry. Toss on a shell cuff bracelet or mother-of-pearl
pendant for chic summer style. Natural materials look gorgeous against
summer skin (the kind that comes from self-tanner, natch).
- Straw hats. Find a big, floppy hat with a wide brim that will cover
your head completely (save your skin now; it will thank you later). A
black ribbon, straw flowers or some sort of simple accent is always
cute on a basic straw hat.
- Metallic nails. Keep nails short to rock this trend, of which Mischa
Barton is a fan. Two polishes to try: Maybelline Express Finish
Advanced Wear Fast-Dry Nail Enamel in Silver Speed, available in
drugstores, and Essie Loophole, available in salons.
- Waterproof mascara. A must-have summer accessory, waterproof mascara
will have you looking chic après swimming without the dreaded raccoon
eye. Almay, Bourjois, Clinique and Max Factor all make great
waterproof mascaras. Tip: Lighten up for summer by trying something
other than basic black. Brown mascara, green mascara and blue mascara
are al unexpected eye-poppers.
- Last but certainly not least (my derm made me include this): Don't
forget the ultimate summer accessory: sunscreen.
Lose it:
- French pedicures. So over. Choose universally flattering coral or a
berry pink instead. Even the natural look is better than the dreaded
French pedicure. (Ditto for the French manicure.)
- Crocs: C'mon, you don't honestly think they look good, do you? Only
Bozo and Kinko should have these in their closets.
- Denim short-shorts: They don't work for Britney, and they won't work
for you.
- Cropped tops: Exposing your belly is passé. Give it up.
- Extreme low-rise jeans: So over.
- Layered chains: While the look is still in, it's far too heavy for
summer. Stick to simple jewelry in natural materials, like pearls,
mother-of-pearl, coral, shell and wood.
- Clothes that must be constantly tugged, pulled at and fussed with.
Guess what, girlfriend? They don't fit. Toss them to your little sis,
or get thee to a tailor.
Now that you know what to wear (and what not to wear), it's time to
evaluate your closet and get shopping. Remember, though, that you
don't have to adopt every trend. Styles come and go and they're
definitely not trendy if they're stuck in your closet never to be
seen. Instead, pick a few pieces that work for you (I love all these
summer trends, but the ones that really work for me are straw hats,
lavender pearls, minidresses and tie espadrilles) and make summer 2007
your season to shine.
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