It’s so warm out and staying cool is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. However, staying cool while, at the same time, looking glamorous should be our focus; but most of us just think about staying cool. Here are a few easy tips to both stay cool and look glamorous.
Fabric – Linen
My mother would shoot me for talking so fondly of linen due to its high maintenance, but linen is an amazing summer fabric. The same outfit (say a blazer) looks infinitely more summery when made out of linen versus one made out of cotton/polyester. I personally love my white linen dress. Nothing screams summer like a Marilyn Monroe cut white linen dress. Cam Winterink can usually be seen wearing a linen blazer and is an excellent example of how men can dress fashionably in the summer while staying cool.
The only downside to linen is the maintenance required. For starters, it’s dry-clean-only. I tend to avoid dry-clean-only fabrics because there are typically washer-friendly alternatives, but in the case of linen in the summer, there is simply no substitute. The other issue is how wrinkly linen looks after wearing it for only a few hours. My mother always says, “After wearing linen for a couple hours, it looks like you slept in it” and I must admit she’s right. If you know you’re going to be doing a lot of sitting and standing, it might be best to hold off on the linen for a day when you anticipate limited movement.
Dresses – Maxi Dress
The maxi dress from the 70’s is back again for summer 2011. The maxi dress does the impossible by simultaneously maximizing comfort and femininity. Its long flowing shape is great for keeping cool in the summer while not having to worry about coordinating tops and bottoms. The best part is that the maxi dress flatters nearly every body type! Whether tall or short, the maxi dress looks great and makes you feel like a super model as the dress blows in the breeze keeping you cool.
The secret to finding the right maxi dress is in the right cut and the right pattern. Cuts range from strapless, to halter, to spaghetti straps, to poufy sleeves, and so on. The key is to pick a cut in which you feel comfortable and that flatters your body type. Unfortunately, there is no rule on how to pick the right cut for your body; fortunately, this means you get to go shopping and try them all on!
If you are taller and/or thinner, you can get away with crazy big patterns and bright bold colours. If you are shorter and/or curvier, try to stick to small patterns or vertical patterns since they will give the illusion of more height and a thinner figure, but feel free to go after the bold and bright colours of the season.
Pants – Flares
Along the 70’s theme of the maxi dress, bell-bottoms are back (finally!). Say goodbye to those skinny jeans that you have been wedging yourself into for the past five years and hello to the less tight and more flattering bell-bottom. The bell-bottom is an amazing pant for every body type. The wide flare at the bottom balances out the curvy hip/thigh/bum area with which we ladies are gifted as opposed to the skinny pant which accentuates how large our derrières are relative to the rest of us.
I must admit, I was never a huge fan of the skinny pant for that reason; it was designed to be unflattering to everybody bigger than a fashion model, which, realistically, most of us are (and that’s awesome). Always remember, love your body, and hate unflattering clothes, not the other way around!
Stay Classy,
Amanda
CFO (Chief Fashion Officer)
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