Summer Clothing Essentials, Part 2

Summer clothing essentials, Part 2

In my latest post I wrote about summer clothing essentials and wrote about half of the items you will need.  This post will focus on the remaining pieces that will help you create dozens of great, functional outfits, using less than 20 clothing pieces. Every woman’s wardrobe needs to include a jean jacket.  I have two, a dark denim, long-sleeved and also a 3/4 sleeved, lighter denim that I purchased at Ann Taylor outlet during this year.  Since my relocation to the south, my clothing needs have drastically changed since moving from the Lake Tahoe area, forcing me to shop for warmer weather clothes (oh darn, I just hate to shop…not!).  I love to wear my jacket over my camisoles, tees, or sleeveless dresses.  I have seen some great looking maxi skirt outfits in magazines and on shoppers topped off with a jean jacket.  Great look!!  Personally, I like the way it looks over my casual black knit dress.  This outfit can be worn to a number of places and can be dressed up or down by the shoes and accessories added. You can expect to spend at least $30 for the jacket, depending on where you purchase it.  Old Navy, White House Black Market, Ann Taylor, The Loft, Nordstrom’s, JC Penney’s and Macy’s all have a good selection of styles and sizes.  I look forward to wearing my jacket a lot as the weather begins to change a bit cooler.

Maxi skirts are really popular this year and are very versatile.  Whenever I’m out shopping I always see dozens of shoppers dressed in this comfy and cool item.  I primarily see young ladies wearing them, but certainly women in “their prime”, that’s right ladies, 50+ old women, need to join in, too!  My maxi skirt is a black and white striped, print and can be paired with black, white, red, pink or most other solid color tees or camisoles.  I knew I wanted a striped skirt but horizontal stripes aren’t usually a good choice if you’re conscientious about “too much junk in the trunk”!  Instead I was able to find a vertical (up and down) stripe that can make you look taller, rather than wide!  If you have your heart set on a stripe, you might want to look for a diagonal or a chevron; these will give a slimming illusion for all shapes and sizes, although they are harder to find.  If you haven’t found what you are looking for in the women’s department, you might want to try in the junior’s department; that’s where I found mine.

A solid black skirt is another summer must for every women.  My A-line, elastic-waist, knit skirt was purchased at Target three summers ago for about $15.  I liked it so much I bought a brown one a few weeks later.  This skirt looks great with a printed camisole or tee.  This look is a great vacation outfit as it packs well, needs no or very little ironing, and the look can be changed up completely.  A day to night look can be made by just adding a denim jacket, dressier shoes and some chains

. All closets should include at least one LBD (little black dress) due to its functionality.  I actually have 2; one that is a knit empire style and the other is a sleeveless, cotton/polyester blend sheath.  Both dresses can be dressed up with gold chains or colorful jewelry/bling, worn with a pair of heels and a colorful bag.  An animal print scarf, gold flats, bag and gold jewelry, create a completely different look acceptable for work wear or dinner date.  Another look you can create with an LBD is to add a string of pearls (or my choice, fakes), drop earrings, bracelet, heels, and you’ve made an outfit suitable for a wedding or party.  I purchased my knit LBD at Old Navy in early spring for less than $20, so you don’t need to spend a fortune for such a versatile piece of clothing. A summer wardrobe needs to include some shorts and capris.  A pair of solid white and black Bermuda shorts and a tan pair of capris could be all you need to add to your summer essentials.  These colors are neutrals that will look good with most solids and print tops.  Make sure the fit is flattering to your shape.  If it’s not, maybe you need a different size or style.  Many shorts have front pockets and can pull if the fit is a bit tight.  If this is occurring with your shorts or capris, you can tack them down by taking a stitch or two, but you lose the use of your pockets if you do this.  Bermudas can be worn with sneakers, sandals, flats, wedges or heels, depending upon the occasion.  Bermudas have become very popular for women of all ages and are an acceptable clothing item in many workplaces.

Three pairs of footwear may be all you need for summer.  A black flat sandal, with a bit of bling, can be worn for a casual, as well as a dressier look.  My second shoe choice is a flat,  gold gladiator sandal.  Metallics go with everything so you could substitute a silver or pewter in place of the gold if you wish.  I own a pair of each silver, gold and pewter sandals and LOVE all of them as they are so  versatile and fun to wear!  My black and gold sandals were purchased at Dillards two years ago and have a couple more years left in them.  The third pair of essential shoes for summer is a black pair of wedge sandals.  My 3″ wedges are strappy and very comfortable and can be worn with Bermudas, a sheath, capris, maxi skirt or pants. Scarves are a must for every woman and can take a wardrobe to a new level.  They come in a variety of sizes and are made from wool, cotton, silk, as well as other materials, and can be bought for $10 up to several hundred.  Scarves can be worn in a variety of ways and can take a plain sheath to a classy ensemble.  I have purchased most of my scarves at NY&CO, Marshall’s and Old  Navy, but Nordstrom’s, Dillard’s and Macy’s have great selections, as well. Have fun creating new outfits from fashion basics and enjoy the remainder of your summer.

Until next time,

Judy