Summer Essentials

As the weather heats up (or cools down in New England’s case—85 to 20, what?) the promise of summer is at the forefront of my mind. Because I will be graduating high school this spring, I also get out of school almost a month earlier than usual and I could not be more excited. An extra-long vacation means plenty of adventures, the opportunity to make more money (I will be working as a nanny) and of course, lots of new fashions to go around. The exact opposite of winter, summertime in New England tends to be extremely hot and humid, and a lot of the time, my outfit choices are more focused on staying cool then looking super stylish. Recently, however, I have discovered several key pieces that make it easy to stay preppy, without dying of heatstroke.

J Crew Summerweight Chino Shorts


Available in a wide variety of colors and lengths (3, 5 and 9inches) J Crew Summerweight’s are perfect for lazy summer days. Unlike denim, the style is constructed with warmer climates in mind, composed of a crisp blend of lightweight cotton and just a little bit of stretch- making them both fashionable and functional. The shorts usually retail for around $50 but it is possible to get them on sale at the store or at an outlet, especially once May begins to roll around. Last Spring, I was lucky enough to come across a periwinkle blue pair in a 5inch length for around $30—a great deal considering how much use I have gotten out of them. Because I bought them a little big (always size down at J Crew), I usually wear them with a braided belt and a looser style top tucked in. The crisp blue shade is easy to pair with white, yellow and coral and accessorizing with gold jewelry really ties the look together. Below is an example of a summer outfit I put together centered on these shorts.



J. Crew Summerweight Chino Shorts & Braided Belt



Ruffled Blouse



Sun Dresses

If putting together a full outfit seems like too much effort on a summer morning, or you wake up late only to realize that you have to be at work in 10 minuets, light and airy sundresses are a great option. Not only will they keep you cool, but a great dress will help you to feel put- together without looking like you tried too hard. In order to ease your worries about appearing to formal, stick to dresses in light weight cotton and jersey materials. A great collection of simple summer dresses can be dressed up or down with accessories and are a welcome addition to any girl’s wardrobe. When looking for these styles, I tend to drift towards less expensive stores like H&M and Forever 21, so I can invest more in complementing shoes and jewelry. While shopping I like to stay true to my preppy roots, picking out styles in navy, white and also seersucker—this makes it easy to combine items I already own with new additions. Below are examples of two outfits, one formal and the other casual, perfect for work (and fun) in the sun.



Lace Dress with Cardigan and Sunnies (Casual)




Lace Dress with Layered Necklace (Formal)

Crop Tops
Although many people still tend to associate this trend with the 80’s, these airy shirts have made a dramatic comeback over the last few years and I can finally understand why. Last summer, after a few days of 90+ degree weather, I caved to the style while strolling through a department store. I had seen them before, at stores like Urban Outfitters, but since I refuse to spend more then $10 on half a shirt, I never considered making the purchase. That particular day, for a ridiculously low $5, I opted to take a risk and buy the piece, and I could not be happier that I did. On super hot and humid days, nothing is easier and cooler, to throw on than a pair of shorts and a comfortable crop top. Just remember to wear the piece with high wasted shorts or pants—they are not belly shirts. Below is an example of a casual outfit featuring one of my favorite $5 dollar finds.

Grey High Waisted Shorts



Crop Top



What are your summer essentials? Feel free to comment back and let me know!