💌 Style Mail: 5 style hacks I use every summer

My never-fail strategies & what to wear under all those see-through tops

Does everything feel hard right now, or is it just me? It’s probably the collective anxiety we’re under - but it seems like regular, mundane tasks take more energy & more effort. And many things are just taking more time to accomplish. I’m sure it has to do with a level of stress many of us are feeling. And occasional doom-scrolling on the internet doesn’t help.

But instead of plodding along as I’d normally do, I decided to intentionally make things a little easier. I added more time to my calendar for regular work tasks (like an extra half hour to create look books). I inserted space for lunch when I’m working from home (I typically would just work through lunch). And I’m scheduling time with friends during the workweek (as a much needed break).

So, with the intent of making things easier, I wanted to share a few style strategies to make your summer style feel easier. And they’re based on questions that you’ll probably ask yourself as you get dressed over the next few months (I hear these every year). Because summer officially starts next week - but if your kids got out of school in May, you might feel like it started forever ago.

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✍️ Style Scoop

A quick heads up - I included a bunch of outfit examples in this article, so it may be clipped in your email. So, you might need to click ‘view entire message’ at the end of this email to see everything.

What shoes should I wear?

I hear this question at every time of year. But specifically in the summer, when you’re wearing less clothes - everything you wear needs to work a little harder to make your outfit feel complete. So, accessories play a key role in finishing off your outfits.

Think about it - when you’re just wearing a simple top & solid shorts, your jewelry, bag & shoes suddenly become the focal point. So, here are the shoes I recommend: metallic sandals. Metallics are neutrals, so they go with everything. And if you’re thinking, “metallic sandals?” - this is my response. Gold is just shiny tan & silver is just shiny grey - so they’re revved up versions of versatile colors that add literal sparkle to a plain sundress or linen pants & a t-shirt.

When I’m helping clients build a basic shoe wardrobe, I always include a metallic. Whether it’s a sandal, sneaker or shoe, it’s consistently versatile.

Metallic sandals add style points to simple summer looks - and they’re not overpowering if you have a more sedate style.

When you can’t decide whether you should wear black or brown sandals, metallic sandals are usually the answer.

Why is my outfit boring?

The absolute easiest way to make your outfits feel less boring is with color. And you don’t even need to try too hard - add one big hit of color & you’re basically good to go. Denim shorts + a white t = just fine. Denim shorts + a yellow t = just fun! (And it’s the same with prints.)

And if you’re ready for next level summer style, add two colors to your outfit. Because denim shorts + a yellow t + red sandals = even more fun.

When you’re just wearing a top & bottom, a hit of color or print (or both!) becomes the focus of your outfit.

Two bold colors in one outfit make it totally dynamic.

If you don’t have a lot of color in your summer wardrobe, colored accessories are a great place to start.

Why is my outfit boring? And I don’t like color or prints.

If you’re not a fan of bold colors & fun prints, I have three words for you: texture, texture, texture (okay, maybe just one word). Texture adds sophisticated interest to your look without color or print - and the math is the same. One big hit of texture is good, two (or more) hits of texture is even better. And there are so many great textures to play with in the summer, like linen, gauze, seersucker, lace, eyelet & crochet. You can add even more with accessories - straw, raffia, woven/braided textures, fringe, etc.

And if you’re thinking, “what do I wear under all these crochet & open texture tops?” - the easy answer is a tank in a matching color. And that’s simple to find when your top is black or white - but what if it’s bright green or magenta? In these cases, I love going for contrast. Wear a light blue tank under a navy top, or pink under olive, or yellow under red. Just start playing with what you already have & see what you come up with.

Crochet & open weave sweater tops are everywhere this season. I specifically love them as something that’s nicer than a t-shirt, but not as dressy as a blouse.

Open textures are an ideal solution when you don’t want to show skin in the summer - because they literally let the air pass through, but still provide coverage.

How can I dress for summer if I don’t want to show skin? What if it’s hot outside but cold inside?

Two questions, one answer - lightweight third pieces. A third piece is basically anything you wear over a top or dress, like a jacket or cardigan. So in the summer, you’re looking for lightweight versions of these. Like a linen blazer. Or a crochet cardigan. Or a cotton poplin jacket. And when it’s really hot, you can even use a button-down shirt as a light third piece, tossed over a t or tank. Just make sure you’re picking lighter fabrics that add coverage without much weight.

The same way that open textures work in tops, they also work in third pieces. They give you coverage, but are still super breathable.

The same shirt that you may wear buttoned up & tucked in becomes a lightweight third piece unbuttoned over a t-shirt.

How can I wear non-summery colors in the summer?

You may love autumn shades like rust, olive, camel & brown. Or you may be a big fan of super saturated colors like burgundy, forest green & deep purple. But that doesn’t mean you need to stop wearing them in the summer.

First - my advice will always be to wear whatever color you want, regardless of the season. Because colors aren’t actually seasonal, fabrics are - so don’t get caught up in the myth that there are colors you should/shouldn’t wear in the summer. But second - if you want to make certain colors feel more aligned with warm weather, pair them with white (or off-white or ivory). White works with everything & it adds a fresh summery contrast.

A white (or off-white or ecru) jacket is a summer style staple. It even makes an all-black outfit feel right for the season.

You might think, “olive for summer?” But white makes it feel totally fresh. And then pair it with camel for a different vibe come September.

Did you like seeing these summer outfit ideas? Then it’s time to become a Style Mail VIP.

As a Style Mail VIP (aka my paid subscription), you’ll get an actual client’s look book with 30+ outfit ideas every month. Plus links to many of the items in the look book (so if you see something you like, you can grab it). Plus a monthly ‘style challenge’ to motivate you with new ways to approach your style. Plus more paid subscriber perks.

Once you upgrade, you get immediate access to all existing paid subscriber-only posts (including look books from the last 8 months!). And then, for less than 2 Starbucks drinks a month (or 2 moderately priced tops per year), you’ll continue to get concrete ideas & strategies to use what you have & evolve your style.

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💡 Client Spotlight

Stella’s mood board from her Style Portfolio - this is always a collaboration, with images my client chose plus pics I find that express where she wants her style to go.

You may want know where you want your style to go & what you want to see in the mirror - but when you go into your closet, nothing looks like that. And that’s essentially where I started with my client ‘Stella’.

Stella works in finance in an office full of men. She’s a self-described ‘older mom’ (the other moms in her kids’ classes are all 10-15 years younger). So, she felt a little out of place both at work & at school functions. She wanted to feel polished & in charge (but still like herself) at work. And she wanted to fit in with the other moms, especially because her style leans a little more tailored & dressed up than her casual community.

I describe her style as ‘modern classic’ - a foundation in timeless pieces with a clear nod to current silhouettes. She loves bold moments, with pop colors, interesting prints & standout shoes - and some menswear influences. She had a few of these pieces in her closet (like a pair of pink wide leg pants), but wasn’t really wearing them. And otherwise, her wardrobe didn’t really align with the vision of how she wanted to intentionally show up.

But when we were in the fitting room, she had a few ‘aha’ moments. She tried on a plaid blazer, straight leg jeans & loafers & said, “now, this is me.” She put on a graphic print skirt & absolutely loved it. And after she saw her look book, she responded with, “Gosh - amazing!! Thank you for all of these outfits. I would never have created any of them, so I’m just blown away & can’t wait to start wearing them.”

A few outfits from Stella’s look book that align her vision for her style with outfits that make sense for her lifestyle.

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☝️ One more thing

I used to listen to a handful of political podcasts in order to keep up with everything going on. But, in an effort to make things easier, I whittled that down to one.

So now I listen to The Daily Beans - or as they refer to it, “the daily progressive news podcast (with swears!) for your weekday morning commute.” I only listen to it in the car (not on walks or when I’m at home) - and it’s definitely helped to get this kind of in-depth information from one consistent trusted source.

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Let’s Work Together!