QUESTION:
How do I hold on to summer as long as I can? Trendy in Caulfeild
Answer:
Summer tends to be too short for me. I like to hold on to fun summer fashions as long as possible. In the fall clothing starts to get heavier and darker. To hold on to summer, I suggest layering and keeping the bright accents of the summer included in your outfits.
The funkiest way to keep summer fashions as long as you can is by wearing a belt. There are skinny and wide belts in many colours. They can be worn higher than the waistline or slung low on your hip.
Wear a belt with your jeans or over a shirt or sweater. It all depends on your personal style and body type.
Belts are pretty cool this summer, and if you match the colour to your open-toe shoes (including fancier flip flops) then you are working the summer fashion transition.
Keeping the bright colours makes your look fresh. Belts come in many textures, just like everything else this season.
Matching them will not be hard. The most popular belts are patent with large hardware, canvas with grommets and raffia, or leather braided styles.
I like to consider sunglasses as a year-round fashion item. When it is sunny or bright, always protect your eyes. There are basic year-round styles that perform in any month, but why not wear some of the trendy summer styles into the fall season?
Flamboyant eyewear is the accessory for summer. Sunglasses this summer are retro, artistic and glam. To pull off this modern, sophisticated look shades have to match your outfit.
You can choose to contrast your look but that is a very bold statement. Depending on your personality, you may choose a colour with more or less design elements. Frames come in many shapes, mostly oversized. Rounded, squared, cat eyes and aviators are most popular. Frames come in plastic and metal.
The frames and temples (the piece next to the ear) don't have to match in colour, size, nor texture. The colour of lenses should match with the frame, but they don't have to be the same colour. Purple and grey, black and green, turquoise and silver, gold and brown are some examples of mixing colours that look trendy but not over-the-top.
My favourite way to hold on to summer is with a pedicure. I like to wear open-toe shoes as long as I can. Outrageous colour has been so trendy this season. A pedicure is the most inexpensive way to keep having fun before the darkness of fall looms.
The colours that I love and suggest are coral with an orange undertone, pinks and fuchsia (which looks like candy).
Reds and purples should resemble berries, and don't forget the matching lipstick to pull it together. Yellow-gold, green-aqua and turquoise are also very popular polish colours but don't try to match your lipstick. A glossy lip stain would work best.
You don't have to go all out with a very trendy look if you don't want to, but you can if you want to.
It is fashionably acceptable to be outrageous this summer.
Adieu,
Mattie
Mattie a la Mode is a monthly fashion advice column. Mattie is a freelance writer. She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or visit her blog mattiealamode.com.
