So, unless you’ve been on the other side of the world or
near one of the poles…chances are you’ve notice that summer is in full swing.
One trend that I did not count on liking for summer was the black & white
trend. When I saw that the runway was littered with the color combo for summer
2013 I was more than skeptical. Summer is so bright and full of color (at least
in my mind) that the neutral colors were underwhelming. However, I’ve started
to come around. In the plus column: unlike the color blocking trend, you will never end up mismatching, black is
forever slimming even though it does attract heat the most but white is the
coolest color you can wear even though it tends to make people appear broader. Talk
about a perfect balance! Therefore,
this week’s fashion set is dedicated to BLACK & WHITE! I am particularly proud of this week’s fashion set because
everything (except 1 thing) is UNDER $100. Don’t worry I’m not under any grand delusions that $100
isn’t a lot of money but if you’re willing to splurge then its not too bad of a
price point.
Now, to begin with, the dress ($65) can be the centerpiece around
which you can base the entire look; plus, since the black & white trend is
so hot I’m sure there are lots of other options at various price points (this
goes for all pieces). Anyhoo, the main suggestion I have is to NOT just
wear a white dress. As I said before white makes anyone look bigger than they
are, so try to make sure there are some black sections to accent your figure.
Hats are huge during the summer trend-wise and size-wise: nothing says
summertime like hiding your face from the sun with a wide brimmed hat! There’s
no wrong way to dive into hats except to just wear one, just be ready for some
hat hair. That’s why the beach is the perfect place for hats: there’s no chance
of hat hair if you’re getting in and out of the water. The white & black
straw hat ($27) adds some sophistication to the traditional floppy, straw hat. The
fedora ($20) is perfect for everyday wear because of its simple shape and
classic look. It can easily go from day to night.
What outfit is complete with a good bag? NONE!! The white
& black crossbody satchel ($56) is perfect for the day: the white color
will go with anything you put on, its big enough to put all the things you
need for a day trip & small enough not to cause discomfort if you end up
wearing it for a few hours. Side note: for destination summer vacations (&
actually in general) I am an avid fan of leather and other materials that can
be easily cleaned if they get spilled on or dirty. Same goes for the night
time, ESPECIALLY for the night time. One spilt drink and your cute clutch is
done. Dark colors help hide whatever might get spilled during a night out on
the town. that said, the black mini bag with accented silver chain ($50) is a perfect
addition to any outfit.
Yay, time to talk about shoes!!! So many options so many
circumstances to take into consideration! For the daytime I think a thong sandal
with a comfy sole is a summer must-have. Just remember that if you’re going to
be outside for long periods of time that you will get the inevitable foot strap
tan on your feet. So if you’re wearing a gladiator inspired shoe with multiple
straps it will show up in your tan! The white thong sandal, with a little
decoration/bling ($35) is a perfect fit! For a dressier, night time look I’d go
with the black gladiator sandal…with some bling ($28)! Not only are they cute,
but easy to move in and goes with everything. whether or not you want to add a bracelet or a few rings is up to you (black & white ring $48, black ring $148). seeing as the average summer temperature around here is in the mid-80s I try to wear as few things as possible. But don't be afraid to get bold in the jewelry department. Even though this can be a fun trend with crazy patterns its still black and white. Punch it up a little or else you might end up looking more like a nun than a fashionista!!
