This summer you can fill your closet with new, fun silhouettes that can add some variety to your wardrobe. I wore this crop top outfit out in South Beach because well in South Beach the less you wear, the better right?? I kept it classy by pairing it back to a form fitting pencil skirt for a night on the town.

A huge summer staple this season is the full jumpsuit. For the HOT  NYC weather choose a shorts style jumper, but a full leg option is great for a cooler night (wishful thinking:). This is from Forever 21 and it is my “travel outfit”. It is light weight but has full coverage so I am not freezing on the airplane. Note to readers: I do not promote buying tons of cheapie clothing, but the occasional purchase is good for the soul.

More of a flirty summer silhouette is a colored maxi skirt. This piece can be easily worn during the daytime or out to a nicer dinner. To dress it down pair it with a simple t-shirt and long necklace or to dress it up with a blouse and heels. 

Wide leg pants are a MUST this season! Not only are they super comfortable but they are a practical piece to have in your closet. These printed wide leg pants are fun for work or play. I like to keep it simple by pairing them with a casual t-shirt that everyone has in their closet, a delicate gold bar necklace, and some caged stacked heels.

If you want something a little more fitted, stick to a tapered printed pant. These pants you can also pair back to a t-shirt and a gold bracelet. During the summer, I love to add a pop of white with my accessories. With this outfit, I chose a white fold over clutch and white slip on wedges to complete the look.

Something very daring to try this summer is a pair of crochet wide leg pants. This pair made by GUESS is perfect for your weekend getaway or just a fun day at the pool. These definitely will help keep you cool because they are see through ! 

So now with various options for new additions to your summer wardrobe, it looks like you need to go shopping and check out these fun new silhouettes!

Denim is the easiest go-to piece in almost any wordrobe, even for summer!! I literally have a heart attack when I see people in dark, skinny jeans when it is 100 degress, so here are some other less terrifying options… I am kind of obsessed with my denim short overalls. They are an easy throw on outfit that you don’t have to really think about but is still super cute and fun! I am almost too old for this trend, but I decided I just make the cusp:)

Another version of the denim overalls can be seen on the trendy Sarah Jessica Parker. She rocks the full length look so well because she is slender. If you’re going to try this look, I would only recommend it for those who are long and lean. We are obviously not as small as her, but you should have less curve going on for this look.

Another big denim trend this summer is the distressed boyfriend jeans. They’re great for a both a casual daytime look and nighttime look. Pair them with some Vince slip on sneakers and a lightweight sweater for during the day or a blouse and heels for a dressier nighttime look.

Who doesn’t love a good pair of white skinny jeans for the summer. They can be worn with almost everything and add a little variety to your standard denim. Pair them with a color blouse  for a pop or stick to a more neutral black and white palette and you’re good to go! Yes, I added Birks, even though I don’t love them,  because they are functional for running errands or just being on your feet all day.

 Flared denim can be cute if worn the right way and on the right body type. Obviously Victoria Beckham looks great in flared jeans because shes so slender, but she also pairs them with sky high heels to make her legs look longer. Rule to live by: If you are under 5’5″, you need to wear some sort of heel with a wider leg pant or you look short and squat. Over 5’5″ can get away with a flat and wide leg pants.

So no matter what your body type is there is summer denim for you!

Images courtesy of dailymail.co.uk and fabsugar.com

Dressing for July 4th doesn’t have to be a hassle at all. Most likely you are spending the holiday with friends and family on a beach or outdoor BBQ so your outfit can be something casual and cute. This amazing Catherine Malandrino dress is clearly not what you would wear to a backyard BBQ but if you are feeling bold this would definitely put the spotlight on you. 

One outfit idea is a simple white maxi. Using white as your base color allows you to have fun with your accessories. These American flag printed TOMS help show your patriotism on this holiday. Pairing this look with a fedora and neutral satchel is a good way to complete your outfit.

Another outfit option is a romper. This red romper keeps you patriotic but is still practical to wear after July 4th. The American flag sneakers keeps the outfit casual and comfortable. And what’s cuter than tying your whole outfit together with red sunglasses!

 If you’re going to a pool party or spending the day on the beach why not stay festive by wearing an American themed swimsuit. Choosing white accessories will make your suit stand out and you’ll be the talk of the party!

So no matter what your fourth of July plans are, you will have an easy time picking out an outfit. Just remember to be comfortable, stay cool, and show your patriotism!

Now that the weather has warmed up, it’s time to start thinking about taking a summer vacation if you don’t already have one planned. During the summer, I love to try to head to the beach as much as possible because NYC is the WORST in July and August!! You feel like a caged animal in the humidity.

Stay organized and use a checklist, packing doesn’t have to be at the bottom of our to-do list or take a long time after all. How hard does packing for the beach have to be when you’re not wearing that many clothes anyways?? I like to pack focusing on outfits and not just a bunch of random “stuff”. This helps to narrow down the amount of items you bring and makes choosing an outfit a lot easier. Don’t fall into the trap of a bunch of “maybe” pieces. “Maybe I will wear this” or “Maybe I will wear that”. You end up with a suitcase busting a the seams and a bunch of things you DON”T need. Be sure to have foundation items that can be re-styled many ways. I do give you free reign to bring as much jewelry and sunglasses as you like. They don’t take up that much room and they can instantly change a look.  BUT, no girl needs more then 4 pairs of shoes for 1 week. Seriously.

 A black bikini bottom is an essential because it goes with any top and can be worn multiple times throughout the trip. It’s fun to accent the black bottoms with printed tops such as this adorable J. Crew aztec print bikini top. Bringing neutral colored beach accessories allows you to wear with them all of your swimsuits. 

Now it’s time to conquer your daytime looks. I know I stray from the beach to do a little shopping and I prefer not to be in a see-through cover up:) What could be easier to throw on than a maxi dress? The great part about maxi dresses is it’s only one piece to put on, but can be accessorized in many ways. Simple jewelry, a patterned scarf, and floppy hat are easy ways to help turn a rather plain gray maxi into a chic summer look.

The last outfits to pack are your nighttime looks. When you’re at the beach, everything is pretty laid back so make your life easier and keep your night outfits casual too. You can still look really cute but keep a beachy vibe with drawstring silk shorts and a black t-shirt. Add some lace up wedge leather sandals for a little bit of height and you’re good to go!

See… Packing for the beach doesn’t have to be such a pain after all. Choosing some basics that can be worn different ways and bringing lots of accessories can be a way to minimize the size of your suitcase and make packing less stressful. So grab your sun hat and sunscreen and hit the beach before summer quickly passes!

Images courtesy of glitterguide.com

Usually when one thinks of cut outs, they think of club wear or something scandalous. But let me tell you there is a way to wear cut outs without showing too much skin and can be worn either during the day or at night. My fancy gold cut out heels happen to be for nighttime but there are plenty of options for casual daytime looks.

This look is perfect for a casual daytime outing. Staying with the neutral color palette makes all these pieces very practical in anyones wardrobe but the best piece to have is a pair of TOMS. Being on my feet all the time, I’ve learned that there are very few shoes that are bearable to wear all day. TOMS have been my very best friend in terms of keeping my feet sane throughout the day. These gray crochet TOMS are not only SUPER comfortable but still very cute and you are still giving back to a good cause!

If you’re looking for something a little fancier, these Sam Edelman stacked heels are great for a night out. White is an essential color for summer and is still very versatile. Having the thicker heel makes these heels more comfortable than your typical stiletto, which is great news because heels can be a woman’s worst enemy sometimes. Men definitely invented them:)

If you are looking for a dressier daytime sandal, I have two options for you. The Sigerson Morrison sandal is a much higher price point but you can tell why. The laser cut detailing is amazing and even though there is a lot going on, there is an convenient zipper up the back making it easy to take the shoe on and off. The Sam Edelman black leather sandals are better if you want a more simple sandal for a much more reasonable price point. No matter which shoes suits you more both have fun cut outs and add some funk to your summer wardrobe!

 So now when you wear cut outs you can still be conservative but with a little fashion flair!