Style

Hot Town, Summer in the City

Holy heat wave, people! It is HOT out there. If you are anywhere on the East coast, you are likely trying to avoid the 100 degree temperatures while trying to get from Point A to B without looking like you could have just run a marathon. I’ve run two of them and trust me, I think I looked better crossing the finish line than when I arrived at work this morning. Heat, humidity and no air conditioning on the metro do not bode well for this girl.

Sweat happens, but that doesn’t mean we have to let it beat us. Dressing for hot summer weather while still remaining office appropriate can be a challenge. Halter tops and shorter hemlines are tempting, but you can still look great while beating the heat with this simple formula:

1 light, airy dress + 1 lightweight blazer = the perfect outfit for a hot day

Hot Town, Summer in the City

Hot Town, Summer in the City by kerrychannon featuring ray ban sunglasses

The key is to pick summer dresses in breathable fabrics, such as cotton or linen, that are not too form fitting. Go for sleeveless and pair it with a lightweight blazer at the office. The office A/C is usually working overtime on exceptionally hot days, so you’ll likely need that blazer to keep warm indoors.

Take the blazer off on your walk to or from work or for that happy hour cocktail your parched self will clearly need. Pick up a pair of nude wedges if you don’t already have them. They are a summer stable and will take you from work to play and everywhere in between. Not to mention they are in stores everywhere this season, so you can easily find a pair that match your price point.

The even better news? You can get twice the wear by pairing almost any of these dresses with tights, boots and a cute cardigan for the Fall!

Back to standing in front of the A/C vent…

 

Accessorize on a Budget

Earrings and bracelets and necklaces, oh my!

Ahhhh accessories. They can make or break an outfit. A statement necklace will take a cotton dress from casual to chic and the earrings can add just the right finishing touch to a blouse and jeans. They aren’t called “statement” pieces for nothing! Summer is the perfect time for an accessories refresh.

The bright, bold colors of the season are making their mark on accessories in stores everywhere. It is tempting to buy up one of everything in every color, but you don’t necessarily need to spend more, you just need to spend better.

Lou Lou is one of my favorite stores to frequent when I want an envy-inducing piece of jewelry on a budget. The store features all types of accessories – earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, sunglasses, scarves, watches and even bags. Prices for smaller items start in the single digits ($8) and can go up to $200 for top of the line items, but the majority of merchandise can be found for $10 – $75.

I typically visit Lou Lou for earrings and necklaces, but patrons will find a superb variety of choices to accessorize their wardrobe. The selection ranges from the understated, think stud earrings and single-color scarves, to the unique, read: brilliant baubles and bright, funky sunnies.

Here are some of my personal favorites from Lou Lou’s website:

Mint Julep Necklace – $25
Tickled Pink Earrings – $15
Blue Bib Necklace – $20
Ocean Sunrise Earrings – $15
Bali Cuff – $30

With 8 locations in the DC Metro area and a 9th to open soon, there isn’t a Lou Lou far away. If you aren’t a DC area resident, peruse Lou Lou’s website. You’re sure to find something you just can’t live without! At this price point, it is the perfect opportunity to try some of the season’s top trends.

 

Saturday Summer Style

A Saturday in DC in the summer holds infinite potential. A girl just never knows where she might find herself, so she has to be prepared for anything. This past Saturday, I went from a bridal shower, to a snazzy outdoor hotel bar, to the Pride parade and a Pride-celebration house party and miscellaneous other stops along the way.

How’s a girl to be ready for any spontaneous event that might present itself? My answer is a maxi skirt. The length instantly dresses up an outfit and it pairs so well with a casual top and a statement necklace that you can easily transition from one event to the next without looking over or under dressed.

I just blogged about my favorite new basic tank, so of course I had to break it out for the occasion. Here was my outfit of choice (I’m in the middle):

And where you can buy it all:

Saturday Summer Style

Saturday Summer Style by kerrychannon featuring maxi skirts

Seamless tank top
$24 – anthropologie.com

Steve Madden leather shoes
$60 – swell.com

Oasis flat shoes
$36 – asos.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors gold watch
$250 – nordstrom.com

Stella dot jewelry
$198 – stelladot.com

Stella dot jewelry
$138 – stelladot.com

Pintucked Maxi Skirt
$44 – loft.com