News flash: Summer is not canceled. It’s actually just heating up!

Yes, many weddings, vacations and other fun plans have been put on hold, but there are still plenty of long days, warm temps, people to safely see, restaurants to get back into the black, and porches to hang on that do require that you at least get partially dressed and presentable. Unless you want it to, your style doesn’t have to go on vacation this summer.

It’s summertime and the living should be easy. We are busy updating the summer wardrobes of our clients so that they can effortlessly relax in style.

 Here are five trends that have caught our attention with some ideas on how you can add them to your wardrobe as well. Enjoy!

Historically, skirt trends have been closely tied to our nation’s economy. When the nation’s income plummeted, so did the hemlines. When things picked up, well... so did skirt hems.

I love helping clients prepare for all their vacation getaways. This time of year, I am most frequently pulling out and evaluating summer wardrobes, getting folks mentally prepared and their clothes perfectly organized to head south on spring break.

For those of you lucky enough to be able to relax in the sun this spring, here are 5 vacation style ideas to consider. For the rest of us, please use these tips (and photos!) as mid-winter inspiration as you begin to think about what you might like to add to your late spring and summer wardrobes. After all, warm temperatures will return to all locations soon – they always do!

Sneakers are indeed having a moment. No longer just for exercise, they are showing up in board rooms, at parties and being worn with everything from jeans and shorts to skirts and dresses. The devil is in the details when sporting your runners. To kick off the busy summer season, we share 5 ways to wear all your sneakers well.

The term “shoulder season” is most used by travelers and golfers. It marks the time between peak and off-peak seasons, especially spring and fall. When I heard Kathy Smith on our stylist team use the term with clients looking to transition their wardrobes for early fall, I quickly adopted it as a firm concept. It works!

In this month's blog, we share 5 easy ways to freshen your summer style without breaking the bank. Enjoy!

In between the dress categories of "business" and "casual" is a category we call "social style." It is often the trickiest to master, especially in the summer months when more of your body is on display. 

Below are 7 tips for showing up at summer's myriad of social functions a step up from the all-out casual look you get with flip flops and a tee shirt, yet a step down from what is expected at more formal events such as weddings.

When I recently attended a middle school production of Grease to see the junior rendition of this tongue-in-cheek look at 1950s teenage culture in the U.S., my eye was immediately drawn to the full-skirted plaid and polka dot dresses worn by the talented 7th grader playing the lead role of Sandy. Each dress was beautifully styled and surprisingly current. I found myself mentally translating the trend for my chic clients who enjoy appropriately incorporating "fashion flashbacks" into their wardrobes.

For those of you who have been in our community for a while, you may recall that we used to share The Summer Shoe Pledge each year in our summer newsletter. Originally emailed to us in 1999, I’m not sure who authored it, but I do know this light-hearted oath was always a hit. I recently came across it and was struck by how relevant it still is. Here it is again for you to read, share and enjoy – we welcome your comments, too!