Summer Trends to Wear Now...

 

Nanette Lepore Spring '12 Runway - Source: Racked

Originally posted in The LOOK

I've always loved summer.  After all, this season is all about fun: chilled wine at an al fresco lunch, lazy days playing in the sand with my kids, grilled everything because it's too hot to turn on the oven, paddling around aimlessly in a sparkly pool, impromptu weekend road trips with the windows cranked down.  And as much as I love fall fashion (I mean, what stylephile doesn't?) there's something so brilliantly unfussy about summer dressing that I absolutely adore.  This season, it's all about having fun with fashion, whether it's playing with a bold new colour, attempting to wear a new trend or playing with print. Here are three of my current faves and super easy ways to make them work for you...

P.S - Is anyone else having a hard time dealing with the whole Monday thing today?

Taylor Tomasi Hill at the Preen Spring '12 Presentation - Source: amarmielife.com

NEON.  That four-letter word can elicit the most extreme reactions, from total disgust to pure joy.  If you're young (or young at heart), go for the bold with highlighter bright shorts or an in-your-face fluorescent tee.  If you prefer to make a subtle statement, there are loads of fun accessories to dial up a neutral look. Neon yellows, pinks, oranges or greens look amazing against white, black and grey (see Taylor Tomasi Hill above for a crash course) and are the perfect way to play with colour at any age.

Glamour Magazine's Maria Duenas Jacobs at NY Fashion Week - Source: vanessajackman.blogspot.ca

The lowly short has been elevated to new heights thanks to fun printed shorts seen on the spring runways. From supermodels to street-style stars, every It girl is playing with print this summer.  My best style tip? Let your shorts do all the talking and keep your top super simple;  a plain white tee tones down a busy print, while a lightweight slouchy sweater offers oversized proportion to the short's itty-bitty silhouette.

Michael Kors' Spring '12 Ad Campaign. Source: Michael Kors

There's a reason that the tribal trend comes back year after year: it's fun, it's wild and it's undeniably sexy. A neutral palette (think blacks, browns and metallics) keeps the focus on the OTT prints and works perfectly into your work wardrobe.  Finish off your tribal look with a fierce pair of cat-eye shades (one of the season's biggest trends) and you'll be ready for any urban adventure.

The Taylor Tomasi Hill Effect

Taylor Tomasi Hill mixes it up in at the Rochas show in Paris. Source: StyleBistro

As former Style and Accessories Director at Marie Claire and current Artistic Director at Moda Operandi, Taylor Tomasi Hill has an eye for the extras. Add to that her fearless approach to fashion (she’s the current one-to-watch in the street style world) and her supermodel looks and we’re completely smitten.

So, how do you pull off Taylor’s aristo-chic look? Mix up unexpected colours and textures, always keep your hair well-groomed (fiery red hue optional) and of course, never forget the power of killer statement accessories.  For all the luxe-for-less pieces to help you nab the coveted TTH vibe, check out my story this week at iVillage.ca.  Love her!