Kill the Khakis! (Some Summer Style Tips)

We need some new rules for summer Fridays at the office. Dressing down from Memorial Day to Labor Day has come to mean tossing on a pair of tired frayed khakis and heading out the door. Instead of tossing them on, toss them out! The office fashionista has other options like a cute white denim pencil skirt paired with a cool slim fitting tee or button down. She could also slip into a sleek sleeveless belted sheath dress with a pair of cute flat sandals in a hot color. 

Cropped pants are always appropriate.  Today’s model features a narrower leg than that of a couple of years ago, and they lend a sophisticated, tailored tone to business casual. Wedges, pointy toe flats, espadrilles, or fabulous platform pumps all rock the crops.

Grab a fitted vest and pop it over a longer fitted t-shirt in a contrasting color.  Add a funky beaded necklace. Wear with the pencil skirt, cropped pants, or sleek dark wash jeans.

Speaking of jeans, relegate those faded, torn jeans to clean-the-garage garb. Don’t you dare wear them to work! Invest in a pair of well-fitted (but not skin tight) dark wash jeans.  Skinny or boot cut doesn’t matter, both are current. Pair them with silky, flowy tops tucked into your waistband. And, always wear a belt!  They serve two purposes, to keep your pants up and pull together your look. Just forget about that ancient rule about shoes and belts matching; work the personal style! 

Most important--wear color! We swaddle ourselves in gray and black during the colder months. Summer is the time to bust out in a rainbow of red, yellow, aqua, and green. Choose a lime green bag to wear with your coral dress. Drape an orange scarf over the royal blue tee. Choose a bold print over a dainty one. You'll look gorgeous!

‘Nuff said. There should be enough style tips here to get you through the next eight summer casual Fridays. Call me if you need me!