Climate change. I get it. I seriously do. But it sure as hell won’t stop me from bitch fit’ing about how the 40 degree city bake is shrinking my wardrobe. Of course, not literally, but it could as well be. For a girl who has mostly black taking up her closet space, this is a major re-haul. Just the visual exercise of putting on any dark colored outfit is enough to make me break out in a sweat. I could be just melodramatic, (aren’t we all?) but I’d like to make even that short dash from the car to my frozen cocoons more pleasant. But, no, I refuse to have any stale staples because obviously there are style loopholes for us who can’t live without our midnight colors. And adapt we must to this unbearable hotness of being, but nobody said that should just trash out tough love and sweat stains, because black, regardless of season, still is way edgier than any poppy bright, sweet pastelly, neutrally cool outfit.
Dressy Top
The trick to working black in summer is to show as much skin as possible in loose, anti-fit silhouettes. Paired with open toe sandals, this beaded asymmetric piece looks good in the city as well as the beach. Accessory designer Vita in a blouson top paired with tailored shorts.
DHOTIS
Ah, nothing like a pair of sunnies to fight off the glare and wrinkles. Anti cling shapes really work like this black dhoti which gives a roomier alternative, to say, black ultra skinnies, which I’m sure will give you sweat stains in all the wrong places. Jigs Mayuga showing how drop crotch should be done, with a fitted v and casual thongs.
BootiesEven black booties can transition to Summer paired with ultra short shorts and a playful top, this tee on Cara comes with tasseled sleeves, should be interesting to see how that goes when the breeze comes. Walk walk fashion baby.
Waistcoats
The waistcoat is an ubiquitous female staple so I opted to show how the guys wear it. For this chafing humidity, the less fabric contact on skin, the less cling. So, pair tanks or sleeveless pieces with vests. Andre going all tailored with a buttondown and JP doing casual with a slouchy top.
SHEER
After all the brouhaha over cobwebs, shredding and Rodarte’s insanely amazing collection, it’s not surprising to see a lot of DIY versions and executions. This one from Chi is replete with distress and bondage straps. I mean, if the steaming climate gets too much to take, an apocalyptic uniform should be in order, at least this one lets your skin cool, in atypically anarchistic fashion.
One-Alls
If you don’t believe that black is wearable in the sunny outdoors, I shot Valerie while she was munching a sandwich outside Power Plant. Why this jumpsuit works? Because its strapless, roomy, and comes in cotton. Pair that with a derby and lace up flats and you’re good to go.
Leggings
Black tights is a staple, and Lord knows I have a gazimillion, but when a change of season comes, the chance to revamp and rework what you have is there. Not that we need any excuse to go shopping, but updating is as important as editing. If you swear by black tight silhouettes but have an aversion to what a nuisance it can be with this hot weather, try something thats patterned and stretch, like this swirly print piece on Jacq.
SUIT JACKET
I’m pretty sure that the classic roll up blazers that we all have are in black. Doesn’t mean that we should just chuck that in favor of whites and neutrals, for a brit street feel, Kookie plays the sheer trend with a lace top and goes micro with her faded shorts. It’s all about proportions, the shorter you go with hemlines, the more covered your upper torso
should be.
Shorts
And of course, tailored black bermudas that fall just above the knees is an investment for the guys as it transcends seasons, it can work for summer as well as holiday. Preppy style ala Joey Samson.