Belle du jour

There is a rule every girl must apply to her summer wardrobe: that every piece of clothing that comes in contact with her copiously-sweating body during the hot, hot, hot summer months be fabulous and, more importantly, cool. And not cool, like wonderfully bright colors that just scream vacation – although that works, too – but cool, thin fabrics that let her skin breathe. Cooler still are chic pieces that don’t exactly shout beachside resort. It’s far more practical to find clothes that are still wearable once April and May have passed, as opposed to facing the quandary many women find themselves in once June starts rolling in and their closets are filled with numerous bikinis and hotpants with nary a piece passing the wearable test.

When the bored denizens of the city move to Boracay for the warmer months, they’re quick to accept – and forgive – every brazenly-dressed female in barely-there clothing, but come rain and regular workdays, the same code no longer applies.

Instead, the solution is to skip the hoochie mama outfits and indulge in a more sober summer luxury.

Now that Tom Ford’s reign is considered over (editors deemed his Vanity Fair guest-edited issue with naked actresses Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson posing next to Tom on the cover the bell toll signaling the end of his reign as fashion’s seer), fashion’s swerve from overt sex appeal to sweet waif in gauzy dresses and girly ruffles shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, now that the fall/winter collections have rolled in celebrating waifs, this time swathed in layers of leggings, bulky knits (from sweater dresses to coats cast in the same moody colors) and hats, summer’s lace-led introspection comes as an all the more welcome reminder that these months are all about lazy afternoons spent sipping iced tea and lying back on the rattan chair on the front porch remembering the good old days. Or, you know, strutting on the beach. These days, the silhouettes of summer range from filmy shift dresses inspired by Chloe and Calvin Klein to the extravagant, long-skirted, ruffled affairs of YSL and Fendi.

Of course, this doesn’t mean totally skipping out on sexy suits and shorts. Rather, tone it down with arts and crafts-inspired pieces like lacey blouses or shirts with crochet or knit details. Labels like that of Dsquared2’s cowboy-loving duo make it a point to include cleavage-baring tops and hip-hugging denim in each season’s theme, only they keep it new this time by adding details like leather fringe and Native American beadwork for a look that distinctly recalls a much more modern version of a hoedown.

YStyle made short work of the best looks for summer and went through SM Department Store’s numerous racks of super finds at truly rock-bottom prices to put together a series of outfits for every working woman. The key to many of these looks? An individual sense of style that will carry any woman from the city to the Bahamas and a handful of apparel and accessories that costs a whole lot less than the pair of Lanvin pumps every fashion-magazine subscriber’s been drooling over since the beginning of the year. We sifted through hundreds of vacation-worthy pieces to come up with a crop of unusual garments that combine to create an identity that anyone with a keen eye for style will be able to build on over the years – after all, anyone who lives here knows that, except for those few blessed days in December, every other day outside of April and May feels like summer anyway. The best pieces that made it through? Long skirts that can elongate anyone’s proportions, be they petite or statuesque, and provide a grand elegance reminiscent of Grace Kelly, during her post-acting career, sailing to Capri on a luxurious yacht. Some come in quaint paisley prints that fan out for a wonderfully sumptuous effect. These lovely skirts make the transition between summer and the rainy season effortless, and can be worn with elegant flats or sexy sky-high wedges. Or wear it like our model and do it like beach bums do – barefoot.

Playful attempts at layering also characterize this shoot, as thin-as-air cotton dresses in batik-like prints are paired with heavier cotton knits, like this ingeniously embellished sleeveless top dotted with colorful balls by SM Ladies Boutique label, Flirt. Juxtaposing elements like a billowing peasant top, edged in satin stitch for a more substantial feel, with a paisley A-line skirt cinched with a rough-and-ready wide belt adds a utilitarian effect to an otherwise loosely-put-together ensemble. For summer, the only rule that’s absolute is this: if it feels comfortable and fun, then it’s a winner.

If any of these tips confuse our lovely readers, feel free to snip this entire thing and head over to the store. There’s nothing we like more than a little slavish adoration.

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