Hot Summer Looks

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. We can finally start wearing those spring fashions without freezing, so let’s take a look at just a few more hot spring and summer 2008 trends!

Shape-enhancing full skirts are perfect for this warm weather. They can be dressy or casual, depending on the color, print, and fabric. Soft white cotton is breezy and cool and perfect when topped with a simple tank top or tee, while a satiny fabric with a beautiful floral print would be wonderful with strappy heeled sandals and a lacy camisole for a party-time look. To perfectly play this look for summer, make sure to define your waist with a belt or tucked in top, or compliment the fullness of the skirt with a snug cropped sweater or jacket.

For several years, the spring and summer seasons have been all about nautical and patriotic looks. This season is no different, though the focus of the trend is different. This year, the focus is on nautical-inspired prints like stars, extra-big polka dots, and wide stripes. Also in are those festive and patriotic colors of red, white, and blue. Mix and match the prints with the solid colors for pretty and preppy looks perfect for hot summer days and nights.

Big, bold prints are great for summer. This year’s prints and colors are inspired by a multitude of global cultures. Try Asian-inspired florals, African abstract prints, Native American embroidery, or even bright solids inspired by Indian saris. Mini or maxi dresses, billowy tops, and kimono-type tops are all great ways to wear the trend. Or, if you’re a little print-shy, try a printed scarf in your hair or a bag with some suede fringe and leather studs to bring just a touch of the global trend to your look.

Stop back next week to see how some of the designers The Clothes Gallery carries are interpreting the trends.

Inspiration from the goddesses

Greek-inspired dresses were hot on the spring runways this year. Graceful draping and wrapping of loose, flowing fabric was showcased by several designers, and the time has come for those trends to make their way to stores for us fashion-conscious folks to pick up. While draping goes well on the most formal dresses you can find, small doses look great for everyday wear.

This purple top from Weston Wear is a great classy piece for work or play. The ruched and folded fabric over the breasts enhances them, while the slightly draped fabric on the bodice flatters as it lightly skims the body. The double layer of mesh fabric is thin and cool for spring and summer, but still covers thoroughly. Worn with a pair of black Capri pants or cute jeans with platform sandals, this top can take you from a busy day to a fun-filled night.

Mac & Jac make this 100% silk dress. The neutral floral print on white background would be great for a casual wedding or a dinner date, when accompanied with strappy sandals and a black clutch. This dress is a very flattering shape. The inset empire waist gathers the fabric and lets it drape loosely around the body. A tie in back allows you to wear it as tightly or loosely as you choose.

Finally, Tee Party uses angled seaming and gathered fabric to dress up an otherwise-basic tee. Cap sleeves and button details along the seams add interest and complete the look. This tee is a perfect shirt for lounging at the beach or running errands. It would look great with a denim skirt or khaki city shorts and peep-toe ballet flats.

Men are in...

Though it is usually a look saved for tailored suiting and office-only wear, menswear-inspired pieces are a great anytime look this spring. Classic men’s pieces like the jacket, the vest, the tailored trouser, and the button-down shirt are given ruffles, pleats, and other shaping devices to make them woman-friendly.

For a cute casual look, a vest over any type of top is different and fun. Try it over a plain white tee with jeans or a denim skirt with sandals for a day of running errands. Or, wear it to the office over a classic white button-down with lightweight flare-leg pants or khaki city shorts. This vest from Kersh is available in ink blue and pomegranate, both of which compliment a variety of colors.

Jackets are back again in a big way. Though not typically a spring and summer trend, they are perfect for spicing up your workday look and will be great transition pieces for fall. They also make great outerwear for those cool spring nights. This jacket by Yuvita is made of a soft cotton fabric with a metallic thread blended in for shimmer. The deep neckline and wide lapels, complimented by a waist-cinching tie front are great feminine touches that make the jacket perfectly suited to your shapely curves.

This smocked top by Nic & Zoe is a modern take on the classic button-down. The ruching at the waist adds slimming definition and the ruffled sleeves make it even more feminine. The lightweight fabric is perfect for the warm spring weather that is on its way. This is a very versatile piece; it can be worn with jeans or skirts, under a suit, or with simple dress pants for a variety of looks.

Stop by soon to see even more great looks!

Kelly VanH

Dye it!

Perfect for spring, ombre and tie-die are bold, colorful looks that really stand out. The dip-dye technique of ombre gives a subtle variation of color, while tie-dye melds together a variety of colors into a unique pattern. Though technically not of the ombre technique, these two tops are definitely inspired by the trend.

The “Desert Stripe Top” from G Wheels combines greens, purples, and oranges into an eye-catching pattern. With simple jeans or black pants, this top is versatile enough to dress up or down. Worn as a drape-neck top, it is a beautiful evening look, sure to stand out among basic blacks and neutrals. Worn off-the-shoulder, it is more casual, perfect for a lunchtime date with a girlfriend or an afternoon of shopping.

The floral tunic from Libertalia is more subtle, with a band of color coming down the front on the right and ombre-look monochromatic sleeves. Looking closely, the sleeves are graduated from gray to white to black, as though dip-dyed twice. This shirt is edgy and rock-inspired, thanks to the uneven hem, contrast stitching, and metallic studs. Worn over a pair of dark jeans and black heels, it is perfect for a casual date-night look.

Stop by The Clothes Gallery to find many more colorful, patterned tops to inspire your springtime dressing.