16 Fashion Rules to Follow This Summer
Summer is practically an open invitation to embrace a more laid-back ‘tude and test-drive a slew of trends that are slightly outside of your comfort zone. Armed with a checklist of fashion essentials to snag ahead of all your upcoming adventures, there’s nothing standing between you and best-dressed status. So what are you waiting for? Don’t let a case of the outfit blahs deter you from putting your most stylish foot forward. While we don’t normally like to be dictated by age-old “rules,” these 16 Instababe-approved summer style commandments are about to change the way you dress.
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1. Don’t leave home without the It bag of the season. If not Cult Gaia’s ubiquitous bamboo ark bag, then one of newcomer Bembien’s handwoven rattan bags is guaranteed to make a splash poolside. Perfect for a stint in paradise or rooftop sips in the city, this hero piece calls for a cold-shoulder frock and your best dancin’ shoes.
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2. Wear your one-piece as a bodysuit. Blair Eadie strikes again! Not only is Bee fulfilling our millennial pink dreams, but it’s her makeshift use of a striped one-piece as a bodysuit that’s resulting in an “aha” moment of sorts. That and her island girl-inspired palm leaf skirt. We digress.
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3. Embrace COLOR. You don’t have to tell us (or blogger babe Courtney Quinn) twice. When in doubt, sashay into the boardroom wearing hot pink trousers and canary yellow ankle-strap steppers. No regrets.
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4. Rock head-to-toe white. Ow, ow! Frédérique Harrel plays the role of HBIC by showing err’body once and for all that head-to-toe white can be done. She successfully mixes business with a side of pleasure by teaming her ivory co-ord with trend-right mules.
5. Go bold or go home with flares. Groovy, baby. Dare to be seen in a pair of Marcia Brady-inspired flares featuring festi-cool flair. Proceed to channel the ’70s with a simple spaghetti strap tank and retro sunnies.
View this post on InstagramThe perfect Mother's Day details✨ The perfect rose gold watch via @timex #TakeTime #Timex #sponsored
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6. Playful straps to change up your handbag game. Take charge, starting with some next-level bag swag. In a sea of stylishly clad babes, a tassel-happy interchangeable strap or a pom-pom keychain will take any getup from zero to 100 like that.
View this post on Instagram~When your shoes are hotter than you🌶💥💃🏼~
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7. Let your sneakers do the talking. There’s no such thing as blasé sneakers in this style MVP’s playbook. We would 10/10 recommend these bad boys (notice the red chili peppers, natch) for a Taco Tuesday outing or your morning commute. Any takers?
View this post on InstagramMondaze 🌈 #35mm #filmphotographer
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8. Logo tee + frayed hem jeans. Goodness knows this isn’t the first time (nor will it be the last!) that we’ve seen a certain Gucci logo t-shirt making the rounds. Complete your cool-girl uniform with some frayed-hem jeans and open-toed sandals for a downtown LA vibe that even east coast gals can get behind.
View this post on InstagramTourist vibes (too bad I'm not going on vacation anytime soon tho 🤷🏻♀️)
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9. Style a tropical shirt with high-waisted cutoffs. Being mistaken for a tourist has honestly never been such a compliment. Word on the street is that tropical shirts are slated to be everywhere, and we don’t hate it. Just add high-waisted denim cutoffs for a backyard luau or a summer block party.
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10. Mix ‘n’ match prints. We know what you’re thinking: Print mixing is always in. Consider this a friendly PSA to embrace your inner Leandra Medine a la a slew of summer motifs. Nautical stripes, a floral corset skirt, and strappy sandals — it must be a street fair.
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11. Layer a dress over a tee. On the rare occasion you’re not being exposed to sauna-like temps, take the opportunity to layer a slip (or apron) dress over a tee for instant girl-next-door appeal. Sophia Rosemary gets bonus points for incorporating summer-ready gingham into the mix.
View this post on InstagramStepped out in pajamas today and no one noticed 🤷🏻♀️
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12. Pajama-esque dressing FTW. Girl, do less. Everyday PJs on the streets of NYC (or anywhere for that matter) is totally the norm. For an off-duty vibe, tie up the ends and slip into some silky bottoms for a whole lotta YAS.
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13. Try an LBD with classic Chucks. Make an old LWD new again by throwing some worn-in Chuck Taylors into the mix for instant street cred. The juxtaposition between tomboy and femme gets us every. Single. Time.
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14. Embroidered denim or bust. Oh, hey girl, heyyy. From festival grounds to a Coney Island date night, reworked vintage shorts are currently all the rage. Grab some vintage Levi’s and an assortment of rad iron-on patches for your own take on summer 2017’s most coveted denim trend.
View this post on InstagramSo shocked I wore color I had to document it twice 🦋 liketk.it/2riZa 📷 @thecoolestsydontheblock
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15. Edge up a colorful dress with tough-girl ankle boots. Why the heck not toughen up a vibrant printed frock with some mirrored sunnies and biker boots? Can you say coolest babe on the block?
16. Top off every #OOTD with a colorful hat. In millennial speak: Do it for the ‘gram. Nothing says out of office until further notice like a big ol’ floppy straw hat that’s embroidered with a snarky phrase or decorative poms. Sign us up, please.
What style commandments do you swear by? Follow us on Pinterest for more summer styling tips!
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