Well Dressed

Michael Stars

French Connection

Rachel Pally

My favorite hot-weather style element is the dress. An outfit that, being all one piece, doesn't actually require any putting together in order to look put-together. Versatile, too - the ability to change a look based on which wrap, bag, or jewels one assembles on a particular day.

As the sales floors of brick and mortar retailers fill up with fall pieces, all across the web e-tailers still have plenty of summery dresses...deeply discounted, ripe for the picking.

Either buy now and pack them away for next year, or add tights, boots, and a cashmere for a fall look. Above,  links to some of my favorite finds - some of the most seasonless pieces I encountered.

Sunny Aspect

Who: Courteney, student at NYU.

What: Blue striped sundress, tan wedges, and a cheerful yellow flower.

Where: Astor Place.

New In Print

Who: Alexia, works in publishing.

What: Slouchy tee and voluminous bag provide proportional counterpoint to the slender silhouette of a leopard-print pant. Worn with a heeled, open-toed boot.

Where: Corner of Lafayette & Kenmare.

Top It Off

Who:  Rebecca, student (above left); Amparo, of Ciudad Real, Esp. (above right).

What: Jaunty fedoras. On Amparo, a neutral outfit gets a double shot of color via the pairing of bold orange hat and red bag.  Meanwhile, Rebecca adds polish to a shorts and tank outfit with a light straw. Also, see Lauren in recent post Hello, Sailor!  Present for several seasons, the look isn't about to hang up it's hat...many retailers have summer's straw versions on offer to make way for fall's lush velvet and wool options. Links below.

Where: Rebecca - East Village; Amparo -Union Square Park.

Contemporary Classic

Who: Mary Page - dancer.

What: Plaid, chambray, penny loafers. Three very of-the-moment components unite for a pretty, classic outfit. Links to similar pieces below.

Where: Union Square Park.

Madewell Plaid Shirt ModCloth Chambray Skirt Bass Penny Loafer

Weekend Re-Creation

What: Re-creating the look of a recent post with pieces assembled from across the web.

Inspiration: Olivia's mixed-print ensemble (click thumbnail above for link to original post featuring Olivia).

Why: The dangers inherent in mixing prints is what makes attempting it so tantalizing. Try  Olivia's method of safely introducing just a touch of contrasting print to an outfit in the form of an over-sized floral tote. Below, two outfits inspired by Olivia -the first of which incorporates her two-bag idea from the original post...

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The Olivia Look - #1
Marc by Marc Jacobs"Deco Stripe" Dress	Kate Spade "Emerald Isle Karen" Bag J. Crew "Ares" Sandal Kate Spade "Villa Bridget"  Chain-Handled Mini

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For the second Olivia-inspired look, the prints are reversed...

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The Olivia Look - #2
"Knotted Satchel" Anthropologie J. Crew "Camden Leather Brogues"	"Dahlia Vintage Print" Dress - Asos

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More next week...have a wonderful weekend!



-Lucy M.

Mod Scientist

Who: Halley, physicist.

What: An electric blue dress in a simple cut allows for creative accessorization: bold frames in neon orange, a chunky bangle,  a lightweight scarf, and gold gladiators. Click on the links to recreate Halley's look with similar pieces.

Where: East 45th St. - Grand Central Station.

Striking a Chord

 

Who: Antonia, songwriter.

What: Red nails against the sorbet palette of a paisley-print sundress. With a tall-heeled oxford.

Where:  Lexington Ave. in the West 40's.

Well-Heeled Traveller

Who: Jackie, from Louisville - via Sak's Fifth Ave.

What: A hot pink bag and gold accessories pop against the backdrop of a classic A-line tank dress done up in sunset-colored silk. Very uptown.

Where: Central Park West.

A Study in Contrasts

Who: Olivia, student, on holiday from London.

What: Mixing prints with a floral Cath Kidston bag and striped sundress.

Where: Columbus Circle.

Suitably Attired

Bubbly Personality

Who: Maria Cristina, banker

What: A bubble dress rendered in a light-colored cotton seersucker that sets off a perfect tan to marvelous effect. Worn with canvas espadrilles and a pulled-back hairdo - a cheerful summery look!

Where: Soho, near Lafayette and Broadway

Cosmetic Appeal

Who: Lauren, cosmetics marketing consultant

What: A smart platinum hairstyle adds mod appeal to an ensemble built around a black A-line dress - a must for any wardrobe. Chunky gold jewelry and an emerald green bag finish off Lauren's look. We especially love Lauren's Chanel button earrings - check out a similar vintage pair at Shopbop.

Where: Just off Prince Street – Soho, NYC

Hello, Sailor!

Who: Lauren,  of downtown boutique Kirna Zabete  

What: High-waisted linen shorts and a boat-necked sailor's top redolent of France - but worn with an air that's unmistakeably NYC. Accessorized with stacked bangles, straw Panama hat, and a perfectly imperfect side braid.
 
Where: Soho, NYC

Professional Edit

Who: Cielita, fashion stylist

What: A mini dress makes a big impact with a graphic print in bold colors. An updo and aviator sunglasses finish off this cool look - perfect for hot July weather.

Where: Lafayette off Houston Street - Soho, Manhattan