The first staple for summer is the sun dress. These dresses are very light and casual, yet very beautiful, when dressed up. They can be used as anything from a bathing suit cover up, to a going out dress, paired with heels. I have a few picture examples of sun dresses that I have used, and I truly believe every girl has to own at least a couple.
The second staple for summer is a bathing suit...not just one, but many. Now, don't flip out. You can get fashionable bathing suits very cheap this days, if you shop smart, and wait for the sales. First and foremost, you need a bikini. Bikinis never go out of style, and perfect for the beach. Now, you probably need a couple different choices of bikinis. A regular triangle-top bikini would be good for just relaxing on the beach. However, if you are going to a water park, or doing something active while on the beach, I would suggest a bikini top that fastens in the back, not just ties, and possibly one that is straight across the top, verses the triangle top, which covers barely anything. The last thing a woman needs when she's trying to have a fun, active day is to worry about "the girls" poppin out on a whim. Wardrobe malfunctions are so 5 years ago. So..different bikinis for different occasions, and I have outlined in pictures for you exactly what I mean. Now, sometimes, a bikini is not ideal at all for your outdoor adventure. Maybe you feel bloated, or you're just not 100% feeling your body. I have these days often, and that's why I have a very fashionable, vintage whole piece, that is very sexy, but still covers up a lot of my body, so that I don't have to feel self-conscious. A whole piece is also very useful for other events as well, such as horseback riding on the beach, scuba diving, or other excursions. Also, if you have been spending a lot of time on the beach, and you develop a sunburn, maybe it would be best to cover up a little more of your body, so the burn does not get worse. Always remember to wear sunscreen though. My favorite brand is "Hang Ten" spf 50, but yet I still have a dark tan. Also, a cover up is a must. You can use a sun dress, as mentioned above, or you can get cover-ups that are cute, and fairly cheap. And don't forget sunglasses!
A few other staple items are: white jeans..they never go out of style, and are so cute, and easy to dress up. Also an array of shorts/cute tank tops for casual days, as well as skirts, which are always a plus for summer. Show off those tan legs! A couple pairs of flip flops, and strappy sandals, will complete any summer outfit. The colors of summer are bright and lively, so don't be afraid to show off your beauty with hot pink, neon green, peach, aqua, or bright purple. I have yet to meet a woman that doesn't look great in the summer time, wearing bright or cheery colors. If you wear a touch of bright "look at me" colors, you will look happy, and a happy girl is a beautiful girl.
The last thing I want to cover for summer is make up. You can be loud and proud with summer colors, but you should use make up sparingly. In the hot summertime, it will feel heavy on your face, as well as start to melt and run off, leaving your face looking sloppy, and feeling uncomfortable. Therefore, I use minimal make up in the summertime. I usually cover my face with a bb cream that has an spf in it, but also gives you light to medium coverage. over that, I apply Clinique's bronzer in "sun-kissed" on places on my face that the sun would naturally hit. Then I apply a light pink eye shadow, some mascara, and a lip gloss. I usually use NYX butter gloss in apple strudel. It's smooth, and has a peachy look on the lips. As for hair, I don't even bother straightening it, because the humidity will ruin that in 5 minutes. I usually just spritz it with marc anthony "beach waves" spray mist, and scrunch it a few times. It takes about 2 minutes, and looks like I really put an effort into doing my hair.
Well, I hope my tips are helpful for your summer fashion! Always remember, simplicity is the best for a hot summer look. Don't try to aim for perfection, especially when it comes to hair and makeup. Beach babes have a slight messy, tousled look, and it's totally ok and sexy! Come back to my blog for my fashion tips, and product reviews.
