The ladies' paradise

Floored

In certain books, the characters talk about dressing for dinner and then show up for cocktails freshly groomed and in a lovely frock.

I certainly didn't grow up in a fancy household, but my mother would often change for dinner, frequently putting on some ethnic, longish dress and some beads.

I don't usually have chance to do that, but when it's hot, I find I want to shower toward the end of the day, and I love the idea of putting on a "gown" rather than sweatpants.

Yesterday's Times was on the same track, with a feature in the style section on day or "patio" dresses. Okay, not the same as dinner clothes, but a similar, hostessy vibe. Only these are dresses you can slip on, say, for a barbecue with bare feet.

I love this one by Rachel Pally available in plus sizes at Nordstrom. There's a similar one (plus one in black) in standard sizes, too.

Looking great at the beach

You're going to the beach and you don't love how you look in a bathing suit. Well, join the club. The solution is your favorite khaki shorts, bought way back in 1996, and your boyfriend's lucky Red Sox T-shirt, right? No! No, no, no.

Getting to and from the beach, and sitting on the beach, is just like anything else -- you'll feel better when you look good. In this case, a stylish cover-up (for those who want one to begin with) is what you need.   

Hand-dyed silk pareo ($195)                

Next you'll need some flip-flops. No, not the ones with the heels all chewed up and the paint stains from last summer. You'll want a pair of Havianas, otherwise known as your basic rubber flip-flop.
A single-color pair will do just fine, or you could splurge on a pair of crystal-mesh ones, also Havianas, but with a heftier price tag.

Add a decent tote -- no plastic bags from the grocery store, please -- and your go-to large hoop earrings, and you're all set for looking swell surfside. Just don't forget the sunscreen!

 

Staying cool

The mercury's stayed low until now, for the most part, but any minute we're going to be complaining that it's too hot. That's why I've been getting asked, the past few days, what to wear in the warm weather. (I'm like everyone else -- I forget what my seasonal uniform is after six months.) I suggested a few ideas in the previous post but figured I could expound a little.

I'll start with this: Everyone should have a few tops by Sweet Pea on hand, and though I wear them year 'round, they are best for warm weather. These clothes are indestructible, and that makes them perfect for vacations this summer. Wad up a shirt or dress in your suitcase, then shake it out upon arrival -- no wrinkles whatsoever! Handwash it at 5 p.m., hang it up to dry, and wear it out to dinner at 7 p.m.

Sweet Pea by Stacy Frati Empire Waist Top ($68)

Pair a top like that with a pair of long shorts or capris and flip-flops, and you're ready for a trip to the flea market or amusement park.

Or dress up the top with wide-leg pants and wedge sandals, and you're ready to go out at night.

Tommy Bahama Riptide Twill Pants ($88)

Getting down and dirty

A reader recently asked what to wear in the warm weather.

She hates shorts. (And so do I, and not just because they look horrible on me. The fact is that they look horrible on lots of people. When in doubt, keep your flesh covered up! If you need convincing, just go to the zoo in August -- you'll definitely wish more people had stuck with pants.)

She says, rightly, that cropped pants can make a woman look larger than she is (see above). (And she's right, but sometimes a cropped pant is what needs to be worn -- say, when jeans will make you too hot and shorts are inappropriate or unflattering.)

A skirt? Too hard to get down on the floor and play with her kids, she says. But for many women, it's a great option -- cool in the hot weather and just plain easy and flattering. If you're interested, this version, in denim, could take you anywhere this summer.

Women's denim mini ($24.50) from Old Navy

That leaves long pants. But with a difference: A wide leg, a thinner fabric (think poplin, linen or a cotton blend). Wear with a slim-cut T and flip-flops or cork wedges. You'll be cool and comfortable.

Wide leg by Hudson ($185)

Another option is a tunic over cropped leggings -- a look that's neat and sophisticated -- and is not necessarily only for twentysomethings. I saw a woman recently, easily 55, wearing a black cotton-stretch tunic over black leggings, with flats. Fabulous. Add a giant pair of silver hoop earrings, and you're good to go.

Tie front dress ($88)

Rules are made to be broken

I went to a black-tie affair the other night, a benefit for my son's school. Everyone was turned out pretty swell. I wore a dress from Kiyonna, one of my favorite plus-size online sites.

What I saw was some very effective rule-breaking.

I think my favorite was a champagne-colored dress worn by a friend, B., with striking coloring (black hair and olive skin) who always looks great in black and white -- cool, sharp colors that mimic her own coloring. If she'd asked me ahead of time whether this dress would be good on her, I'd have given her a definite no. But she looked incredible, with a shawl in the same type of color. The dress managed to be a surprising look for her and both simple and ornate at the same time (simple cut, no pattern, with embellishment around the hem for a little interest). Way to go, B.!

Another friend, M., stood out to me for another reason. She is someone who always, always has a strong sense of style and what looks good on her. Does she get it right every day? No. But she's hands-down one of the most stylish people I know. And what's key is that she sticks to the same look and the same types of pieces. Most people don't realize it, because her style is so eclectic, but there's an underlying consistency. And so her dress was noteworthy for extending her signature look -- a frilly DVF navy blue chiffon dress that was classic, feminine and simple. Was it a dramatic departure from previous year's dresses? No, and that's why it worked.

I think that's the key: Knowing what looks good on you and sticking to it, as both these women do -- and then knowing what rules you can successfully break.

What are your "rules"?

 

A great tunic

Here's a great throw-on piece, to wear over cropped jeans or alone. A friend went last year with a tunic like this to San Diego and wore it out to dinner with heels and with flip-flops to the beach. With this piece, a week's vacation wardrobe might be backed into a backpack!

Fine Summer Tunic ($88)

A great global yellow dress

I love this dress for spring!

Normally I gravitate toward very simple dresses in neutral colors. You can get a lot more mileage from them by mixing up how you wear them. I gravitate toward separates for myself, and I steer clients toward them, for this very reason. But sometimes a dress just calls out to you, and this is one of those dresses.

Coven dress ($388)

This could go to the beach with flip-flops or out at night with heels. I would love it with these coral drop earrings, which is a little matchy, I guess, but because the colors in the dress (yellow, coral, gray) are unusual, it would look interesting, not contrived. (You have to look closely to see the coral embellishment at the waistline.)

Besides the wonderful colors, this dress is a standout for tapping into the whole global trend for spring, but very subtly.

Juju Leroux earrings ($65)

 

How to put outfits together

I admit it -- I'm a shameless fan of Grechens Closet. I check it every day. The feature I like best is one she started last summer, I think, but then sort of let slide. Recently I wrote to her to ask about it -- and voila! -- she has revived Outfit of the Day, which, just as you'd imagine, highlights an outfit of hers every day.

I really like a lot about how she dresses. She tends to gravitate toward more expensive pieces, but someone with a good eye could approximate many of the looks with less expensive pieces.

But I like this feature in particular because it shows how important neutrals are in grounding an outfit, as you can see in this picture. A bag does NOT -- repeat after me -- not have to match anything else in the outfit. (Grechen goes out of her way to get the combinations a little "off," which makes them more interesting.) So, neutral clothes (gray, denim, white), a bag in a different sort of neutral -- or an actual color in the bag (see my previous homage to purple purses). And shoes that go in an entirely different direction. (I love jewelry, so I would probably add some big, thin gold hoops and a chunky ring to this combo.)

Now, note that this approach isn't for amateurs, but you can get it with a little practice. The whole look should look low-key and not overly thought-through.

And a final thought, which Grechen also seems to understand so well -- light colors (think white and ivory) are just so brilliant on anyone and everyone. Whatever you look like, you will look even better in a white or ivory next to your face. It's like candlelight casting its glow on your face, only in the form of a T-shirt or blouse. But remember, and this is key: You have to wear the right color! True white on me just highlights the circles under my eyes and the whatever imperfections exist in my skin. So I stick to ivory, which softens and lights me up. Play around with the different whites while looking in a mirror and see what works best for you.

Wear to work (or not)

I adore this top. Wear it to work, under a jacket, or with Bermuda shorts or a skirt in the warmer weather. I love how it would flatter any curvy silhouette -- and check out the tie in the back.

Diane von Furstenberg Bryce Twist Top ($225)

Love this now, love it later

I found myself just recommending this to a friend, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized it is a perfect piece of clothing: versatile (dress up, dress down), thin enough to work on cooler nights even in the spring and summer, and just plain pretty. (The price is right, too.)

Garnet Hill Easy Long Cashmere Cardigan ($158)