Why is my outfit boring? How to spice up your summer look!

I hear this question throughout the year, but more often in the summer. That's when you’re wearing less clothes and everything you wear needs to work a little harder to make your outfit feel complete. I was recently camping with a friend who is a foodie and great cook. For a picnic at the lake, she hand delivered 15 of us sandwiches.  Not just any sandwiches...grilled salami, cheese, olives and lettuce on croissant sliced bread.  The sandwiches were good, but what made them great?  The bottle of Mike's hot sauce to dip them in.  It's a spicy, vinegary concoction with enough heat to make it interesting without overpowering the other flavors in the sandwich. It made the sandwiches spicy, magical and memorable. In a summer world of tank tops, t-shirts and jorts, it's fairly easy to look and feel ho-hum. Here are a few ways to spice up your look as if it were Frank's hot sauce. ​

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Adding brighter colors sends youthful energy. Even a touch of bright colors will communicate first to your mind and then to other people fun, playful vibes. Which takes even a basic t-shirt from blah to h-e-l-l-o.  Try adding a touch of bright with jewelry, sunglasses & lipstick, or an entire outfit. This is a very simple way to up your summer game. 

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Accessories play a key role in finishing off your outfits.  Coordinated accessories can be the completer piece your look is begging for.  A few tips - 

1. Repeat at least one of your clothing colors in the earrings, necklace, bracelets, glasses, hat, etc.  Bracelets are always a great choice with shorter sleeves! 
2. Repeat the shape of your clothing or clothing pattern in the accessories.  If the clothing pattern has rounded floral shapes in it, go with rounded earrings. If it's more angular, wear earrings that are more square or pointed and angular. 
3. Keep the scale of the jewelry in harmony with the scale of the pattern or person. Wear smaller scale jewelry with small to medium scale patterns and physical size. If there's a dainty, thin tie on the neckline, mimic this mood with a smaller scale necklace and earrings. Wear medium with small, medium or large scale patterns or body proportions. And larger scaled accessories with medium to large patterns and body size. 
4. Allow the neckline to dictate the length and style of the necklace. If it's a heavier collar such as a sturdy t-shirt collar, go with a heavier necklace that will have enough weight to stay in place. A collared shirt that's unbuttoned calls for something short that will be seen under the collar. A high neckline looks lovely with a longer necklace. And a scoop-neck calls for something shorter that ends above the top of the neckline. 

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Add more textures to break up the mundane. Natural fibers such as cotton and linen are popular in warmer weather as they tend to dry quickly and feel cooler. They can both be included in fabrics that have some textural interest. Try them in monochromatic color combinations that would otherwise seem a little boring.  

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Non-summery colors in the summer are another way to spice up your summer look. This is my favorite strategy for dressing in late summer - when we start looking forward to cooler weather while the temps are still high.  Wearing darker colors in light weight fabrics is a great way to start feeling like fall but still be comfortable in the summer heat. 

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Still not sure how to put these strategies into action for yourself? Allow me to style your looks AND get your closet organized so that you can get out the door quick, looking AMAZING, with a wardrobe evaluation. Details HERE or click below. 

Take the boring out of my closet

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