My ultimate goal for any summer outfit is to keep it chic, yet comfortable in the frequently sweltering summer heat. While I love a good crop top or booty-hugging jean short as much as the next person, they’re not always ideal for dressier dates or high-profile events. Bold, bright colors, flowing layers and simple heels or wedges are a must for putting together fancy summer looks: look no further than alice + olivia’s spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection.
For my look, I wanted to capture the effortless simplicity of the collection while maintaining the fun femininity Stacey Bendet, the designer behind alice + olivia, puts into every look. A long-time follower of Bendet’s Instagram account, I’ve seen her rock many a floral maxi and wide-legged pant the spring 2015 collection thrives on, but my comfort zone lies closer to the slim dresses Bendet does just as divinely. This electric blue number is youthful and vibrant, without being too overbearing, and the asymmetrical hemline keeps it from being predictable. I paired it with a flowing kimono inspired by the movement and bounciness of the collection. This piece is perfect for summer nights that get a little cool, as it offers just the right amount of protection from a passing breeze.
For shoes, I chose these white wedges with gold accents to complement, but not distract, from the rest of the look. Plus, not only are they super cute and comfortable, but the heel is the perfect height to look dressed up but don’t leave you tottering around in pain all day. The piece I was most excited about for this look is the neon orange envelope clutch I picked up the other day from Vera Bradley. It’s just perfect for summer: big enough for a few essentials but not too unwieldy to carry all night and great for spicing up what might otherwise be a bland outfit. It’s chic enough not to compete with the vibrancy of the dress and rather enhances the youthfulness of the look.
I kept the beauty and hair for this outfit simple and sweet. I simply styled my hair as I do every day, but slicked it back a tad more to achieve the sleek look the alice + olivia collection maintains. For makeup I simply bronzed up and applied a little nude lip gloss for a minimal look, but paid a little homage to Bendet’s daily dramatic black eyeshadow look with some black eyeliner. My goal for beauty was to be as natural as possible and emphasize the vitality of the clothes.
Get My Look: 1. Vibrant dress. 2. Light outer layer. 3. Awesome clutch. 4. Wedges.
