Mixed Media Dress from Jones of New York Collection Line
Here in the San Francisco Bay Area the weather just went from cool and rainy to 86 degrees overnight forcing me to think about my wardrobe. Here are some of my favorite online shopping sites and what styles and fabrics lend themselves to these steamy summer months:
Au Natural
My favorite summer staple is a natural fiber dress (cotton, silk, rayon). I wear it with sandals and a cotton cardigan to the office and keep a pair of shoes and a lightweight blazer in the office to top it off for a last minute court appearance or meeting. Jones of New York has a buy one at full price, get one 50% off as of this writing. This Mixed Media Dress is a nice option.
Cotten & Linen
More casual than a dress is a cotton or linen skirt topped with a cotton blouse or simple t-shirt. L. L. Bean Signature has some nice weight linen skirts and jackets. Use the same jacket and shoes addition to dress it up.
These Stretch Wool Waverly Pants are elegant and comfortable with an easy, relaxed fit.
Lightweight Wool
Lightweight wool works year round and is a good option for dressier environments. I love Lafayette 148. They sell jackets, pants and skirts separately so it’s easier to size a suit and the wool is generally very fine, lightweight and comfortable to wear.
DVF Cambell Scarf *as seen on Oprah* with wave prints in bold, feminine colors
Polish your outfit off with a bright scarf or signature necklace and enjoy the warm weather! In addition to her signature wrap dress Diane Von Furstenberg has some gorgeous scarves. Finally, Bluefly is a discount designer site worth browsing for clothing and accessories.
By guest blogger Catherine Eranthe. Mrs. Eranthe is an attorney, currently practicing at the Eranthe Law Firm in San Rafael, CA.
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Great suggestions! But when you say it’s 86 degrees, I just have to laugh. It’s already been to 103 degrees here in Gainesville, Florida (north central Florida) several days. Even though I know wool pants are breathable, wool is still just NOT an option in the summer here. Unlined, short sleeved linen jackets with linen skirt or pants is the wrinkly, but only, choice. On the other hand, with the air conditioning blasting in the courthouse, we sometimes have to bring a second jacket to wear in court!
You’re right. That is too hot for anything but light loose linen. A few summers back I went to Bakersfield, CA for a series of depositions. The temperature ranged from 104 to 108 degrees! That first trip I couldn’t wear anything that I’d packed. At a local Target store I found some short linen skirts and light weight cotton tops that saved me.
It’s certainly hot down here in South Florida as well!