OOTD: Summer Lovin'

I'm a July baby, and from a beach town, so I HEART EVERYTHING about SUMMER! Needless to say, with Fall right around the corner, I'm getting in as much Summer Lovin' as possible! Thankfully, here in the South, we get a bit of an extended Summer. With the temperatures back up at 90 degrees, I decided it would be a perfect day to wear some of my Summer favorites that I won't be able to wear in the weeks ahead. 

While I'm usually into healthy eating, tonight my husband and I headed to Dame's Chicken and Waffles for a pre-opening tasting event that we were invited to. When free food is involved, I'm your girl! This is what I wore:

Sizzling Summa..

I'm heading to the beach today for the first time this season! Breaking in the beach season if you will! Whether you will be enjoying the sun's rays on an exotic island, a local beach, or the closest pool, make sure you do your summer loving in style!

If you are at a loss for what the bikini trends are for this summer, you're in the right place. For starters, we're in luck ladies; there are a vast array of styles and trends this summer so I am confident that we can all find something that works with our own personal sense of style, and comfort zone.

Here are some key words for summer 2012: metallic, tie-dye, ruffles, fringe, vintage, one-shoulder. Now let's take a look one by one..

1. I hold Rihanna responsible for this trend, and I absolutely love her for it! I have my fringe bikini packed and ready to go! Additional bits such as a fringe, can add weight to that part of the body, so this is perfect for girls like me who are smaller up top.


2. This stunning bandeau bikini pays hommage to the metallic/mermaid influenced trend. Very bond girl if you ask me, and sure to catch the eye!


3. It wouldn't be a revival of the 80s without a little tie-dye. If you don't feel comfortable adding it to your day-to-day or office wardrobe, why not have some fun on the beach with it? This little number also incorporates the ruffle trend.


4. For bustier ladies, who might be nervous about the support of a regular bandeau bikini: the solution has arrived in the form of the gorgeous one-shoulder bikini. Nervous about tan lines? Simply pull the strap down when you are laying out.


5. Vintage bikinis, in my opinion, are pure genius. They were created to stylistically and structurally sculpt our bodies to look like we are all pin up girls! Definitely a good choice if you want to accentuate your curves.


6. As you saw from my previous post, gold is a big trend for this fall. But don't be afraid to be ahead of the trend game by rocking a metallic gold bikini like this gorgeous piece, to perfectly transition from a summer to a fall trend.


For all you bargain hunters, keep in mind that the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale started on Tuesday (June 12th) and they carry most of these trends at affordable prices! I recommend that you get in to a store, or online, and snag a few staple items...both for the bedroom, and the beach.. ;)


Remember life is a beach, so play in the sand!

Bohemian Beach

One of my favorite pastimes during the summer is to wander through local markets and discover vendors that are unique to the place that I am visiting. A particular favorite is the row of vendors that set up booths along the cobbled stone streets, and on the square near the mosque in downtown Alacati.
Alacati is a small beach town in the South-West of Turkey. I like to refer to it as "Surf City, Turkey" and am proud to call it home.

 

photo from: http://cafefernando.com/alacati/

What connects this small fishing, surfing, beach community to fashion, is not only its stylish and famous frequenters, but also the unique art, architecture, and native jewelry.


While you can find anything from beaded jewelry, to more conventional pieces, what really stands out to me are the beautiful creations that merge fabric, metal, leather, and other textures.


Without fail, every year I pick up a few new pieces from the handful of locals who set up their booths every day from July through September. They are a great way to add a splash of color to an airy white sun dress, or to add a bohemian flair to cut off denims and a tank.


Here are a couple of favorites from my collection..

     

I absolutely love the colors in the fabric and the texture that is created with the braiding of the fabric.

I picked up this gem a couple of summers ago. The beautiful white silk is detailed with beautiful stones of a variety of sizes and colors, some golden clasps to break up the fabric, and some colorful embroidery. I like to loosely drape it around my neck to wear it as a neckpiece, and also like to use it as belt to add an edge to cut off denims.


These pieces take me to a place of serenity; where the salt air feels my lungs, and the sand blows in my hair..