Summer Style Hits to Buy Now and Wear Later

By: Sharon Mosley

The heat is on, and summer fashion is heating up with sizzling bargains on sales now in your favorite stores and online shopping sites. So with plenty of warm weather left to celebrate, now’s a perfect time to take advantage of these hot deals. Then with a little twist on the styling, you can easily wear them right into fall and winter.

—The maxi dress — What started out being a staple of the hippie-chic generation in the ’60s has turned into a modern-day take on laid-back bohemian style — a great way to dress up for summer, whether it’s for a barbeque in the backyard or an evening stroll at the beach. Bold floral prints are the favorites for the long dresses this time around, but colorful solids will brighten up your wardrobe, too. For cooler days, top off these summer dresses with cotton cardigans.

—Colored pants — Move over black, and step into some red jeans, yellow crops or turquoise Bermudas. Putting your color on the bottom is where it’s at this summer, and you can plan on this trend continuing right on into the fall season. Pick up at least one pair and banish the boring black for a while. Colorful printed pants are another fun option; check out the new graphic ikat prints. For more ways to extend the life of this trend, see “color blocking” below.

—The one-shoulder dress — If you’ve got a festive occasion to attend this summer — a wedding, a graduation party or even a gala fundraiser — the one-shoulder dress is a stylish way to dress up for the event. And again, forget the traditional little black dress and cool it off with an icy white. White also promises to be a winter favorite this year, too. For a holiday party, wear the one-shoulder white dress, and pair it with a frosty fur wrap.

—The peplum — These flouncy ruffles at the waist — peplums — are adding a fresh touch to summer’s best skirts and dresses. One word of caution: Peplums are great ways to show off slim waists, but they can add pounds to hip areas. Mix and match short jackets with these skirts and dresses for fall.

—Hi-low hems — Want to shop for something a little different to wear? Skirts and dresses with high hems in the front, tapering to longer ones in the back are alternatives that will give your summer outfits a different kind of vibe. Team them with strappy sandals this summer and wear them into fall with tights and boots.

—Color blocking — This trend is tricky, but it can provide lots of creative style to your wardrobe now and going forward. Look for colors that you love, and experiment by mixing them up in new ways. For summer, you might wear a pair of dark emerald jeans with a robin’s egg blue T-shirt and for fall, pair them with a darker cobalt blue jacket; or team a pair of red cropped pants with an orange tank for summer and add a dark crimson sweater for fall.