Memorial Day means one thing to fashioniSTAs: BREAK OUT THE WHITE! Whether it’s eyelet, summer cotton, a lightweight knit, or even leather, the warmer weather is the perfect opportunity to lighten things up. Take on this light hue by incorporating it into your wardrobe in place of other neutrals – such as black and navy. Brighten up your current outfits by adding a dose of white, guaranteed to make you look and feel summer chic in no time.

White Dresses For the Everyday

I used to only think you needed a white dress if you were graduating from prep school or getting married. While when I was graduating it was nearly impossible for me to find a white dress I liked, they have really taken over in the past few years, giving all of us a great alternative to a little black dress. For a casual daytime look, throw on a white jersey dress with a denim jacket and metallic flat sandals. To spice up your nighttime, go with a white minidress, and don’t be afraid to add embellishments, the lighter hue will keep your outfit from looking too formal. Whether it is a bauble necklace or dramatic earrings or completely embellished pumps, take white to the next level when the sun goes down by adding a little sparkle.

Also, white, lace dresses have been popping up everywhere on a variety of celebrities. Try out this look during the day with a pair of ballet flats and a low bun for a feminine ensemble. Take this into your nightlife by going with a shorter hemline and adding platform pumps and soft waves to complement the girlie lace detail.

For a summer getaway-ready look, take this trend to the maxi – maxi dress that is. A long, white maxi dress paired with oversized sunglasses and a large, bright-colored chunky necklace reads more boho than bride. Or take a cue from Nicole Richie (right) and play up the dress with gold accessories for a truly Grecian-inspired look.

Neutrals on Neutrals


 Go white hot by using airy neutrals as the basis for your ensembles, and going white-on-white by mixing different variations of the shade will help you easily achieve this look.

Head-to-toe white in the same hue will read a little “hospital,” but you can make it all work if you add in complementary accents of tan, beige, yellow, gray, or even blush pink. Make a white, cotton sundress work at the office with a wider, beige belt and tan wedges. This would also work with white pants or skirt with a white top, for those of you not hyped up on the white dress trend.

Should you want to go further than just tiny touches of other neutrals mixed with white, try color-blocking your outfit using white plus another similar neutral. Trying a tan pencil skirt with a white flowy top and gold accessories will give you a timeless look with a modern flair, and with pure white on top, it won’t wash you out if you happen to have fair skin. You can also go with white jeans and a gray top (a la Kate Middleton) for a posh and preppy ensemble, pairing them with flats and a long string of pearls. Go for the girlie with a blush pink A-line skirt matched with a fitted, white tank and ballet flats. Or go with khaki safari shorts and a white tank for a casual look with an African twist. The result of all this similar matching? An effortlessly chic ensemble that transcends any age group and any style decade.

White + Bright = Summer Done Right
 Wearing white to work can sometimes read a little bridal if it’s not done the right way.

Adding a pop of color to an all-white ensemble ensures that you’ll ease into this trend without feeling too overwhelmed with white. For an easy formula, take your white sundress and pair it with a long cardigan in a bold, summer shade such as royal blue or orange. Top off the look with a neutral color belt and pumps, and accent with simple gold jewelry. Should you want to mix it up more, feel free to use the white dress as your canvas and experiment with blazers, pashminas, clutches, boots, etc, all in bold hues. The contrast between the bright color and the crisp white will read as clean and streamlined no matter how little effort you actually had to exert.

Going with a stark black-and-white ensemble is also a one-way ticket to chic town. Try a black pencil skirt with a white peplum jacket for a classy corporate look, or mix textures by trying a white eyelet skirt with a sharp, constructed black top.

Pairing white with bold, summer colors is also a great way to get that instant getaway look. For a truly Saint Tropez ensemble, go with a pair of white shorts with tan, canvas espadrilles and a vibrant coral or azure top, perfect for vacation, or for bringing the vacay vibe to you. Channel Amanda Seyfried’s cool and casual look (below) to also incorporate this idea into your everyday weekend pieces, making your weekends your own mini vacations.

Now it’s up to you, fashioniSTAs, to take white from bland to bold, just use these easy steps and you’ll be white hot in no time!

~Ashley, FashioniSTA