It’s your duty to wear red, white & beauty!
Push the layering pieces, long sleeves and pastel colors toward the back of the closet to make room for the patriotic hues and symbols of the new season that is upon us. There are several holidays, including the Fourth of July, that present the opportunity to show off your love for America. But don’t fret the techniques involved in mixing star-spangled patterns; we’ve broken down the top 7 methods to successfully pledge allegiance to your own personal style!
- Fly the Flag: For those looking to set off their own fireworks this fourth, avoid merely wrapping yourself in a cotton, polyester or nylon flag and instead pick up a piece that will make Lady Liberty herself jealous. Show off the melodic arrangement of red, white and blue, stars and stripes, allowing your individuality to shine through like the rockets’ red glare. From hats to pants, shoes and more, retailers are finding new and unique ways to print the patriotic symbol on all sorts of wearables. In other words, there will be plenty of options to choose from, so take your time and find the one that speaks to your personality.
- Stars: Show off your national pride in a colorful, star print romper. Although this trendy style makes us [at least those old enough to remember] flashback to the 90s, it’s showing up in storefronts from sea to shining sea. With different variations available – one piece or two, belted, wrapped or otherwise - this frock can be worn by many age groups and shapes alike. Plus, it allows you to spend the holiday in comfort as you hop from picnic to party, boat to beach.
- Stripes: Although not always worn with confidence, the standard horizontal stripe is a staple of maritime months. Established long before a tea party was thrown in Boston, this conservative design can be worn by any age and thereby can most likely be found in an American-inspired color pallet carefully selected by your favorite retailer. Plus, you can extend the life of these pieces by incorporating them into a post-summer collection with additional layers, in solid colors of course.
- Summer Whites: When graduations and weddings with sparklers are a weekly occurrence, it’s safe to say that white can make its official debut in your wardrobe. Skirts, shorts & even denim are common, but don’t shy away from a beautiful blouse just because you’re frightened of letting a little mustard slip off your brat and onto your bosom. Add flair with texture or cutouts for an edgier version and compliment with colorful accessories for an outfit that will surely let freedom ring.
- Polka Dots: The red-blooded history of the polka dot is fascinating and honestly deserves a blog all of its own, but for now we’ll share the cliff notes. Several sources report America’s love affair with the polka dot beginning in 1926 when Miss America was photographed in a polka dot swimsuit. The sultry romance was endorsed in 1928 when Disney created Minnie Mouse with her memorable red and white polka dot dress. In fact, the LA Times told its readers that year that “you can sign your fashion life away on the polka-dotted line, and you’ll never regret it.” Many combinations exist within the spectrum of red, white and blue which make finding satisfyingly spotted attire a fairly easy assignment.
- Color blocking: If you’re looking to incorporate your love of country into the professional arena, there are many applications including color blocking that can communicate your sense of mindful fashion. This technique blends the biggest colors of the season, even if they are opposites, and arranges them together in the most contrasting way imaginable. Red, white and blue tend to make sense to the brain in the context of patriotism but oftentimes are overlooked when planning your work-week wardrobe. Embrace the chance to push the comfortable boundaries of the standard black, brown and neutral workplace dress code and you’re sure to be the topic of conversation at the water cooler – for all the right reasons of course.
- Denim: What do McDonald’s, Nike, Coca-Cola and denim have in common? They are staples of American pop culture, a way of life for so many of us. So if you’ve gotten to this point in the article and are still stumped as to how you are going to pull off a red carpet worthy look, simply fall back to the old adage: “When in doubt, defer to denim.” Choices in washes and colors have expanded over the last twelve months with the resurgence of the must-have material, providing possible alternatives to the more traditional red, white and blue apparel. A widespread affinity for the denim-on-denim trend has also grown, especially as industry leaders have taken to utilizing the fabric in so many of their everyday ready-to-wear collections, thereby solving the ‘what to wear’ dilemma with a mix and match game that is more fun to play than the classic Nintendo game system.
So cheers to the land of the free, the home of the brave and the love of all things fashion! May your parties be stylish, your friends plentiful & your outfits take you well into the dawn’s early light. Happy 4th of July