Summer Style

Summer: a time when staying cool and looking good can be a daunting task.   We struggle to keep our hair from frizzing and watch our makeup melt like the Wicked Witch of the West in the humidity. However, one thing you CAN control is your outfit!  Check out these Summer Style trends that will beat the heat, featuring items from Pretty Little Thing!

THE ROMPER

Rompers can be tricky.  Too baggy and you have a baby diaper effect; too tight and you’ll find yourself with bad cameltoe… and NO ONE wants that!  Make sure that your rompers lie somewhere between these two extremes.  A few tips: find a romper that is well tailored,  has a defined waistline, and has vertical stripes. This ORANGE STRIPE TIE FRONT ROMPER from Pretty Little Thing is the perfect example!   Thankfully, the fabric is light and won’t ride up like clingy jersey material, it has a defined high waistline to accentuate your figure, and has vertical stripes to elongate your body. Plus, it’s vacation ready with its bright, vibrant colors!

THE ASYMMETRICAL BODYCON

While I don’t usually gravitate toward tighter dresses, this COBALT FLORAL ONE SHOULDER MIDI DRESS by Pretty Little Thing pulled me in! This royal hue looks fab on any redhead! Since I’m traveling to Cabo San Lucas this month, I was searching for a floral outfit for a night out.  Floral prints are great for camouflaging the stomach area, while the asymmetrical shoulder and the structured V-neckline bring the eye straight to the top of the dress.  The ruffle is structured, giving the dress movement without throwing clown vibes.  You can learn more about wearing ruffles HERE

THE POLKADOT MIDI

This retro print is officially making a comeback!  Polka Dots really speak for themselves and are super easy to style.  I adore this Pretty Little Thing CHOCOLATE POLKA DOT MIDI DRESS .  The pleated bottom and asymmetrical ruffles allow for fun, flowy movement. Also, this midi’s high waistline and vertical pleats make legs look mile high!

Let the print do the talking! Style the rest of the outfit with solid color pieces, like this TAN CYLINDRICAL BAG.  It compliments the neutral tone of the dress, but doesn’t take away from the pattern!

THE BOLD PRINT

While small polka dots are taking over, so are bold print pieces! Confidently wear this statement trend by pairing the print with a solid color, found within the print, to accentuate the design. Additionally, opt for minimal accessories to keep the focus on the motif.  This Pretty Little Thing FLORAL PUFF SLEEVE CROP TOP and LINEN FEEL MINI SKIRT are a lovely example of these tips.  The top, while long sleeve, stays cool due to being lightweight and off the shoulder. To both make legs look long and stay cool in the heat, this mini skirt is high waisted and has a gauzy material.

THE ACCESSORIES

Hair pieces are definitely the biggest accessory trending this season! Barrettes are making a huge comeback from the 90’s.  Lately, I love playing with one large clip, like this PEARL HAIR SLIDE, or wearing multiple styles together like I did with these DIAMOND and GOLD HAIR SLIDES.  

Bold earrings, like the GOLD KNOT EARRINGS on the left, definitely take any summer look up a notch.  You can dress them up with a killer pair of heels or dress them down with a jean skirt and a white tee.

What is your favorite style trending this season?

Erin of she's red haute wearing pretty little thing puff sleeve crop top and looking down

Get the Looks from Pretty Little Thing: ORANGE STRIPE TIE FRONT ROMPER, COBALT FLORAL ONE SHOULDER MIDI DRESS, CHOCOLATE POLKA DOT MIDI DRESS, FLORAL PUFF SLEEVE CROP TOP, LINEN FEEL MINI SKIRT, TAN CYLINDRICAL BAG, PEARL HAIR SLIDE, GOLD KNOT EARRINGS, DIAMOND and GOLD HAIR SLIDES.

Wearing Sustainable Fashion

SPRING CLEANING SERIES – PART 3 – SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Searching for sustainable and ethical fashion brands can be tough.  But these brands are out there and they are yearning to make a difference!  I found it important to research and educate myself on brands and the materials they use.  Alternative Apparel is a sustainable fashion brand I 100% recommend!

Be sure to check out the full video and learn how to style one dress three ways above and on IGTV!

Erin Leigh of She's Red Haute wearing Alternative Apparel's Midi dress

Thankfully, Alternative Apparel has taken a responsibility to be eco-friendly and has put an importance on fair labor practices.  Their materials are unbelievably soft, and their prices won’t break the bank! Let’s take a closer look:

ECO-PACKAGING: This brand starts the sustainability journey with their packaging.  Surprisingly, their mailers are all oxo-biodegradable!  Think about it, how many online orders do you purchase?  How many mailers do you throw in the trash?  Annually, they conserve 2,100 trees, 400 cubic yards of landfill, 860k gallons of water and 120 tons of CO2.  It really adds up throughout the year!

Erin Leigh of She's Red haute wearing Alternative Apparel sitting in front of the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia

GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY: Alternative apparel takes pride that most of their factories are WRAP-certified, which means their manufacturers are independently monitored by the International Labor Organization. They certify compliance with standards to ensure that sewn products are being produced under lawful, humane and ethical conditions.  Also, their manufacturers adhere to Fair Labor Association guidelines & workplace code of conduct.

ECO-MATERIALS: In their fabrics, they use organic cotton instead of conventional cotton.  Even more exciting, they use post consumer recycled polyester.  This means your clothing is made from recycled plastic bottles!  Astonishingly, they use approximately 1.8M recycled bottles in their fabrics for their Alternative Eco line!  Additionally, they use low impact dyes, reclaimed water and biodegradable fabric softeners.

Erin Leigh of She's Red Haute wearing Alternative Apparel

MY LOOK: I chose to style three pieces, all based around their Long Sleeve Eco-Jersey Midi Dress.  It is super comfortable with a modern look by itself.  But, this ensemble is easily transformed into a fun, Spring weekend look by adding a cute belt to raise the hemline. Plus you can add their Dropped Shoulder Vintage Heavy Knit Pullover to create another sporty look!  I also styled this midi into a work outfit using their smoke blue Organic Cotton Stevie Wrap.  Check out all three looks in the video above or on IGTV!

Be sure to check out Spring Cleaning Part 1 (7 Ways to Organize Your Bedroom), Part 2 (Transitioning into Clean Beauty) and stay tuned next week when we delve into Part 4 – Clean Eating!