When I think of summer, I think of dresses. There’s something about the sunshine and the warm breezes that makes me want to wear something free-flowing and feminine. This is definitely my girliest time of year.  And I may be making this up, but I really believe that dresses are probably the most comfortable thing to wear when the temperature soars to an unbearable degree. Whether long or short, strapless, tank, or with a little sleeve, a dress is probably the quickest way to get out of the house and on with your errands or to an event, looking pretty and put together. This summer, Susana Monaco, Three Dots, and Michael Stars have some of our favorite dress styles, perfect for just about any occasion you can imagine, from barbecue to wedding.

Velvet Presly Slinky Rayon Sleeveless Dress in Eclipse

 

Velvet Slinky Rayon Dress

Twelfth St Cynthia Vincent One Shoulder Dress in Mauve

 

Cynthia Vincent One Shoulder Dress

The asymmetry and draping of this dress are two elements that appeal to the woman who wants to make a statement when she steps into the event. The gleam of the silk pleating at the shoulder contrasted against the matte of the bodice is an interesting play on texture, done perfectly in a delicate shade of mauve. The Cynthia Vincent One Shoulder Dress is the perfect balance of sophisticated and daring — perfect for the holiday party, wedding, or any other special event that you may be attending in the coming New Year.

Splendid Loose Racer Tank in Black

 

Splendid Loose Racer Tank

Splendid always offers great basics that are easy to incorporate into your wardrobe and live in all year long. The Loose Racer Tank is a wonderful example of the versatility that this well-loved brand offers within it’s line of extremely wearable and comfortable separates. Wear it under your favorite draped cardi or layer it over another tank to create a variety of looks. Thanks to an array of seasonal and basic colors, you’ll never get bored this style.

This week’s Staff Picks is going to resolve an issue that most denim lovers have dealt with a time or two before. When you’ve worn all of the crew and V-necks you possibly can, what do you pair with your jeans? Well our Buyer has the answer for you. Here are her favorite (non-tee shirt, yet super jean friendly) items,  new to the site this week:

Juicy Couture Sparkle Garden Ruffle Cami

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susana Monaco Supplex Sonita Top in Tuileries

 Susana Monaco Supplex Sonita Top

If you’re not really in the market for a date night ensemble and thinking about something more along the lines of lunch and afternoon shopping with Mom, the Susana Monaco Supplex Sonita Top has got you covered — literally. The three quarter sleeves are great for showcasing our favorite bracelets, but still give us that much needed warmth in the colder months. We especially like the deep scoop of the neckline and gathering at the bust that sweetly frames the face and shows off the gorgeous collar bone area and any necklaces you might want to accessorize with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Da-Nang Silk Chiffon Blouse in Linen

 

Da-Nang Silk Chiffon Blouse

We love a flowy blouse in a lovely neutral shade! Truly, it is an item every lady must have in her closet. It is great for all seasons and occasion. Pair it with a skirt,  throw a cardigan on over it, or in this case, wear it with some sleek, stretchy denim for a look that is instantly bohemian chic. We love Da-Nang’s spin on a classic with the addition of elaborate beading and embroidery details.

Splendid Lofty Cashmere Button Cardigan

Splendid Lofty Cashmere Button Cardigan in Heather Grey

We love the free flowing ease of our draped cardis and wraps by Splendid, but we can’t help but be drawn to the classic shape and structured style of this the Lofty Cashmere Button Cardigan.  There’s something so teacher’s pet about this double breasted number that calls out to our inner nerd, who by the way is very chic. Hot pink thread detail on the buttons adds a bit of playfulness and a much appreciated pop of color. Pair this 100% cashmere cardigan with a pencil skirt for a day at the office or with leggings on the weekend for A+ style.

Splendid Distressed Thermal Tunic in Sapphire

Splendid Distressed Thermal Tunic

The Splendid Distressed Thermal Tunic is just the thing to get cozy in. Just thinking of all of the chilly evenings and hectic Holiday shopping days ahead makes us want to pull on this super soft, casual tunic. The distressing, and exaggerated banded cuff (complete with thumb holes) will definitely bring a youthful edge to your basic jeans and boots combo. The Sapphire color is a more vibrant alternative to the versatile Caviar hue, which is a faded charcoal with navy stitching detail.

   

 

 

 

 

Splendid Double Face Hooded Jacket in Navy

 

  

  Splendid Double Face Hooded Jacket

Did we mention the chilly days ahead? The Splendid Double Face Hooded Jacket is just what we’ll be reaching for on the way out the door. Keep the cold out and warmth in with this cute double breasted style that features striped jersey lining and hood.

With that said, I’ve added “Shop LA Style Staffer Stalker” to my job description and set out to quiz everyone that comes within a foot of me about their most desired recent additions to the site. This week, Liz in our Customer Service Department told me all about a few of her favorite things.

J Brand Super Stretch Houlihan Cargo Pant in Olympia

J Brand Super Stretch Houlihan Cargo Pant in Olympia

J Brand ushered in the Slim Cargo craze with the celebrity favorite Houlihan and once they were introduced to the site, a frenzy began. Our customers didn’t waste any time,  making it a number 1 seller . The demand for more colors and restocked sizes got us to thinking that there could quite possibly be more to life than leggings. We figured it couldn’t get any better, but no sooner than the thought occurred, along came the J Brand Super Stretch Houlihan Cargo Pant in Olympia.

Thanks to 4% lycra, the super soft cotton/poly fabrication is (dare we say) more comfortable than your favorite sweat pants. A 29″ inseam makes them the perfect length for ladies 5′ 5″ and under. Tonal stitching completes the unique, slimming look of the Olympia wash, which we love mostly because it’s not your run of the mill black or dark blue.

Ella Moss Avedon Folded Stripe Tank in Oatmeal

Ella Moss Avedon Folded Stripe Tank

This stripey little number caught our eye as soon as it showed up in our Ella Moss shipment and we haven’t been able to stop looking at it. It combines so many of our favorite style elements  and honestly, if done wrong, it could have very easily gone awry. A cowl, a racer back, graphic black stripes, and earthy oatmeal sounds like too much to put into one tank, but thanks to Ella Moss’ impeccable construction and clever pleating it all comes together to create a surprisingly versatile, piece that can effortlessly be paired with jeans, slacks, a skirt, or just about anything else in your closet.

Cyndi-Bands Benefiting Breast Cancer Charity in Think Pink

50% of all sales go to The Los Angeles County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Some ponytail holders can cause damage by snagging strands or even becoming tangled in your hair. That’s why we love our Cyndi-Bands, a line of elastic hair ties that also double as bracelets! They are made of stretchy elastic fabric and come in a rainbow of gorgeous colors, but for the month of October, we’ve streamlined the spectrum to four lovely shades of pink.  In honor of October Breast Cancer Awareness Month we are donating 50% of all proceeds from the sales of limited edition Think Pink Cyndi-Bands directly to the Los Angeles County Affiliate for Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

True Religion Billy QT Straight Leg Jean

True Religion Billy QT in Revolver

We go way back with True Religion and we’re big fans of the brand. They always manage to create great basic jeans with awesome washes, interesting details in the hardware and stitching, and a fit that is always sexy and flattering. These Billy QT in Revolver are no different. It has all that we’ve come to expect from True Religion, with a little bit of a twist. The Old Multi single end QT stitching and Revolver wash are different enough from the other Billies that we already own, so we don’t have to feel guilty about snatching up a pair of these! We love the contrast the Revolver wash has with the pronounced whiskering and fading in the thighs. The saffron colored stitching actually looks quite delicate and doesn’t over power the other elements of the jean, creating a nice balance and perfect update to the Billy style.  The straight leg can be tucked into the season’s hottest boots, but we like them best with ballet flats.

Velvet Jacy Gauzy Whisper Gathered Dress in Twilight

Michael Stars Leopard Burnout Tank in Galvanized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Stars Leopard Print Burnout Tank

 

Leopard print. Sheer. What more is there to say? We’re loving this tank because it’s not what you typically see (or think) when you hear “animal print”. It’s subtle, but still fun. We have it in two other colors –  Black, which in this case is anything but basic, and a vibrant Lapis blue, but we’re partial to the Galvanized color, because it is a really versitile neutral shade that we can wear with just about everything.

Want to participate in the ponytail revival with some Cyndi-Bands of your own? They’re available in packs of 6 and 18, and you can even customize your 6 pack by requesting specific colors from an array of vibrant options. Not ready to commit to a Mega Set or just don’t know where to start? Well, for a limited time, we’re giving away 1 complimentry Cyndi-Bands with every ShopLAStyle.com purchase over $25, while supplies last! 

Cyndi-Bands

Splendid 1×1 Short Sleeve Scoop and C&C Core Essentials Wide Neck Crew

Three Dots Jersey Colette Double V and Splendid Light Jersey 3/4 Scoop

Shop all Tees on shopLAstyle.com!

Can my obsession be contributed to the fact that I’m a native Angeleno? I’m quick to default to that theory. I also figure that I should show off these great arms and shoulders while they’re in their prime! Which brings me to what I love about tanks — they’re the ultimate no-nonsense, body conscious top. You get a great silhouette and neckline every single time without the frills, which makes them the perfect piece to structure an ensemble around. Up until now, I thought I had worn my beloved tanks in just about every way possible, until I saw this picture of Kelly Ripa, looking effortlessly downtown chic in her sexy striped pencil skirt and our favorite Splendid tank. She’s instantly made me jealous,  gave me new style inspiration, and permission to return to my trove of tank tops.

Kelly Ripa wearing a Splendid Tank in Navy

Shop all Tanks on shopLAstyle.com!