Summer is often associated with bright colours and loud prints. While they still have their place in your wardrobe and out in the street, blacks and whites are often forgotten. So why not take back in a monochrome revival!
Because black and white are such extreme colours, they look great against any skin tone. They complement dark skin, a golden tan, or even pale people like me. Black, white or both together really are the colours to be seen in this year.
Here’s how to wear black or white in the summer.
How to Style Monochrome For Summer
Blacks and whites aren’t normally associated with summer. Instead, people expect to see vibrant colours and prints, lots of colour and even some crazy patterns. For a more sophisticated look, wear blacks, whites or a mix of the two.
Here are my recommendations:
Think little white dress
When it comes to dresses, white is actually a pretty summery colours, it’s just a bit underrated because it seems plain. There’s no reason you can’t wow in white dresses, you just have to do it right.
Plain white doesn’t have to boring. In fact, if you’re savvy, a little white dress can be the most stylish thing you own. I particularly like this one in the picture above. It has triangular cups, a halter tie accompanied by straps and a ruched front. It would work on the beach with some flip flops and a sunhat or in the bar with a pair of heels.
It’s a clean white, but white comes in many shades. Including pure white, bright white and more muted tones of white. This knowledge equips you with the ability to buy the right white for your skintone. Because I’m so pale, a muted white blends in, but a bright white makes my colouring appear totally different. It’s amazing what knowing the best colours to complement can do for your fashion game!
Black is great for summer!
Forget everything you’ve been told about black in the summer time. You can wear it, it does look good and you won’t overheat. Black clothes can make you feel a bit warm in the sun, but not really much more than any other clothes. The best thing to do it wear something cool.
Black dresses are a cute foundation for a summer outfit. You can treat them as a blank canvas and build up the accessories for a finished look. Flats dress them down while heels can dress them up. The accessories you choose will determine whether your look will be sleek, fun, boho or cool. Hats, sunglassses, bags, jewellery and flower crowns are all fantastic for making a little black dress look entirely different every time you wear it.
Double down with denim shorts
Denim doesn’t have to be blue, especially in the summer. Instead consider black or white. I love these white distressed denim shorts as they scream summer. The could be worn with a bikini at the beach, a crochet top at a festival, or even a vest and some heels for fun night out.
The best thing about denim shorts is just how versatile they are. You can’t compete with denim shorts in the versatility stakes. They honestly go with everything and can be styled in every way. Want to dress for a gig? Wear ripped shorts and pair with a leather jacket. Sorted!
Interested in a picnic? No worries, wear with trainers and a vintage tee for a laid back look. They’ll go with vests, halters, t-shirts, shirts and anything else you can think of. Just buy a pair before you regret it!
Low effort summer beauty tricks
The thing about summer is, makeup can seem like a bit of an effort. Hot weather can mean makeup smudges, runs and can easily be sweated off. So it’s important to get clever with your summer beauty.
One great beauty hack is to fake tan. Taking the tan right up to your face an neck will mean you don’t need foundation for an even complexion. Another hack is using eyelash serum to help you grow longer and thicker lashes. This means your lashes will look amazing with mascara but equally stunning without. If your natural lashes are long, dark and thick, you can ditch the mascara and the risk of it smudging. You could also tint your eyebrows to avoid needing to use an eyebrow pencil.
Other ways to wear black and white
If you don’t feel like shopping and want to make to with what you’ve got, then there are plenty of other ways to wear blacks and whites. I would probably avoid pairing them together, and instead use them as a base for adding more colours too. If your jeans are black, wear a bright top. If your top is white, pair it with a patterned flippy skirts. You can inject colour in lots of different ways, including accessories.
Mustard is having its moment right now, and luckily mustard is a cheery colour that goes with black or white or both together. Add a hint of mustard with a pair or mustard shoes or a gorgeous handbag.
There as so many choices when it comes to monochrome clothes!