Jessica Simpson in a Bad Sundress

Its summer and the perfect outfit for summer is the sundress. Sundresses are a stylish fun approach to the season letting you be cool and comfortable while still maintaining your own personal style.

There is an old misconception that sundresses are either for little girls or they’re a hippie style that’s seen its day come and go. And if your image of a sundress is a short frilly dress with spaghetti straps or a long maxi dress with a floral print then yes those sundresses probably aren’t for you and are not the look you want to don for the summer 2010.

But for those of you with an open mind this year holds a lot of wonderful sundress options. Look for hemlines just above the knee. I know that the mini skirt and short shorts are bringing the leg back but sundresses are different. A short sundress has a too youthful appearance so if you want to grow up with the sundress then select one that hits just above the knee.

Spaghetti straps still work for sundresses but wider straps give the dress a different look and feel that makes it a little more grown up and versatile. Look for wider straps and even an asymmetric strap in keeping with another one of the season’s hottest trends.

Beyonce Skirt

I remember when skirts were a common clothing option and the length of a woman’s skirt was a huge fashion issue. Today it seems as though skirts have almost become a clothing item from days gone by and the attention paid to skirt lengths has transferred to hemlines in general.

So what is going on with women’s skirts? Well, there still obviously are skirts being made and people wearing them but their popularity has definitely waned while favor has instead been transferred to dresses and shorts.

If you want to try and bring the skirt back into popularity right now the mini skirt is the hottest women’s skirt around. All hemlines are high this summer and skirts are obviously no exception.

If you want to wear a skirt in a less obvious way and a more classical sense, then the pencil skirt is always a tasteful and classic look, and for most body shapes its very flattering, much more so than the mini skirt.

The maxi skirt is one look to stay away from. It has had its moment in the sun, several of them in fact, but this season is not the time to try to bring the maxi skirt back so stick to the trends and the tried and true and maybe, just maybe you’ll start seeing the women’s skirt become stylish again.

Camping

With Memorial Day just around the corner camping season is about to begin. I’ve been told camping is cool again and although I had sworn off campfire stink and mosquitoes and ticks years ago, it looks like I’m going to be hitting the campgrounds pretty hard this summer.

The best part about taking up camping a decade after my last attempt is the camping equipment is totally different and much more comfortable, or so I’m told. One of the biggest improvements in my comfort will be the jump from tent to camper. Which of course means, plumbing!

Outdoor cooking has also changed drastically but it doesn’t really matter because there is something particularly yummy about even a hotdog cooked over a campfire. And I can definitely survive on hotdogs and marshmallows for a couple days.

Now the biggest camping dilemma is what to wear? There’s really not a lot of new advancements in women’s clothing for camping. But I’ve been warned that a base layer is important at night, even in the camper. Other than that, I think I’m going to pack a little bit of everything since I don’t have to try to fit it all in a tiny tent anymore.

Jessica Simpson Wrap Dress

There’s something about a simple women’s dress and a nice pair of shoes that makes every woman feel sleek and sexy in the summer.

This year’s simple women’s dress is the wrap dress. Much like the maxi dress served as the go anywhere, do anything dress for a few summers past, the wrap dress is filling that void this summer.

Get the most out of your wrap dress by selecting something that is form fitting, that doesn’t billow too much at the top and the bottom. Another good idea is looking for a solid as a busy print can be distracting and the wrap portion can create visual bumps and wrinkles that aren’t flattering.

Much like the maxi dress and even the shirt dress before that, the wrap dress should be treated casually. No over accessorizing when wearing a wrap dress and keep the shoes subtle and simple.

The lesson is that almost any dress can become the style of the season if it’s worn for its simplicity and is the rest of the ensemble is treated with a light hand.

Pregnant Nicole Richie

Facing summer with a baby on the way is not usually an exciting prospect, you’re hot, uncomfortable and swelling when everyone else is getting ready for bikini season. But dressing for a summer pregnancy doesn’t have to be frustrating, new maternity clothing is more exciting and attractive than it has been in years past.

Even maternity swimsuits have changed and now offer pregnant women a way to enjoy the beach and water without feeling like a beached whale or covering up in the dreaded muumuu.

So for summer maternity looks find separates that are versatile. In maternity tops you’ll want to look for simple tank tops that you can layer under looser shirts or you can wear alone when the weather or you are too hot. Select a bright solid color that’s exciting and complements your newly glowing skin tone.

For summer bottoms a good maternity skirt or two is really a lifesaver because of the comfort and the breathability of the cut. Look for a neutral that can be worn with a variety of different tops.

Maternity dresses are another comfortable option. Select something solid with a bright color and a bit of architectural flair, such as a ruffle, faux flower or perhaps an asymmetrical cut. These structural elements draw attention away from your belly and other growing bits and bring the attention to the overall look.

With the right clothing a pregnant woman can enjoy the summer months and alleviate her discomfort.

Mariah Carey Hiding Weight in a LBD

Thin is in, although every year it seems as though someone says we’re going to start appreciating curves and a little weight, it’s still all about being (or looking) thin. So how can you dress to look thinner?

Empire waist dresses have always been a great way to hide a little extra belly and butt fat. With the high waist the dress flairs a bit early giving you more room to hide in. But don’t rely on empire waist dresses or even empire tops and blouses because if you wear them too often people will think you’re pregnant.

The color you choose can also be slimming. Who doesn’t know that a little black dress cut in just the right way can make a woman look fantastic? But not many people realize that a white dress can have just the same effect and is much fresher and more fun to wear in the summer months.

Asymmetrical clothing has really rocketed in popularity and they can work really well to hide that extra padding you don’t want to show, or to at least confuse the eye and keep it from noticing symmetrical lumps and bumps.

One look to stay away from if you’re trying to hide a little extra weight is the very popular ruffles and faux flowers. These cute little feminine touches are just added space that your clothing will take up, meaning it looks as though you’re taking up additional space.

Celebrity Shortie Hayden Panettiere

For some shorter women, dressing to look taller is a priority. High heels are almost a wardrobe requirement but there are other clothing tricks you can do to make yourself look taller.

First of all, don’t assume every item of petite clothing or petite dresses are designed to create an illusion of height. Many petite designs are simply smaller versions or designer clothing, which is made for willowy tall models, and will make short women look shorter.

Look for petite dresses with vertical lines, patterns, fabric and stitching details. The vertical lines obviously draw the eye up and down. In the same vein horizontal lines in an outfit make you look longer and wider, which can actually make a short woman look even shorter.

If you’re prone to wearing suits, look for solid colors that draw the eye from top to bottom in a harmonious line to look longer. Don’t buy cropped jackets or high waisted pants and they make your upper half look shrunken. Women’s petite suits look best with jackets that come down midway, not too long that they cover the buttocks and make your legs look short. Jackets should be paired with pants and skirts that are thin to emphasize long legs not full to draw attention from side to side.

And remember that solid colors and monochromatic schemes are your friend but your colors don’t have to be boring, don’t fade into the background.

Jessica Simpson Tank Top

One staple item of clothing for summertime is the tank top. Whether it’s a preppy tank top perfect for a day of golf or summer, a sexy tank top for date night or just a casual tank top for any old occasion, there must be at least a handful of tank tops ready for summer.

So what’s hot in tank tops for summer 2010? Ruffles are hot in all women’s blouses this year and tank tops are no exception. Look for tops embellished with ruffles and faux flowers to dress up your look and add a feminine touch. If you want to dress up an old tank top, buy a fabric flower pin or three and add them to your favorite tank. But a word to the wise, asymmetric looks are very hot this year, meaning you’ll find asymmetric ruffles on shirts and tanks. The extra fabric on one side can pull the shirt in a way that looks funny on the body so make sure you try them on.

Prints are also a hot trend in 2010 so a few printed tank tops is a great idea, but don’t go too crazy pairing printed tanks with printed pants with printed blouses and printed shoes. Use your prints wisely.

And an extra little tip, the summer of 2010 is going to be about showing a lot of skin so don’t forget to tone those arms!

Miranda Kerr Levis Denim Jacket

Those hot summer nights are coming but they’re still pretty few and far between. So going from day to night typically requires some sort of cover up that’s versatile enough to match most outfits but stylish enough to keep you off an ugly sweater website.

A black cardigan or a white cardigan is usually a safe bet for a versatile cover up for summer and the rest of the year. Look for something light and airy that will provide a little protection from a summer night’s chill but won’t make you look too bundled and won’t leave you sweating.

But women’s sweaters are not the only way to stay comfortable and stylish in the summer, denim jackets for women is another way to go and believe it or not the denim jacket is having a little resurgence in popularity right now and is a great accessory for chilly summer nights.

I think the best way to determine whether you’re a cardigan gal or a denim jacket wearer is to look that shoes you’re going to wear. This year both super strappy sandals and other feminine styles are garnering attention alongside more sturdy and tough shoes like motorcycle boots. Your best bet is to get a summer cover up that complements your shoe choice for the day.

Beckhams Second Honeymoon

So this is the key to packing for your honeymoon vacation, either stop caring or get clothing that is more versatile. Since you probably can’t stop caring it’s time to evaluate the functionality of your clothing.

This season is all about ruffles and faux flowers which is perfect for a honeymoon. Select a nice white blouse with ruffles or flowers that is made of a nice rayon that will travel well and look good with casual shorts or with a dressier skirt. I love the Ann Taylor Petal Shell which is versatile, attractive and comfortable but dresses nicely with wrap.

Although prints are a hot trend this season, they’re probably not the best thing to bring on a honeymoon when you’re trying to conserve space in your luggage. So leave the printed clothing behind and go with a nice solid in a neutral color.

Select one skirt rather than a dress, and mix and match your shirts with the skirt for those date nights in your honeymoon paradise.

And most importantly, don’t forget to bring along your favorite lingerie, it is your honeymoon after all.