Havaianas asked me to create some summer ensembles for their new line of flip flips, which I think are ideal for beach and pool settings. Practical, breezy, and just about as casual as it gets. Havaiana flip flops come in many colour and pattern variations, and I particularly like their Brazilian-inspired lace patterned style this season.

I don’t go to the beach as often as I used to, but I really enjoy helping my clients with their beachwear ensembles around this time of year. There are plenty of outfit options and it’s a question of picking and choosing the components that work best for you. 

One of my favourite beach wear outfit formulas, and one that has become popular with my clients too, is layering a kaftan over a swimsuit. It looks chic, a little retro, and is easy to pull on and off. It’s also suitably covered if you’re going to have lunch or drinks at a nearby restaurant at the beach. Choose one in a fabric that is machine washable and will dry quickly like a cotton, polyester, or blend of the two. Some like them short, whereas others prefer over the knee lengths.

Finish off the look with a sun hat, beach tote, sunglasses, flip flops and pretty toes. 

Once you’re at the beach and have taken off the kaftan, you can either stay in your swimsuit, or add a few fun layers if and when you need extra coverage. Board shorts, denim shorts or clamdiggers look cute over all swimwear. I love the look of a long tunic button front shirt, worn open or knotted in front, allowing your swimsuit to peek through. There’s also the elegant skirted sarong for bottom coverage. And lastly, a denim jacket worn open over a swimsuit looks fabulous. 

As with all the formulas, I sow the seed of an idea. The next step is to substitute the items so that they are in line with YOUR style preferences. A relaxing beach holiday with ample shade and cold fruit sounds good just about now, don’t you think?

Almost exactly a year ago we did a survey to gauge what YLF readers thought about sharing their YLF activities on Facebook. That helped us a lot when deciding how to use the YLF Facebook page.

Since then a lot more of our readers have started using Twitter and Pinterest, so we would like run the same survey again to get your thoughts on these two social networking services. The survey is very simple, with 11 multiple choice questions, so it shouldn’t take more than a minute of your time. We have embedded the survey in this post so you don’t even have to leave the page. Just enter your choices and hit the “Finish Survey” button underneath.

If you would like to go into more detail, we’d love to hear it, and there is a text field at the bottom of the survey where you can elaborate on your thoughts. Last time some of the most useful input came from these additional notes, so we hope that many people make use of the text field this time round.

If you would like to follow Angie and YLF on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, here are the pages:

• Facebook
• Twitter
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Your individual survey responses are anonymous, but we will publish a summary of the overall results some time next week.

Survey: YLF + Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Thank you. The survey is now closed.

Here’s an update on a 2008 casual Mom on the go formula that pairs easy-to-wear tops with casual bottoms. You don’t need to be a Mum on the go to wear these types of outfits. They’re fab for all casual gals on the go, or in any casual setting. 

Your choice of bottoms is manifold. From short shorts, bermudas and tapered bermuda shorts, to short clamdiggers, longer clamdiggers, or cropped pants. All denim and casual fabrications will work. I’ve chosen tapered bermuda shorts because it’s a personal favourite and I find the look flattering on most body types. Choose a length and fabrication that suits you and your style.

Big Blouse and Closed Shoes

The updated parts of the formula are represented in the tops and footwear. In the first ensemble, I’ve paired a woven breezy diagonal sleeved blousey top with tapered denim bermuda shorts. It’s in a trendy neon and waist surrendering. I also added in slipper flats instead of sandals or ballet flats. They’re printed because printed items are HUGE this season. Floral footwear is also a way to wear a pattern away from your face if that’s what you prefer. 

Closed Summer footwear like loafers, ballet flats, slipper flats and flat oxfords are not as popular as sandals for this type of outfit. But if you prefer to wear closed Summer shoes like I do, despite hot and humid temperatures, slipper flats are a fun update.

Romantic Top and Casual Heels

The second ensemble pairs white bermudas with an airy cold shoulder blouse in a romantic floral. The colours are soft and on-trend. I’ve added in a cork wedged slip-on because lots of ladies bat for Team Casual Heels. The addition of a casual unstructured handbag, oversized watch and eyewear complete each of the looks. Incorporate jewelry as desired.

As with all the formulas on YLF, I only sow the seeds of an idea. The next step is to substitute the items so that they reflect YOUR style preferences.

In 1945 Marjorie and her college friend Marty land jobs as pages at the iconic Tiffany & Co., becoming the first women ever to work on the sales floor. This is the start of a magical Summer as they witness celebrities like Marlene Dietrich and Judy Garland shop at the store, dance the night away in Manhattan’s legendary nightclubs, fall in love with two handsome midshipmen and celebrate V-J Day in Times Square. Sixty years later Marjorie Hart wrote Summer at Tiffany, a memoir evoking the World War II era and 1940s life in New York City — a time that will always remain special to her – through the eyes of two innocent small-town girls.

My best Summer job was the unusually sunny August I spent working at the Antwerp Zoo, the oldest animal park in the country. I was hired to stand in for the biologists’ secretary during her holidays, and I remember it as a very carefree time before starting my first “real” job. Strolling through the beautifully kept gardens before opening hours was my favourite part of the day. Other highlights were the daily picnic lunches with my co-workers, and visiting the baby orang utans behind the scenes. The biologists’ pavilion was situated behind the okapis’ quarters, in the middle of the zoo, and you could just sense the visitors’ relaxed holiday mood through the open office windows. The zookeepers wore their khaki uniforms, but we had no dress code whatsoever, so sandals, breezy dresses and flowy light-weight trousers were our warm weather staples. All this definitely made for a very laid-back atmosphere and fun work environment. In fact, the entire month felt like one long vacation to me.

Do you have fond memories of Summer jobs past? Perhaps you even worked in the fashion industry like Marjorie and Marty?