Washington DC-based Alicia Tenise Chew is a fashion, lifestyle and travel blogger who documents her outfits on her website, and on Instagram. She is a confident dresser with a relaxed and very polished boho-lite style. Alicia is a dress gal at heart who loves hats and colour, and wears patterns with pizzazz.

This boho white midi dress has relaxed Summer vibes written all over it. The tiered A-line silhouette and loose fit are breezy for hot days. The gathered bodice and tiers create visual interest while the elbow-length puffed sleeves bring volume and drama. Alicia adds subtle pattern to the look with her casual espadrille wedge sandals in a cheetah print. Her oversized sunnies with tortoiseshell rim give the effect of a second animal print pattern. Our blogger’s wavy locks fit the beachy Summer feel perfectly.

Alicia loves a good conversational print, and this colourful safari one would make me smile if I saw her walking down the street. It graces an above-the-knee A-line popover dress with empire waist that creates structure. Her dainty strappy sandals have pyramid stud accents in silver metallic that add dressy bling to the look. Our blogger mixes metals with oversized gold-toned hoop earrings and an on-trend initial necklace. A mini straw handbag and red lipstick complete the look.

Sporting a dress unbuttoned as a topper is a clever way to get more wear out of your clothes. Here, Alicia is wearing a short-sleeved maxi dress as a duster layered over a fun graphic tee and cropped kick flare jeans. Tucking the tee lengthens the leg line from the hips up. The graphic print has some yellow in it which is a great match with the orange-yellow leopard print topper. White leather sneakers add crispness, and match the white tee, while Alicia’s small black bag echoes the leopard spots. Bright lippy and our blogger’s trademark radiant smile are the fab finishing touches.

Alicia is a vision in this bright multi-hued Summer maxi frock. The fitted smocked bodice provides structure, while the tiered A-line skirt adds breezy maximal flair. Our blogger’s studded flat sandals peeking out from under the colour-blocked dress bring subtle shine to the look. Her oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses and sleek long locks add lots of visual and textural interest. A small straw bag with top handle is the perfect accompaniment to this vivacious Summer outfit.

This is a fab example of Angie’s Dresses with Tall Boots outfit formula. Alicia is sporting a fit-and-flare mini dress in gorgeous shades of pink and red. The fitted waist creates structure, while the billowing sleeves add playful drama. Tall tan boots add buckletloads of ’70s glam to this early Fall boho look. The shorter hemline is great for Team Legs and showcases the boots, making them as much of a focal point as the dress. Alicia finishes off the look with raspberry lipstick and a Panama hat in stone that bookends her suede boots.

The clever design of this sweater dress with its horizontal ribbing up top and vertical ribbing for the bottom part makes it look like a two-piece dress. This creates vertical integrity by drawing the eye up and down. The knit fabric casualizes the look and gives it a boho feel while the gorgeously eye-catching bright yellow makes it a veritable showstopper. The taupe suede pointy-toe booties with sturdy block heel, and Alicia’s wavy ombré locks continue that boho vibe. A cheerful floral face mask perfectly matches the outfit.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of Alicia’s fun boho-lite style. Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check out the rest of her fab outfits on her website and Instagram account.

This week’s roundup of top picks ranges from lounging comfies and simple breezy dresses, to fancy flip-flops and fun earrings. Be sure to browse all the colour and size options. If you catch items on flash sales, so much the better, although some items are already discounted. 

1. Midnight Bakery Tie-Dye Lounge and Sleepwear

I wear loungewear first thing in the early morning before I shower, and in the evening as I wind down for the day. I find the change of dress quite therapeutic and it’s very much part of my daily dressing routine. For bottoms, I like to wear floppy and very soft full-length wide legs instead of joggers, leggings, flannel pyjama pants, or shorts. These are not easy to find in the right weight, length, fabric and pattern, so I’m thrilled when I do find them. The wide peach tie-dye lounge pants from Midnight Bakery fit the bill and are sublime. They are breezier than they look, and I adore them. They are super soft, drapey, flattering, very comfy, and not too high in the rise. Size up if you want a looser fit. I’ve ordered the hoodie to match. There are joggers and camisoles if you prefer those silhouettes.

2. Unity In Diversity

This is a Canadian footwear brand that is manufactured in Europe. For example, these fun, high-energy flat oxfords are made in Portugal. They have rubber soles for good traction. Extremely well-made and comfortable. Fits a wider foot. The cushioning foot bed is removable if you need to insert orthotics. Check out the rest of the brand for very comfortable and uniquely designed maximal footwear. There are lots of interesting design details, and great patterns.

3. Old Navy and Gap Casual Summer Dresses

Don’t underestimate how great a simple and comfy Summer dress from the Gap or Old Navy can be. Every year, my clients find one or many from this retail source so keep them on your radar. They usually launder well, are adequate to good quality, and can work as a swimsuit cover-up. The Gap’s dresses tend to run big so size down. Prices are affordable.

4. Talbots Flounce Skirts

Talbots does a lovely selection of cotton-rich, flouncy midi and maxi skirts every Summer season, and this style caught my eye. They are well-made, substantial yet breezy, streamlined yet fluid, easy to launder, and fit a curvier bottom half extremely well. Size down if you’re straighter through the hips, seat and thighs. Available in petite, straight, and plus sizes.

5. B New York Conscious Pleat Sleeve Button Down

This is a gorgeous architectural shirt, which has been produced sustainably and ethically. Great drape, good fabric, and fun sleeve ruching detail. It’s voluminous but with structure in the right places to temper the volume. The narrow forearm fit, shorter front, and side slits create subtle structure. I tried it but needed a size down which they don’t offer. I loved it. It would have been mine in the right size.

6. Flip-flops with Arch Support

For some, flip-flops spell Summer. If you’re after a pair with arch support, try out brands like FitFlop, Vionic, Birkenstock, Clarks, Dansko, Merrell, Mephisto, Reef and Sanuk. FitFlops, Birkenstocks, Vionic and Sanuks are favorites with my clientele. Here’s a selection of winners, and some brands offer wide sizes.

7. Ann Taylor Earrings

If you bat for Team Earrings, Ann Taylor has some fun and unique pairs at the moment. Playful and on-trend, yet classic and refined. If I wore earrings, I’d wear the pretty pearl daisies.

You might have more than one of exactly the same wardrobe basic in rotation. For example, I have four of the same beige bras, six of the same beige camisoles, and eight of the same beige knickers to match. I also have two pairs of exactly the same floppy lounge pants, two of the same navy nighties, and many pairs of the same nude-for-me knee-highs.

I’ve also found it useful to have two of exactly the same quiet and simple wardrobe essential in rotation to prevent laundry bottlenecks. For example, I have two of the same of these pairs of jeans and white cotton pullovers. I used to have a few of same white button-down shirts too. The extra is not a spare, but simply another top and bottom in my wardrobe.

I could have bought a different pair of blue jeans and white cotton pullover to cover my needs and add variation. But to keep things very simple, I bought exactly the same because they are versatile workhorses. Does anyone else have more than one of exactly the same item in rotation?

These outfit ideas are for Team Drape, which is all about voluminous fits, cascading layers, loads of drape, and just enough structure in the right places. These are not traditionally flattering proportions that create waist definition, a streamlined silhouette, a long leg line, or showcase curves. Instead, these proportions often do the opposite, which can be an acquired taste. 

Personally, I find these looks flattering in an avant-garde, interesting, arty, comfy, and fun way. They can also be useful when you don’t want to draw attention to the outline of your figure. Some of my clients thoroughly enjoy dressing this way, and they span a range of body types and sizes. It’s a look that is beyond body type, and everyone can wear a version of it if they are so inclined.

Two of the looks here have toppers and two don’t. Choose any colour palette, and create your own versions of the vibe.

1. Draped Jacket and Draped Pants

A pair of drapey and very roomy lantern pants is combined with a soft and fluid white knitted top which is worn untucked. It’s topped with a roomy draped jacket that has a bit of a fishtail. Keeping the jacket open creates a vertical line down the centre front of the body, which draws the eye up and down. The white footwear is a good choice because it picks up the white in the top and in the patterned topper. The repetition creates effective outfit cohesion, pulling the look together. The lantern pants, although very wide, taper a little at the ankle, creating very subtle structure.

2. Tunic and Lantern Pants

A patterned tunic is combined with a pair of lantern pants in a complementary pattern. The colour palettes of both patterns are the same, which pulls the look together. The asymmetrical hemline on the tunic is a clever way of adding subtle structure to the outfit. The short length on the one side of the tunic showcases more of the pants, thereby drawing the eye up and down which elongates the leg line. If the tunic was one long length, the leg line would look shorter because most of the pants are covered. Summery sandals complete the breezy vibe.

3. Mega Volume over Lean Bottoms

This is the most voluminous and drapey top of the lot, and quite architectural. Tent Fabness! Its volume is greatly tempered by the addition of a slim and straight skirt, thereby creating a good bit of tailoring. Heeled footwear would look great here, but I do like that they showed the outfit with flat slides that add a relaxed, modern, and Summery touch. The high-contrast black slides bookend the model’s hair, which works well to my eye. That said, a pair of low-contrast slides would have created a longer leg line by offsetting the cutting horizontal lines of the black. If there was more black in the outfit, the black slides would work even better.

4. Triple Drape

Three items with varying amounts of drape are combined to create this splendid look. The high contrast between the three items packs a lot of punch, and the draped effect adds busloads of interest. To my eye, the perfect LENGTHS and FITS of the three garments go a long way to making the look sensational through subtle emphasis of figure-flattering proportions. Details like the tailored fit on the shoulders of the jacket and the slim-fit sleeves add effective outfit structure. The white untucked layering top isn’t too long, which lengthens the leg line from the hips upward. The jacket isn’t that long, which further lengthens the leg line from the hips upward. And the lines created by the cascading layers of the topper, and the shark bite hem of the top do their magical diagonal line thing. The silver sandals are a pretty low-contrast finishing touch, and the pendant necklace adds vertical integrity. Beautiful relaxed elegance.