We went back to Alki Beach to shoot our June cover because the setting was perfect for our first month of Summer. We also liked how the colours of this outfit worked with the pebbled beach. 

This does not look much like a Summer outfit. But for me, who feels cold at the drop of a hat, and for Seattle, where the days in June are mild at best, it’s a very comfortable combination. Lightweight, layered, light coloured, bright, and ever so slightly relaxed.

White jeans aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love them and wear them every year. I don’t think I have ever not had a pair of white bottoms in my wardrobe. To my eye, they add a crisp, modern freshness to an outfit that screams Summer. They also provide the right amount of warmth when it’s still too cold to wear cropped lengths. 

I usually match white jeans with black, ink blue or bright tops both in solids and patterns. This year, as a nod to the pastels trend, I fell back in love with light blue paired with white. I used to wear light blue quite a bit in the ’90s, so it’s been fun incorporating a past favourite back into my style. 

I’m really into wearing menswear inspired button down shirts complete with starched white cuffs and collars at the moment. So when I saw the item offered in shades of light blue, I snapped up a couple of variations. This shirt has a fine blue and white pinstripe, which I like to wear with white jeans. I scrunch the sleeves so that the white cuffs are visible and let them fall freely around my forearm. I tuck in the shirt for a more masculine look. 

A classic, clean cut, cotton blazer adds to the manly vibe of the outfit, while the bright citron colour adds a little fun. I paired a chestnut studded belt and low heeled animal print pumps to match up with the light tortoise shell buttons on the blazer.  I finished off the look with a cream satchel because I like mixing up different whites in the same outfit. White rimmed specs with blue inners, gold watch and wedding ring are the finishing touches.

This outfit represents my style for Summer 2012. Simple, clean cut, crisp, modern classic, a little masculine, a little soft, jewelry-free, and quite bright. Now please send us your hot sunny weather so that I can wear clamdiggers with blouses and not whine about the cold.

AJ likes the casual wardrobe capsule idea of building a wardrobe by fours described on the Vivienne Files. 

Inge says this striped bow tie pasta is the most stylish pasta in the world. I agree!  

Gaylene suggests checking out the old ladies’ rebellion on That’s Not My age. 

Shannon thinks that Girl with Curves is stunningly beautiful and stylish.  

Jenava loves Etsy’s Vintage Reproduction Clothing Shop. The seller will make you a new item from a vintage clothing pattern. 

Deborah enjoyed browsing through My Thrifty Closet.

bj1111 adores this neutral and texture-rich outfit on Taxonomy of my Wardrobe. 

Goldenpig thought it was fun to read about a bloke who has collected a thousand different air stewardess uniforms. Here’s the full collection on his site, Uniform Freak. 

Deb liked reading about the process behind Gwyneth Paltrow’s gorgeous dress for the Oscars. 

Rae loves this Luisaviaroma biker jacket, complete with chains and convertible tails. 

Last but not least, Fabulous After 40 makes great suggestions on how to choose the right sunglasses based on the shape of your face. 

We were promised a season of colour, and my goodness did the fashion industry keep their promise. Stores have looked bright and happy all year. I felt that we were starved of a great colour assortment for several years, but we finally have a season that covers neutrals, earth tones, pastels, mid-tones, jewel tones, brights and neon. There is something for everyone and that’s brilliant. 

We were also promised a season of pattern, and it’s EVERYWHERE. Pattern, pattern, pattern on everything. It’s on clothing, footwear and accessories, in all sorts of moods, types and colours. And pattern mixed outfits are so very on trend. I have added quite a bit of pattern to my wardrobe this year, and just for the season, I am switching over to Team Pattern. I cannot remember loving pattern and pattern mixing as much as I have right now. Pattern has refreshed my style and made me smile. 

So I’m wondering how we will feel about colours and patterns at the end of the season. Will we embrace a colour and pattern-rich Autumn and Winter because we have been somewhat starved of that too? Or will we be sick of colours and patterns and yearn for solids, subtle textures and neutrals? Some have already seen their fair share of the colour and pattern in stores, or never liked it in the first place.

I won’t be sick of colour when Autumn and Winter comes around because I need to wear colour in grey Seattle. But I might be over most of the pattern other than my usual geometric standbys like checks/plaids, argyle and pinstripes. I can see my renewed love for solids coming through strongly in the second half of this year. 

Over to you. What are your thoughts on the colour and patterns we’re seeing for Spring and Summer 2012? Is it overload?Have you embraced it, or do you wish it would go away? Will you continue to wear colours and patterns in Autumn and Winter?

One of my clients bought Ecco’s Casual Bouillon Sandal recently and is much impressed. It looks SO pretty on the foot, especially in the metallic shade. The tiny wedge heel gives this sandal some support. The leather is very soft and the footbed cushioning. A well made shoe too. 

As I was creating seasonal fast fall back outfits with my client last week, we were matching these sandals with skirts, dresses, clamdiggers, cropped pants, walk shorts and straight legs jeans.  A versatile, dainty and polished addition to a casual Summer wardrobe.