After over a month of previews, resort collections have been seen and heard everywhere (hello Stella McCartney garden parties and models dancing in Zac Posen ball gowns!). And though the season is technically months away, perhaps no better time than summer to start daydreaming of how you will work your favorite pieces into your wardrobe. (After all, the climate-- sunny and balmy-- is a match.) Plus, there's a rational aspect to all this plotting: you're bound to shop the resort collections as they're available at the retail stores longer than any other collection.
But why wait until October to hatch an outfit or two? In the meantime (or to kill time, rather), we took an extra close look at the resort collections to figure out how to wear the trends right now. Because sometimes the trend isn't exactly what you wear, it's how you wear it.
For starters, mix pastels and metallics, as shown at DKNY (pictured, above). The two play well together because Before you try it out, know that rose gold works with pink, silver look best with cool colors, and gold pairs well with warm tones. If you are more of a prints person, go for striped separates—and mix them together.
Here's a trend to love: flats with everything. If flats feel too dressed down for your taste, pair them with an ornate and feminine frock, as shown at Erdem (pictured, above). You'll create a balanced, chic, and unexpected look—not to mention be the envy of all your friends wearing painful, sky-high stilettos.
Swimwear, something that we are in fact wearing right now, is beloved for its ease and simplicity. If you want to add a touch of your own style to your beachwear, pile on some jewelry à la Cuchnie et Ochs. The key to nailing this look is to keep your jewelry look clean, so opt for architecturally shaped pieces and stay away from anything beaded, delicate, or dangling.
For more styling tips on how to wear resort trends now, click through the gallery. You'll find ways to reinvent pieces you already own (hint: tie a long-sleeved shirt around your waist for a chic take on layering without all the bulk), styling tricks to make your legs look longer, and more.
Tie a Long-Sleeved Top Around Your Waist
Inspiration (from left): Alexander Wang , Acne Studios, Moschino
Combine Pastels and Metallics
Inspiration: DKNY
Don't Worry About Wrinkles
Inspiration (from left): Antonio Marras, Donna Karan
Wear a Masculine Shoe with A Feminine Dress
Inspiration: Erdem
Sport Sneakers with Everything
Sneakers continue to reign supreme. The sporty style is a cool counterpart to any ensemble-whether it be a dress, pant, or skirt. To enhance the look, seek out pieces with clean lines and feminine details.
Inspiration (from left): Max Mara, Baja East, Marni
Dress Up Your Swimwear
Inspiration: Cushnie et Ochs
Layer Open Lace With a Crisp Blouse
To make open-work lace more daytime appropriate, layer it over a crisp button-front shirt. The two together bring to mind the classic yet unexpected pairing of a ball skirt and a blouse. Seek out a shirt with clean lines-think of it as a blank canvas for an ornate piece.
Inspiration: Valentino
Wear Pumps That Match Your Pants
A long tapered trouser will instantly elongate your leg. To further the illusion, pair the pant with a pump of the same color. Not knowing where the hem starts or stops is a welcome trick to add to your wardrobe.
Inspiration: Jason Wu, Louis Vuitton
Wrap Fabric Around Your Wrists
Raf Simons sent girls down the Dior runway with ribbon wrapped around their wrists-some even wore a bangle over the ribbon for added interest. To try the look at home, seek out a ribbon that matches a special element in your look.
Inspiration: Dior
Mix Your Stripes
Inspiration: Clover Canyon, Kenzo
