If you’re alive and in New York City right now, then you know we are in the midst of a rather grueling heatwave. If you’re alive and you follow any New Yorkers on Twitter or Facebook, then you also know about the heatwave, because complaining about the weather to anyone who will listen is really what we do best. Temperatures have been hovering around 100°F for the past couple of weeks, and it’s just insanely humid. We walk a lot (and fast) here in NYC — most of us don’t get around in cars, so we’re walking several miles a day on the hot pavement, plus up and down the stairs into subway stations (which are not air conditioned, by the way). AND IT’S ALL UPHILL, BOO HOO. I know, I know, I’ll give it a rest, but seriously, we’re melting here right now. For those of us who wear black on the outside ‘cos black is how we feel on the inside, these are trying times. To take my mind off the fact that my hair is plastered to my head with sweat, I put together a couple of outfits that resemble what I’ve been wearing during the heatwave.
“The color for today is BLACK. That’s right, black! So you can absorb some of these rays and save that heat for winter. So you want to get on out there, wear that black and be involved!” That’s the truth, Ruth.
1. Boycott shirt, Kowtow
2. Mosaic scarf in marigold + black, Blockshop Textiles
3. Chock A Block necklace in black/brass, Maslo Jewelry
4. Licorice nail polish, Essie
5. Lace-up espadrille wedges, Gap
6. Sexy Skinny Jeans in dark indigo, ASOS (also in plus size!)
7. Paperback bag in black waxed canvas, Moop
I know it might seem silly to include a scarf, but it’s something I always keep in my bag, even on the hottest days. You just never know when you’re going to wind up in a store or office or apartment with the AC on full-blast, and you can go from sweltering to shivering in minutes. I do realize that skinny jeans probably also seem insane in hot weather, but that’s just how I roll. I at least make sure I’m wearing sandals with them to let some of the steam out! By the way, those espadrille wedges look amazing on, but I can’t walk five miles in them. One mile, sure. Then my feet hurt. They’re great for days when you don’t have to walk a million blocks, though!!
These ASOS jeans are great for my fellow high-hip-to-waist-ratio girls. Since I’ve been losing some weight I’ve needed to buy a couple of inexpensive pairs of “transition size” jeans, and I love the deep, even color of these and the way they fit. Very comfortable! (They come in plus size, too.)
1. Short sleeve black dress, Target
2. Super Duper Strength sunglasses, Karen Walker
3. Herringbone scarf in papaya, Blockshop Textiles
4. Tempus necklace, Stone & Honey
5. Geranium nail polish, Essie
6. Endless Bummer tote bag, Fieldguided
7. Leslie Zip Booties, Frye
YES, I have been wearing dresses! Well, one dress. I bought this guy on impulse for $25 at Target last month, and I’ve actually worn it a bunch of times since then. I wish it wasn’t polyester, but it gets the job done. The fit/length of the sleeves is flattering, and who doesn’t love an elastic waist? I have to admit it is nice to have bare legs in summer, but I’ll only do it if I’m wearing boots. I wrote about my intense love for these side-zip Frye booties back in December, and my feelings remain just as strong. They go with EVERYTHING. True four-season footwear. I even wore them to a wedding. They are so beautifully-made, too, and incredibly comfortable. I can walk in them for hours on end. I think they might be the smartest shoe purchase I’ve ever made.
46 Comments
I just pinned that entire top outfit.
Those scarves are gorgeous, but I could never afford them on a starving student’s budget. ~covets unattainable pretty things~
I’ve seen several very cute scarves at Target lately, and on clearance at the Gap!
Not that this makes the Blockshop scarves any more affordable for your budget, but the cost is due in large part to the ethical standards of the designers — I really admire the Stockman sisters for how they run their business: http://www.blockshoptextiles.com/pages/about (Check out the process and gallery pages, too. So inspiring!!)
So many good ideas here!
YES to that last outfit. I walked by a woman wearing something super similar this morning – black slouchy dress with black booties – and made a mental note to myself because she looked amazing. Even if the idea of wearing a boot makes me want to pass out from heat exhaustion right now.
We’re melting here too in Montreal, but… New York is hotter. All that asphalt. I sympathize. Sending cooling vibes.
Also, thanks for including options that are available for larger sizes. Seriously.
You’re welcome! Be forewarned, though, that ASOS’s Curve line tends to run very large — I’d go down at least a size (or two) on the jeans if you order them. Their regular line runs fairly true-to-size, though.
Also, the large size on the Target dress will probably fit 12-14, and XL 16-18.
I need all of the things. Your style is impeccable.
And I’m melting in Chicago as well. I now know what it feels like to be an ingredient cooking in a pot of soup.
I never thought black in summer could look so good. I’m all the way on the other side of the coast, CA, and it’s just as brutally hot here…
Cayute outfits. I tend to wear navy blue instead of black, but I noticed despite the dark colors I’m still somewhat cool. These last few days though I don’t think I would survive in either jeans or booties, as my legs and feet are begging to be free — but I definitely love how you’ve put them together!
Laura
You look amazing! I can never seem to feel right in black for the summer- all winter long, count me in. Summer is just another story, I love red for summer.
I love so many of these pieces! Target just opened up in Canada, so I’ll check to see if they have that dress – it looks like an easy, comfortable thing to throw on & look put together.
I love this post! I sometimes tend to gloss over style posts, but I love everything about the outfits you pulled together. Thanks for sharing!
That top outfit is everything I have ever wanted in an outfit and more! Perfect, lady!
Dress ordered. And I’m eying those wedges too now.
We are melting in Toronto as well! We have a thing here made up by the weather people called Humidex… It measures how much humidity is in the air and gives you a reading based on what a “dry” heat would be. So a typical weather report now would be 34c with Humidex 42c. I think that means we are running at about 108f. The point is I am a pants girl too, so I feel your pain!
I’m a melting new yorker who feels a little more pinkish on the inside right about now, thanx for that! I love both necklaces and I’m with you on the wedges(me, half a mile, perhaps)+ the side-zip booties, yup, we’re pretty much in sync you and I 🙂
You look lovely in the dress!! It’s hot in Ireland too, well 28 degrees celsius is hot for us! We have no humidity worth mentioning though, yay. I only like open toes with skinny jeans, I like to have my toes covered in a dress too. Don’t know why!
I love that dress, why? because i had almost exactly that dress in 1987. I found a vintage heavy silk slip (too worn to wear even in my gothness) and I copied it in really heavy black silk, fantastic. If you like that style then any seamstress would be able to whip you up one. Oh yes I’m inspired, though it will have to wait till the Southern summer comes. Burrrrr here in Christchurch New Zealand.
Hey, don’t you dare feel like you should ‘give it a rest’! HOT WEATHER IS MISERABLE. Moan about at as much as you need to. I am so sorry you are sweltering.
It should come as no surprise that summer is my least favorite season, so I reeeeeeally like that tote.
And I learned something here today! Had never heard the term ‘high-hip-to-waist-ratio’. Initially I thought you meant the (vertical) height of the waist in relation to (the vertical height of) hips. Then I Googled. (PS, I am one of your ‘fellows’. 🙂 )
Black, loose, and maybe too fancy is how I’m rolling on vacation in Santa Fe right now (we drove from San Francisco through high desert heat, at least it was dry). I have a hard time dressing casual unless it’s total frump, so hot weather = loose, flowy disco style for me.
The bottom left shot of you is so pretty. You’re looking good! I hope the heat is helping with your weight stuff, it helps me a bit!
Aw, thanks for including the tote! Cute dress!
I admire your dedication to the denim cause Anna! I live in jeans usually but can’t even contemplate putting them on at the moment. It is my first New York summer though so maybe next year!
Also love everything about what Blockshop are doing! Am currently saving up for one of their scarves, and now going to have to add those Frye boots to the wishlist.
Love, love, love. Target just made another sale. 😉
You girl have a clever style sense.
Xx
From Humidex Plateau in Montreal.
If you like that dress, there’s a sleeveless shirt dress at Old Navy right now that’s pretty rad. Make sure and order a tall though, or it’ll be way too short after a wash (I ordered the olive and black and learned the hard way haha). http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=91340&vid=1&pid=525408032#close
Question: when one wears booties without tights or socks, how does one keep said booties from getting, er, squelchy? With, you know, The Sweats? I guess a sprinkle of foot powder stuff in them would go a long way, but wondering if it’s enough. Asking because I’d love to wear that entire outfit to work, and I’m never sure what to do with boots outside of jeans/leggings territory!
I wear thin black cotton socks with them! They’re a little taller than the boots…that’s what’s scrunched up around my ankles in the picture.
You are definitely one of my cutest daughters!
HAHAHA. Thank you, Mommy. <3
I live in Houston, Texas. My style during summer is “Hibernate-in-the-AC.” I admire anyone who tries to look chic in heat/humidity.
Luv it! Way back in the beginning of the year I randomly decided that this would be “The Summer of Black Dresses,” and so it has been. SO IT HAS BEEN! {she yelled it like a zealot} Black cotton Mexican “wedding” dresses (because it’s a nice day for a black wedding) circa the seventies, black cotton paper-thin eyelet dresses from the fifties with my pale skin peeking through. May add some of these to the wardrobe, too.
waaaaake up, up your wake up your wake up your wake
it is no joke, do the right thing hot out there. stay safe
one of the best movies to take place in brooklyn
One of the best movies to take place anywhere!!
I had to laugh when I read this one, because we’re having our own (no doubt sympathetic) heat wave here in VT, and I was in Burlington yesterday for a meeting in, of course, a long black dress. And black glasses. And nearly black nail polish (Butter London Royal Navy). OK, admittedly not with my Fryes, with silver sandals, but still. I don’t care what damage humans and climate change do to the temps outside…I will never give up my black. NEVER.
Also, that top! That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for! And it comes in charcoal! Thank you, Anna!
Wow, that was a lot of exclamation points. Sorry. Work fried my brain.
I live in the middle of the desert in Saudi Arabia NYC weather is like winter in Iceland for me LOL. I LOVE all of these pieces you have the exact same taste as me =good :p
Bonus points for the Smiths reference. That’s why we heart you.
😉
oh my…i’ll take one of everything…especially that tunic from Kowtow (going to shop their site now…)
thanks for including our Paperback in this mix!!
xxo,
wendy
i joke that im goth at heart because even in the dead heat of summer of i still wear black. i guess it’s the former hairstylist in me. i love the first look.
Absolutely love both of these outfits, especially the second one.
I have a question about the Frye boots. Did you take your usual size? Frye doesn’t seem to have any stockists in Australia, I’m in need of some new black boots and these look just about perfect.
Thankyou!
Yes, in my experience, Frye boots run true to size!
Thanks Anna!
Love it all!
I’ve been wearing these elastic waist dresses from Boden. A bit colorful for your taste but maybe one of your readers will like them on clearance
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Clearance/Womens-Dresses/Knee-Length-Dresses/WH502/Womens-Napoli-Dress.html?NavGroupID=4
Anna,
Thank you so, so much for posting about the Target dress. After reading your post, I went and tracked one down, and it’s perfect. Incredibly flattering, actually. And I never would have even looked at it if not for you.
I like your outfits! That being said, as soon as the temperature goes above 15 degrees no boots for me. And as soon as the temperature goes above 25 no jeans for me, at least not for the day, evening can get under 20 in Germany during the warm period od the year.
I LOVE THE FIRST ONE, it all just is so cute!!!!!! I am not the one to wear something like this but i just want to wear it every day!!