LE CATCH

You'd think that an invitation to a haute couture show in Paris would require some major dressing up, but the 80-degree heat is demanding otherwise! Attendees are sporting chic shorts to keep cool, and why not? Shorts are just so easy and yet they can be a completely legitimate style statement, as demonstrated here. Of course, sophisticated accessories--i.e., an Hermes bag, a pair of Celine heels, above--up the chic factor. I could breeze through summer in the city with these especially stylish shorts by 3.1 Phillip Lim, A.L.C., J.Crew, Ulla Johnson, and Keepsake.

$79, mango

This cute fringed bag belongs on a beach in Ibiza--with me!

1. LoveShackFancy dress, $395, netaporter.com
2. Grey Ant sunglasses, $370, shopbop.com
3. Melissa Joy Manning spinel earrings, $365, netaporter.com
4. Mango fringed bag, $79, mango.com
5. Madewell lace-up sandals, $59, shopbop.com

A little lace dress to keep cool in the sweltering city? Looks good to me! (I also love the unexpected fanny pack touch!) I like these iterations from La Maison Talulah, For Love and Lemons, Love Shack Fancy, Topshop, Shein, Self Portrait and Isabel Marant (on sale!).

Photo: Rutaenroute

Professional photographers like my NYC-based dear friend Lucia Engstrom, above, have the magic touch when it comes to art directing/capturing a special summer moment, but the insane Yvonne S dress deserves a wee bit of credit, too, no?! I tried my hand at dramatic-dress magic in Malibu yesterday with help from my husband and a new H&M dress, below. I'll admit it isn't quite as breathtaking as above, but at least I can aspire to future picture-perfection with these by BB Dakota, Mara Hoffman, Rachel Comey, Ganni, and Dolce & Gabanna.

You know full well by now that I can sleuth out a great find (ahem, many!), but today's jackpot is a windfall for the books, thanks to Need Supply. Especially, if you're in the market for summer-ready steals, such as the cute $76 shirtdress, above, the $116 floral one-shoulder frock, below, this ruffled blouse, this crochet strap jumpsuit, this lace and chiffon party-worthy maxi, and this polka dot top. More to consider here!

Found: the greatest pair of easy breezy summer pants ever! I recently snapped up The Reformation's lightweight linen pair, above, and they've been giving my effortlessly chic summer dresses a run for their money. These pants are perfectly high-waisted, day-to-night wearable, and sandal to sneaker to kitten heel-friendly. In other words: pant perfection.

Photo: Fakerstrom

So far my summer has entailed a lot of running around. The kind that goes from camp drop-off to work meetings to errand making. Of course, my aim is to accrue all this mileage stylishly and comfortably in suitably summer-casual sneakers that don't look like they belong in the gym, but instead are made to work some fashion magic! Kicks that go with just about everything in my closet, from dresses, to skirts, to denim shorts (with a nice-touch blazer!), such as these from Tretorn, Z Shoes, Veja, Gucci, and Zara (similar to below).

I'll admit it: I was questioning myself when I ended up in H&M one afternoon last week in downtown New York. Why am I here, I wondered, when I can be bopping around boutiques in Soho? Or drinking a bellini at Cipriani? But then the lace dress, above, appeared before my very eyes, and all of a sudden it was clear why! I also snapped up this Natalie Martin-like top/shorts combo, this floral maxi, and the polka dot dress, below. Score! I also love this tulle lace (wedding guest-worthy) dress, only available online.

In my opinion, the most suitable way to while away the the longest day of the year is in a bathing suit! The question is, which one? I love the pink crochet one-piece by Mum's Handmade, above, but I'm also drawn to these by Same Swim, H&M, Ganni, Red Carter, and Zimmermann. I'm thinking there might be multiple swimsuit changes today!

Photo: Mum's Handmade

I saw lots of chic girls in downtown New York wearing a slinky skirt--and now, of course, I want one, too. I adore the sold-out one, above, by Realisation, but found this similar Alice + Olivia. There are plenty of other options to be had, such as these from Club Monaco, Vince (on sale!), and Lovers + Friends.

Photo: Life of Boheme