This Summer

As we embark on an uplifting season full of color and spirited style, designers and fashion brands are offering us feel-good fashions with a powerfully feminine perspective. It’s all about accentuating the positive.

By Nick Steele

“You can expect a ton of shoulder play for the warmer months,” o ers

Brittney Denman of A Cut Above Boutique in Ocala. “Our customers love all our o -the-shoulder and oneshoulder styles. You can also expect to see more fl irty ru es, bright prints and boldstatement earrings.”

And those are just a few of the highlights. Expect to see elevated athleisure, a tropical heatwave and some seriously sultry beauty coming your way. We’ll break down the best of the best for the upcoming season with a little help from some of our favorite style experts.

“This summer is all about bold color, bold prints, bold everything,” enthuses Chante Burkett, owner of Ocala’s own One Curvy Boutique. “Be bold this summer, and try the hottest summer trends.”

In Living Color

From the prettiest pastels to the vivid punch of hot pink and lemon yellow, you’ll find a kaleidoscope of choice coming your way this season. So whether you’re drawn to the delicate sorbet hues or the more vibrant shades on view, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Over The Rainbow

You know that when Forbes advises that you invest in the “it print” of 2018, that it’s time to get serious about gingham! Now we know what you’re thinking, but hold on to your slippers, Dorothy! Sure, this checked print is hardly new and it’s been synonymous with sweetness, since that trip over the rainbow, but gingham is having a moment. Sure, it has a preppy vibe that makes it a staple in the J. Crew catalog, but it can also be styled to be a little bit more edgy. We think A Cut Above’s O In Gingham Romper is about as fresh and fun as it gets. Old o ers up a cheery Gingham Top paired Perfect Straight Jeans in crisp white and comfy . There’s something decidedly sexy, yet still sweet about the Gingham

Tiered Midi Halter Sundress from ASOS And we’re loving the whimsical charm of Embroidered Gingham-Print Heels

Dare To Bare

There’s something powerful about showing a little skin, and whether it be o -the-shoulder, one-shoulder or the cold shoulder cut-out styles, this is a trend with staying power. Stella & Dot’s Hannah One Shoulder Top has just the right mix of spice and nice to make it one of our favorite one-shoulder styles.

A Cut Above’s One Shoulder Chambray Top has a casual sophistication that feels on point.

Make A Statement

When it comes to jewelry this summer, oversized earrings o er maximum impact. Whether they are minimalist, boho-chic or elegant and long on drama, this trend is the easiest way to dress up any outfit. From pretty fringe numbers like Stella & Dot’s Roman Chandeliers to A Cut Above’s Beaded Fringe Dangles, it’s time to up your earring game.

Block Party

Color-blocking is back in a big way. Whether you associate it with artist Piet Mondrian, YSL or the mod styles of the ‘60s, the graphic nature of this standout style makes a strong statement. Talbot’s has the Colorblocked Sheath Dress of the season with style to spare, and Ashley Stewart has combined two great trends in one stylish o -theshoulder Mermaid Maxi Dress

Hot Tropics

Sure, there will be plenty of those garden variety floral prints around for summer, but all those moody botanicals and palm prints are giving us a tropical heatwave. From sexy swimwear to musthave accessories, these prints are sexy, spontaneous and pack a punch.

Old Navy’s Knot Front One-Piece is sure to get temperatures rising, and H&M’s palm-print beach Tote and matching bag are perfect for those sun-soaked beach days.

All The Trimmings

From cocktail dresses to denim jackets, tis the season for all kinds of embellishments. There is something to please everyone, from bold embroideries and fringe aplenty to crystals, sequins, feathers and gems. Even the sparest styles are punctuated with a little something special. We love the sweet simplicity of Talbot’s

Embellished Linen Tunic in white. And Madewell gives us something of a twofer, when it comes to being on trend, o ering up a sweet homespun

Embroidered Gingham Tank and Embroidered Gingham Circle Skirt with a scalloped hemline.

High Tide

High-waisted two-pieces are no longer relegated to those costumey retro and vintage styles favored by Old Hollywood bombshells and pinup girls. This flattering and feminine cut has been holding its own against skimpier styles for several seasons. It gives you a natural hourglass figure and draws attention to the smallest part of your waist. combines both trends with their tropicalBikini Top and the retro shape of their matching High Waist Bikini Bottoms

Sporty Spice

Athleisure is one of those evolving categories that takes things from highoctane dressed-to-thrill sportswear to a decidedly softer vibe. Old Navy is crushing it with the sporty style of their Camotanical

(camo + botanical) Bomber Jacket & Cropped Legging the softer side of things, we can’t help but cheer Collective you’re serious about being healthy, then why not also wear something with the potential to make the planet healthier? Girlfriend Collective’s minimalist sports bras, T-shirts and leggings are made from a stretchy, comfortable fabric that comes from recycled water bottles. Their dyes and manufacturing are both eco-friendly, and their packaging is entirely recyclable. Many pieces have a size range from XXS-XXXL.

“We aren’t saying that you have to be an athlete with a six-pack. You can just be a person who wants to get in shape and feel like her clothes are having a positive impact [on the environment],” explains Quang Dinh, who founded the company along with his wife, Ellie. “Our mantra is that they’re clothes that matter to women who give a damn.”

Be A Do-Gooder

4Ocean made from 100 percent recycled materials and the money from each bracelet sold funds the removal of one pound of ocean. By 2050, it is projected that there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. So far, they have removed 373,888 pounds of trash from the ocean and coastlines. Each bracelet bears a stainless steel 4Ocean charm. 4ocean.com to buy a bracelet, donate or learn more about this global movement. Giving is always

Beauty & The Beach

“Just like your skin, we all need to protect our hair from the damaging e ects of the sun, especially when exposed during long periods,” o ers Nick Stenson, Ulta Beauty’s Vice President of Salon Services & Trend. “Start by spraying on a good pre-styling primer, and add the finishing color-protecting locking spray before heading out will help protect against the sun.

After you’ve been out in the sun, use a highprotein conditioner or mask to help your hair repair and recover.”

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil

Heat/UV Protective

Primer is a great pre-style softening mist with a unique formula made up of a blend of six featherlight oils. Its conditioning e ect makes styling a breeze and leaves dry, coarse or brittle hair soft, shiny and free of frizz and tangles. It also protects against breakage, all without weighing your hair down. Another great staple for the season is It’s a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner

Plus Keratin, which repairs damaged hair both inside and out. In just five to 10 minutes of using this powerful deep conditioner, you can reverse damage and protect against heat, split ends and sun damage. Both of these products are available at Ulta Beauty.

Heavy Metal

Why spend the whole summer working on your tan, when you can get that bronze goddess look with the help of Victoria’s Secret’s Very Sexy Now

Wild Palm Shimmer Bronze Fragrance Oil

Color outside the lines with NARS

Larger Than Life

Eyeliner in Via Appia: Copper Brown (available at Ulta Beauty), and turn up the heat with Hard Candy’s universally flattering Rose Gold Pro Palette featuring ultrasmooth matte and shimmering eyeshadows.

Ulta Beauty’s Matte Metallic Liquid Lipstick in Golden Age (rose bronze with pearl shimmer) delivers a fierce amount of color and replenishes lips with hydration to combat dryness.

Finish the look with Essie’s luxe “To Have & to Gold” Gel Nail Polish from the Monique Lhuillier Couture Collection (available at Ulta Beauty).

Brushing Up

For several seasons, makeup artists have been extolling the beauty of the natural brow over the manicured perfection of a waxed or threaded arch. No one wants an unruly mess up there, so here’s a very simple trick to keeping things under control, while staying on trend. No matter the makeup look, professional makeup artists use this same technique for bold brows. Upward strokes not only tame your brows, but will also create a healthy, modern look. Diorshow Brow Styler by Dior is the perfect tool for the job and has an ultra-fi ne retractable tip for precision shaping.

Happy To See Hue

Deborah Lippmann’s limitededition “Grey Day” Gel Lab Pro Nail Color was created in collaboration with fashion designer Jason Wu , yielding a creamy shade with all the cool and relaxed sophistication of Wu’s signature clothing line. Think of it as your new neutral. Speaking of neutrals, we’re just a little obsessed with

Jessica Alba’s Honest Beauty

Truly Kissable Lip Crayon in Sheer Blossom Kiss

Blue Clues

Luster Now! Instant Whitening Toothpaste is making instant gratifi cation a little more gratifying; with just one brushing, your teeth will look whiter and brighter. This professionalgrade, athome teeth whitening product contains Bluverite technology and was developed by dentists. It’s also gentle enough to be used as your daily toothpaste and contains fl uoride to fi ght cavities, making it one of the best beauty “cheat” products of the year.

E-books, audiobooks and podcasts are the medium of choice for many modern bookworms. Even cookbooks, those thick-covered tomes that once lined every home cook’s kitchen, seem like a relic of the past when we have access to Pinterest and Google. But cookbooks today have more personality than ever, thanks to beautiful designs, eclectic authors and expert cooking knowledge unrivaled by internet recipes.

Novice Cooks

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat

This book was named one of the Best Books of 2017 by NPR, Buzzfeed, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Publishers Weekly and many others. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat simplifies the art and science of cooking into four simple elements, a philosophy created by chef and writer Samin Nosrat. She teaches readers how to master salt to enhance flavor, fat to improve texture, acid to balance flavor and heat for proper cooking. With these tools, home cooks will have a true understanding how to create a delicious, balanced dish using any ingredients. Choose from 100 recipes for vinaigrettes, pastry doughs, roast vegetables, braised meats and much more. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

The Haven’s Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen by Alison Cayne

A true staple for any cook in need of simple instruction, each chapter of The Haven’s Kitchen focuses on one key lesson, like perfecting eggs or layering flavors in soups. These recipes have been tested again and again and will become go-to meals for weeknight dinners, party dishes and decadent desserts. Each step is explained indepth with accompanying photos to illustrate the techniques behind the preparations. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

INTERNATIONAL FOODIES Appetites: A Cookbook by Anthony

Bourdain

Bourdain is known for his international travel and appreciation for all cuisines. Appetites is a narrowed-down collection of his favorite worldly dishes, ones he believes everyone should be able to cook. The book is written in his characteristic dry humor, and thanks to his years as a professional chef, each recipe is written to make it as e cient as possible. It includes dishes like Korean army stew, oyster po’ boys and Vietnamese do chua salad with herbs, scallions, sprouts and egg. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

In Her Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Grandmas Around the World by Gabriele Galimberti

Before a trip around the world, the author and his grandmother sat down to dinner over his favorite ravioli. He was inspired by the time she spent preparing the meal, which led him to find grandmothers with equally wonderful recipes in 60 countries from Sweden to Zambia. Winner of the James Beard Award for Photography, Gabriele Galimberti’s stunning images of grandmothers from all over the world are paired with these matriarchs’ signature recipes in a book dedicated to food, the language of love and family. It’s truly a tale of international cuisine, directly influenced by grandmas from around the world. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Dinner Party Queens

Effortless Entertaining by Meredith

Steele

Party planning doesn’t have to be stressful. This cookbook streamlines the process with recipes for impressive meals that are simple, with tips on how to organize preparations to serve food piping hot, on schedule. For example, Steele’s shaved asparagus salad tastes complex but only needs a few ingredients, and her vanilla bean and bourbon peaches seem labor-intensive but only take a few minutes. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna

Gaines

When it comes to family gatherings, you need recipes that will please everyone. Magnolia Table is all about recipes inspired by beloved, comforting selections Joanna serves in their Waco, Texas, restaurant and in her own home. Choose from 125 classic recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers and desserts, like homemade macaroni and cheese, fried chicken with sticky poppy seed jam and overnight French toast. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

VEGAN HOME COOKS Oh She Glows Every Day: Quick and Simply Satisfying Plant-based Recipes by Angela Liddon

This is the second volume of recipes by New York

Times bestseller Angela Liddon from her acclaimed blog, Oh She Glows, which has set the standard for plant-based cooking. This collection of recipes is intended to be creative, accessible and ideal for anyone looking to incorporate more nutritious meals into a busy lifestyle. Liddon’s collection contains more than 100 recipes, from Oh Em Gee Veggie Burgers to Ultimate Flourless Brownies. The book also lists essential pantry ingredients and shares tips on altering recipes to make them allergy friendly. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes to Feed Your Face by Lauren Toyota

In her collection of more than 100 recipes, Lauren Toyota proves that vegan food and comfort food aren’t mutually exclusive. She shares innovative techniques to create vegan Philly cheesesteaks, fried chicken and mac ‘n’ cheese. Readers will also learn to make staple condiments they’ll use again and again, like savory vegan cheese sauce, ranch, bacon bits and barbecue sauce. She also shares her own personal stories in hilarious fashion. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

COLLEGE CHEFS Eat Tweet by Maureen Evans

The New York Times says tweeted recipes are the “first great recipe innovation in 200 years.” In her book, Maureen Evans keeps her recipes concise, boiling down every ingredient and step to fit Twitter’s maximum of 140 characters or fewer. Readers may have to decode the occasional acronym, but this isn’t just a novelty cookbook. With 1,020 tested recipes from around the world, this is a short and sweet volume for cooks who want all their options in one simple manual. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

The Hungover Cookbook by Milton Crawford

Whether the hangover causes an upset stomach or a pounding headache, Crawford categorizes his simple recipes based on the reader’s needs in their most vulnerable state. It’s full of hilarious wit and delicious recipes like huevos pork burgers. This cookbook is all about scrumptious, filling foods prepared with low-risk methods and easy-to-understand instructions, for obvious reasons. Available on amazon.com

Baking Bosses

BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts by Stella

Parks

BraveTart is a celebration of the most beloved American desserts. As a former senior editor for Serious Eats, Parks is uniquely qualified to o er baking advice and share the history of some of America’s favorite sweet treats. From one-bowl devil’s food layer cake to gooey cherry pie, these recipes have been meticulously tested by its author, also an awardwinning pastry chef, ready to share her expertise. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

The Fearless Baker: Simple Secrets for Baking Like A Pro by

Erin McDowell

Baking is one of the most intimidating parts of cooking and relies heavily and baking columnist Erin McDowell shares her knowledge on how to make beautiful baked goods more attainable, with less stress. She breaks down the principles behind how ingredients interact and how classic methods work to bring delicious desserts to life. She then builds on these concepts, using them to personalize recipes and turn beginners into bakers. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Humorous Home Cooks

Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook

Thug Kitchen began as an insanely popular website with one focus: promoting a healthy lifestyle without all the cheesy, inspirational aura of other blogs. The cookbook adaptation is no di erent. It disses microgreens and overhyped superfoods and places the emphasis on preparing real food with nutritious ingredients. This volume contains more than 100 recipes for cooks of every experience level, from roasted beer and lime cauliflower tacos to pumpkin chili. The authors also delve into techniques and budget shopping lessons to elevate their readers’ skills beyond their own book. As Thug Kitchen says, no more counting ketchup as a vegetable. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Cookin’ with Coolio by Coolio

If Kompton Fried Chicken, Oil My Mussels and Coolius Caesar Salad sound as fun to make as they are to say, this is the book for you. Coolio adapts recipes from his popular Cookin’ with Coolio web series, but the printed version has just as much personality and “ghetto gourmet” asides as the show. But this book isn’t just jokes—it’s all about 30-minute meals, with five-star flavor, on a one-star budget. Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com