Economy of Style
A notebook on evolving trends, fashion sense and cents

Into the Blue: Summer Color Trends Are Feeling The Blues

Shades of blue were all the rage last winter. And, summer color trends are still feeling the blues. Our options are just more plentiful now, from sorbet shades of blues to electric blues. I personally favor deep hues, so cobalt is always a must-have. When I saw this dress on hm.com, it was a no-brainer.

summer color trends

What I’m wearing:

Blue dress | Sneakers | Jacquemus bag

Kendra Scott bracelets (c/o): Masie cuff, Whitley chain bracelet

summer color trends

I wore this ensemble to attend a launch party at a local vineyard in my area recently. It was just the breezy, one-piece wonder I needed for the occasion. I tossed it on after work and was ready in an instant.

summer color trends

The blue color was the perfect base to build a color-blocked combination when paired with my Jacquemus Le Chiquito Long bag in orange.

Remember when I broke my toe a few months ago? Well, it healed with a complication, and I’ve since had to have surgery. The saga never ends, y’all. Be careful on steps! As I recover, my shoe choices are limited to soft sneakers only. I’m at the stage of fully embracing this limitation as a style challenge. What else can I do, right? The Nike Daybreak sneakers have been my perfectly comfortable shoe. I’ve since purchased them in black/white too.

Location: Noboleis Vineyard, Augusta, MO

Want to see more summer color trends? Go here, here, and here.

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The Best Summer Dress Trends To Wear Now

Post-vaccination vacay. Outdoor festival. Day trip to a winery. Summer is almost here, and we might actually have reason to put on our pretty frocks this year. So, what should we wear? Today, I’m rounding up 3 top summer dress trends for 2021.

Saturated Shades

Saturated colors are coming in hot this year, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Bold hues look especially dashing on dresses. So, skip the black and neutral dresses, and reach for your brightest frock. Need some inspiration? I found this poplin mid dress at Zara for under $50.

summer dress trends

What I’m Wearing:

Zara dress | Telfar bag | Birkenstock sandals | Fendi sunglasses (shop options for less here)

Sizing: I’m wearing a medium, but a small or even extra small would be a better fit. The top of this dress is very stretchy and the bottom is voluminous.

Color aside, I also love this dress because it offers some cool styling possibilities. The straps could be worn up or draped on the shoulders for a subtly sexy vibe. I’m sure I could get away with tucking them for a strapless look as well. And, of course, with bold color numbers like this one, colorblocking with contrasting colors always offers fresh styling options.

Pastel Palettes

If bolder hues are a bit much for you, but you want to embrace color this summer, this next trend has your name all over it. Pastels hues pack their own power. Pale shades of blue are especially popular this year. So, this tiered dress from Zara was a must for me. It also has puff sleeves. Nuff said, right?

summer dress trends

What I’m Wearing:

Zara dress | Zara denim jacket (similar) | Teva sandals (also here) | Jacquemus bag

Fendi sunglasses (shop options for less here) | MaskC face mask

summer dress trends

Sizing: I’m wearing a medium in this dress. While it’s oversized, the buttons across the chest and the cuffs on the sleeves fit snug, so I’m glad I took the Zara size recommendation and sized up to a medium.

Fresh Florals

Thought you were over florals for summer? Wait a minute. You must see the amazing collection of pieces featuring this fresh floral print at H&M. There’s something so irresistible about the hand-painted, wild flowers print. I opted for the bandeau dress because showing shoulders is kinda my thing. The print is available on several pieces at H&M though.

summer dress trends

What I’m Wearing:

H&M dress ($19.99) | Birkenstock sandals | Jacquemus bag

summer dress trends

Sizing: This dress runs large, so size down. I sized down to an extra small.

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Spring Style Featuring Top Black-Owned Fashion Brands

Itching to infuse new life and energy into your spring style this year? A great place would be to start with a few fashion brands that are dominating the digital world right now. To show you what’s possible, I’m tapping into a few of my personal favorites for a look that I hope I can wear out on the town this year. Wishful thinking, right? Whatever the case, I need these luxe-looking pieces by Black-owned fashion brands, in my wardrobe.

Black-owned fashion Brands

Black-owned fashion Brands featured

Hanifa | Shekudo | Brandon Blackwood | Telfar

This entire look is anchored by the Reese Pullover Crop sweater and the Nina skirt in a striking mandarin color. Both pieces are by Hanifa, a go-to brand for bold colors and unique textures. The statement, woven sandals are by the footwear and accessory brand Shekudo. Every spring step would be fun and colorful in these beauties. If you love a good mini bag, Brandon Blackwood needs to be on your radar. This powder blue bag is a perfect choice for spring and summer and pops against the Hanifa set. Move over LV, these must-have gold logo earrings are by the popular Telfar brand (see my favorite Telfar bag here).

Chic Color Combo: Brown, White, And Black


Even this bright color lover likes some neutral hues, especially when paired together. A chic color combo I adore right now is brown, white, and black. There’s something so magical about the sharp contrasts created when these three colors come together.

What I’m wearing:

White jogger set (option, option) | Coat (similar, similar) | Sneakers | Bag

 Kendra Scott earrings | Kendra Scott bracelet | Kendra Scott ring/ring

brown black white color combo

You’ve seen my coat before. I wear it often and with everything (see here, here, and here). It’s the perfect shade of copper brown for mixing and matching. For this sharp brown, black, and white combination, I wore the coat with my favorite white jogger set, some black sneakers, and a black/white scarf. The result?  An effortlessly chic ensemble.

brown black white color combo

This coat is hands down a favorite 2020 purchase. I found mine in a TJ Maxx Runway store, and it was worth every penny. You can find it at the Theory outlet here. Want an alternative? Everlane has a cool option in the same color (see that here).

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Taking Your Loungewear To The Streets


Chances are this year you’ve accumulated more loungewear than ever. Sweatpants, leggings, and sweatshirts all experienced a significant spike in sales. It’s panning out to be a loungewear all year kind of year. If it’s cozy and comfy, we’ve apparently been here for it. Of course, we believe that cozy and comfy could be chic too. So, here’s how I’m taking my loungewear to the streets. This set is from Tarjay (top | bottom), and it’s as comfortable as it’s cute.

What I’m wearing:

Sweatshirt (size S) | Joggers (size S) | Jacket c/o | Combat boots (option)

Wool fedora | Telfar shopping bag | Kendra Scott bracelet c/o | Kendra Scott ring c/o

To be honest, my main outings these days are to Target or the grocery store. So, when I have an appointment, even if it’s just with my dentist, I step it up a bit. Real talk, I wore this outfit to see my dentist last week.

Stepping it up, however, is super easy when your loungewear is chic all on its own. These joggers have so many features I love. They have a wide waistband, loose fit, and a tapered ankle. Still, I almost passed on them because the reviews are so mixed. I’m so glad I took a chance because I couldn’t love them more. Now, the soft fabric isn’t the most forgiving, so if a little jiggle might concern you, these might not be your favorite.

The sweatshirt packs a lot of flavor too. It has a swingy silhouette with slightly flared sleeves and an attached hood. I like to tuck it for a polished look. By the way, the set also comes in Moss Green and Dusty Peach. I’m wearing both pieces in a size small.

To add a little fall style vibe to the joggers, I caped my leather jacket, added a pair of combat boots, and grabbed a mini bag. And, yes, I finally got my hands on the sought-after Telfar Clemens Shopping Bag. I’ve been a fan of Telfar for a while (check out my 6 Black Fashion Designers To Know), so I’ve been thrilled to see how much attention the designer’s work has garnered. Well-deserved.

By the way, while this bag has been sold out for months. The brand has been doing special releases fairly frequently. Sign up for the mailing list to receive announcements of new limited releases. When I got the email about this dark olive bag, I set an alarm and got ready because releases sell out within seconds. Shout-out to the Telfar team because I got my bag a few days (as in less than a week) after ordering. That’s impressive given the demand and the times we’re living in.