By Karen Knapstein
"I base my fashion taste on what doesn't itch." -- Gilda Radner
As we get older, many of us find ourselves feeling more and more like Ms. Radner — comfort almost always trumps trend. And for many of us, for a lot of the year, burrowing into fuzzy sweaters and layering with scarves and jackets feels cozy and looks cute, too.
But there’s no time like a change of season for a refresh. Spring and summer mean showing a little skin.
We wanted to find the best ways to let your calves, shoulders and knees see the light of day once more, while keeping comfort and style. So we looked to a retail chain, a catalog (because who doesn’t like to shop and try on at home?) and a boutique for advice on dressing for heat while looking cool.
Here’s how to work the season's best trends into your wardrobe:
Cindi Shapiro, the senior vice president of merchandising at Chadwicks of Boston, agrees. “Always update with color. This season our customers love mint and sea glass, coral and lots of shades of pink,” she says.
Chadwicks Tiered Dot Print Top, $34.99
“My mother is an accomplished tailor and seamstress, and she taught me that proportion is everything,” Eaton says. “The must-own pieces that we encourage our customers to consider staples are those foundation pieces that will create their most flattering silhouette. Whether it’s a perfect white shirt, a great-fitting pair of pants or a luxe cashmere sweater, each customer will interpret this differently based on body type.”
Garnet Hill Mesh Cropped Cardigan, $198
Echoing the maxi dress as a must-have, Garnet Hill includes nautical stripes, updated tropical prints and ethnic prints on the list for this summer.
Chadwicks offers up summer sweaters as a stylish way to handle too much air conditioning and cover up in a way that’s not dowdy. The retailer recommends short sleeve cardigans, with sleeves going down to the elbow as a versatile option. Blazers in summer colors and fabrics are always good when you need a polished look.
Chadwicks Tiered Tie-Dye Maxi Dress, $49.99
"As we move into spring and summer, we find that lighter, airier fabrics make a big difference in the wearability of a garment during the warmer months," says Eaton. "As the temperatures rise, women gravitate to a looser, more relaxed fit in the way of linen pants and shirts and buttery soft cottons that feel cool against the skin. Cotton/silk blend scarves are often used as wraps to cover exposed arms or tied as sarongs over bathing suits.”
Chadwicks Elbow-sleeve Shrug, $29.99
“In some instances, it can be an elegant, age-appropriate way to do skimpy,” she says. For example, if you don’t feel comfortable in a black tank, you might opt for a black tee with illusion sleeves. I like to think of it as a ‘soft focus lens’ for the body.”
Eileen Fisher bateau-neck top, from $142
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