Skirt: Black Peplum Skirt ($35)

From Left, Earrings: Tribal Fusion Studs ($20) Ring: Minkoff V Stackable Ring ($78) Bag: Z Spoke Eartha Satchel ($495) Cardigan: Tippi Cardi ($85) Top: Sorcha Printed Top ($128) Shoe: Nine West Quinty Pump ($47)

From Right, Earrings: Loft Teardrops ($25) Bracelet: Jules Smith 5 Bangle Set ($98) Bag: MK Selma Satchel ($358) Shirt: DKNYC Floral Blouse ($49) Shoe: Miri Midheel Pump ($198)

I posted this ruffled peplum skirt on the blog last Thursday and didn’t post the Two Ways due to having too much fun on Wednesday night, so I thought that I would post it today.

For the Office.  Originally, I had just the blouse and skirt with a pair of colored high heels.  Then, I remembered that it’s air conditioning season in D.C. and re-worked it to include a sweater.

Black and white prints are everywhere this season, which is odd since summer is usually the season for color.  If you want to indulge, I love this Theory top but this Madewell top is nice too.  Under-$50, we have this ring-printed top.  For petites, I adore this long-sleeve top and for plus-sizes, I like this ikat top.

I went with a teal cardigan because the buttons were black and the color was deep enough to stand up to the black.  If you prefer a sweater in cotton, I would choose the J.Crew Jackie Cardigan in white.

The textured gold on these earrings is really nice and the stack rings are really versatile.  And the Zac Posen bag is to die for, but if you need something cheaper, try this $34 ASOS satchel.

For the hair, I would wear it up in a Gibson roll or twisted bun.  Gibson rolls are my primary mechanism for having decent hair on humid days.  For the makeup, I would choose a slightly darker lip color, like a sheer berry stain.  And I would paint my toenails (peep toes!) a deep aubergine.

For the Office.  Wearing black with summery colors, like pink, can be a challenge.  I find the best way is to incorporate them in to a pattern, like this DKNYC blouse.  This DvF blouse mixes yellow and black and this Peter Pilotto top brings the pale blue, just for a few more examples.

To pull it all together, I chose the pink drop earrings.  They’re dainty and pretty and a great price.  (Wear them with white dresses all summer!)  And while this bag looks white, it is actually pearl grey.  Prefer the darker shade?  Click here.  (The medium size, no top handle, is $228.)

These shoes are really comfortable.  I wear them all day and my feet never hurt a bit.  This is the miracle of the sub-3″ heel, because it is not the padded insole (ie. there is no padding) that’s doing it.  Need a pair for less?  Check out the peep toes above or these Drusilla pumps.

For the hair, I would wear it down, but not too straight since there’s a lot of volume and ruffle in the outfit.  For the makeup, a pinky-peach lip gloss with some bright pink polish (Bikini Pink, $9) would look lovely.  I’d also break out a bit of black pencil liner.

Shorts: J.Crew 4″ Chino Short ($45)

From Left, Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Aviators ($145) Necklace: Rebel Pendant ($79) Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Cherish Tote ($57) Top: Theory Striped T-Shirt ($172) Shoes: Keds Basic Sneaker ($40)

From Right, Earrings: Honeycomb Earrings ($30) Rings: Sugar Bean Three Stone Ring ($50), Love Ring ($42), Melinda Maria Poppy Ring ($95) Bag: Coach Leather Penny Purse ($198) Top: DvF Mallegra Blouse ($245) Shoes: Lennon Flat Sandal ($60)

For the Park.  This time of year, I receive a lot of e-mails about how to dress for barbecues, vacations and summer weekends.  I swear by dresses, but I know some of you love shorts.  So as I said this morning, if you’re going to wear shorts, you need to put in the extra effort to make them look good.  I see a lot of women wearing shorts with just a polo (fine for golf) or a t-shirt and some flip-flops, and they look unfinished to me.

I like a brightly-colored short like this pink pair from J.Crew (the indigo are also lovely).  Here, I paired them with a standard striped t-shirt for a relaxed look.  I like to roll or “jujj” the sleeve, but you may just want to wear a short sleeve tee.  For plus size ladies, I like this short sleeve tee with the navy yoke.  And for petites, this long sleeve shirt caught my eye.

Let’s talk about Keds.  If you’re searching for a simple summer shoe that is both comfy and chic, why would you choose a clunky pair of TOMS, when the original canvas Keds shoe is available to you?  If you’re looking for an alternative to sandals, I think a pair of Keds is the way to go.  I especially like these perforated ones; they’re so feminine.

For the jewelry, I would keep it simple with a long pendant necklace.  If you prefer the look of a bracelet, try something with color.  I like this pink resin bangle, or go for contrast with a turquoise bracelet.

I chose a pair of aviators (my faves) and a sharp canvas tote.  I like this bag because it’s great for the pool, the beach, the park or the farmer’s market.  If you don’t like the logo, it also comes in NY, LA, Paris and London themes.  (Why no D.C., I wonder? *wink*)

For the hair, I would think a teased up ponytail would be nice.  I might even try a slightly bouffant side ponytail.  For the makeup, I would keep the eye makeup natural with a hint of bronzer, a pink cheek and some darker pink gloss.  And a good, healthy coat of mascara never hurt anyone.

For a Casual Dinner.  I like the look of cotton voile in the summer.  It’s light and airy and chic.  This DvF top is the perfect representation of that, with its tunic shape and dramatic sleeve.  I also like this swiss dot henley from Gap and this voile camp shirt.  And if you want to splurge, this Tory Burch tunic also grabbed my attention.

I chose these sandals (available for less at DSW, as pointed out in the comments) because I loved the metal detail.  But I also considered using a pair of huaraches.

I went with these fun honeycomb earrings because the pattern is really on trend and the color was great.  (I also loved these simple studs.)  And I opted for a collection of small rings because I wanted to keep things understated.

For the bag, I went with a cross body–small-ish but still stylish.  I also LOVED this multi-colored resin clutch.  And if you’re looking for something larger, this Minkoff woven leather bag is to die for.

For the hair, I would either wear it down and wavy or up in a halo braid or twist.  It just depends if you want beachy California or 70s flower child to match your cotton voile top.  For the makeup, I would go with a shimmery gold eye and a sheer berry lip.

1. Topshop Quilted Bomber ($120) // 2. Vince Camuto Kelva Sandal ($110) // 3. Barry M Magic Lip Paint ($7) // 4. Madewell Chevron Necklace ($60) // 5. DvF Carol Dress ($298) // 6. Rebecca Taylor Pleated Back Blouse ($295) // 7. ‘All in a Daisy’s Work’ Dress ($83) // 8. Mango Leather Shopper ($150) // 9. Vince Camuto Metallic Cork Cuff ($88)

One. I’m always on the lookout for interesting blazers and jackets, the kind of pieces that can be worn with suit separates or jeans, and this Topshop jacket certainly qualifies.  The basket-weave fabric is very cool.  But if you want a collarless blazer for less-than-$100, try this teal shawl collar or this black and white printed one.

Plus size? I love this longer collarless jacket. Petite? This piped tweed blazer is nice.

Two. Versatile summer sandals can be tough to find, but I love this tan and gold pair from Vince Camuto.  They could easily be worn with jeans or with semi-formal wedding attire.  They’re an edgier alternative to a nude pump.  I also like the mix of leathers on this pair.

Three. Last week, I posted a blue lipstick called Hello, Sailor that turns a shade of berry when applied.  This week, it’s a green lipstick that reacts with the alkaline in your system to create a unique shade of pink.  What will they think of next?

Four. The mix of white and yellow metals in this necklace makes it a great piece for ladies who like both.  You can wear it solo, or use it as a foundation to wear other white and yellow pieces.  Looking for other two-tone pieces?  Try these simple mixed bangles or these delicate drop earrings (love!).

Five. My intern wore this dress to her graduation, and I loved it.  It’s the kind of frock that can be worn to work (add a white blazer) or to brunch or to a semi-formal event. It’s such a great shape and I love the print.  And if you like grey and yellow prints, check out this dress from Loft.

Six. I love silk blouse, it’s no secret, but the pleated back on this top makes it a bit more unique.  I’d wear it with skinny trousers or with scalloped shorts and just tuck in the front.  The back deserves to fly free.

Seven.  Bright yellow is the perfect summer shade.  No matter which hues are currently in season, the color of the sun always works.  I also like this lace-accented dress and this one with back cutouts for a bit of playfulness.

Eight.  A giant shopper is great for weekend errands or to use as an overnight bag.  This one from Mango looks more expensive than it is and has a great shape to it.  Looking for something under-$100?  Try this BCBG shopper.

Nine.  I’ve featured this bracelet on the blog before, but I just bought it, and it is everything.

Shoes: Corso Como Tawna Flat ($66)

From Left, Earrings: Coral Studs ($25) Bracelet: Gold Circle Cuff ($45) Bag: Emperia Zip Satchel ($44) Cardigan: Jackie Cardigan ($75) Blouse: Polka Dot Ruffle Blouse ($110) Skirt: Reiss Pale Blue Tweed Skirt ($180)

From Right, Earrings: Square Drops ($5) Ring: Adina Reyter Ring ($98) Belt: Twist Waist Belt ($19) Clutch: Elaine Turner Cork Clutch ($195) Dress: Mantu Eyelet Dress ($2,539)

For the Office.  I wanted to mix coral with a summery neutral, so I chose navy.  The polka dot blouse, in my opinion, is just the right mix of feminine and classic–a bit of ruffle, but not a cascade. (Ralph Lauren makes a similar blouse in both petite and plus-size.)

I could have paired it with a navy pencil and a white crewneck cardi, but I chose this pale blue tweed skirt for a bit of color.  I think the coral really brightens the all blue palette, so to pull it together, I added the coral studs (so cute!).  And since the print has dots and the earrings are round, I mixed in this circle cuff.

Also, how great is this grey bag for $44?  Nordstrom has really been killing it lately bringing in less expensive handbags.  I’m also smitten with this DvF bag for Roxy, it’s the perfect beach bag and it’s under-$50.

For the hair, I would probably wear it down, since this is such a soft look.  For the makeup, I would choose a pop of pink blush, a sable-colored eye shadow and a pop of coral on the nails (like Essie Carousel Coral).  You could also wear coral lip gloss if that’s your color.

For a Bridal Shower.  I’m attending a bridal shower next weekend where the bride has requested that everyone wear white.  It’s a bit different, but I’m happy to oblige.  Otherwise, I probably would not wear white to a shower, but I’m thrilled for the opportunity to wear the white Swiss Dot dress I bought on Vaunte last month.

If you’re searching for a white eyelet dress for summer, spending $2,500 is probably not on your agenda.  In the under-$400 category, this DKNY flare dress is one of my favorites, though this Milly is sublime.  Under-$250, this Ralph Lauren is a classic and this Michael Kors is flirty, fun.  And if you need something under-$100, this Calvin Klein dress is so versatile, it could be worn for work or play, and this Modcloth dress is adorable.

Plus-size? This breezy dress is to die for, and this basic shift is under-$40.  Petite?  This Lord & Taylor dress has a really classic shape, while this short sleeve Michael Kors is a bit more modern.

I wanted to bring in another color, so I chose the sea glass-colored drops.  I think that  this dress would benefit from the addition of a stretchy belt in a bold neutral like this caramel-colored leather.  I also like this perforated leather belt from Fossil.

And, lastly, a cork clutch is just a good summer basic.  The one I have from J.Crew is sold out online, but may be available in store.

For the hair, I think I’d wear mine up with a bit of a twist, probably in a Gibson Roll.  For the makeup, I would go for a thin line of black, liquid liner, subtle bronzer and a coral lip gloss.