Four Tips for Dressing in Hot Weather

I don't know about you guys, but things are crazy hot down here in the South right now. I get ridiculously excited about 94 degree weather and when temperatures are in the 80s in the mornings, it's like a miracle. Since I shared my favorite summer hairstyles and the best ways to dress up buns and ponytails for hot days, I thought I'd also share my top tips for getting dressed when you can't imagine walking around anywhere without a personal, portable AC unit. To be honest, there are some days when I just go out in a t-shirt and cotton shorts, but I'd like to think that as someone who's lived in the South her whole life, I know a few things or to about dressing for the heat.

You guys might already know that I love borrowing my brother's shirts, but I recently discovered that among other things, they're perfect for summer. They give any outfit a cute, effortless vibe and are super comfy and loose. While I really like them with skirts, like in the outfit above, I also love pairing men's tees with my patterned high-waisted shorts as well as jean shorts, for a perfect tomboy look.

Basic dresses and outfits that can stand alone are absolute saviors when it gets really hot. At some point, I just don't want to put any more thought and energy into an outfit. Mostly because I don't want to leave the house in the first place, but when it's just one of those days, I always reach for a sweet and simple dress or classic outfits like jean shorts and t-shirts.

Pattern mixing is just one of my answers to any problem (only kind of kidding) and that's especially true in the summer. Don't know what to wear? Mix patterns. Is everything you're coming up with super bland because you can't stand to wear any extra layers? Mixing patterns will save the day. It's crazy how well that works, right? Basically, you get more oomph out of your outfit, even if you're only wearing two items. While there's definitely a place for those perfectly relaxed outfits made up of solids (basically a life goal to reach that kind of effortless cool), when you want a little something more, mixing patterns is your answer.

In addition to the three other tips, minimal accessories is always a fail safe when it comes to wanting to put together a cute outfit without melting. I love lightweight things, like anklets, woven bracelets, sunglasses, and thin scarves because they add something extra to your outfit without adding any additional heat. Basically, when it's so hot, anything tight and constricting is practically painful to wear, and so if you add accessories like these that can easily move around (instead of heavy scarves or thick bracelets or necklaces that stay in place), you don't have to choose between surviving the temperatures and having some accessories.

When I can, I like wear my hair down, but I have three other hairstyles that I always use in the summer, and seven ways to make a basic bun or ponytail more interesting with just two elastics, which definitely helps manage the hot weather, too.

Is there anything I missed? What are your foolproof ways to survive the summer heat?

Charlotte

Free Alt Design Summit Classes

Hey, everyone! I don't normally post on the weekends, but I wanted to let you all know about this amazing opportunity I found out about on Airy Fair. Basically, by following these steps, you can get up to four Alt Design Summit blog classes for free thanks to Bing! I'm so excited about this, but I'm really having the hardest time picking which ones I want to attend!

These are the ones I'm considering right now:
Content is King
The Organized Blogger: Tips and Tricks for Blogging Success 
Growing Readership
Graphic Design for Bloggers
How to Build and Enhance Self-Worth
Bringing Home the Bacon When Your Blog Isn't Huge
Blogging 101: The Basics for Getting a Head Start

Thanks, Bing!

Charlotte

New Ponytails and Buns

Though I posted a few days ago about some summer alternatives to basic ponytails and buns, I know that realistically, ponytails and buns will always win out. They usually do for me, too, so I decided to put together another post of my favorite ways to dress up ponytails and buns. That way, you can have your easy peasy ponytails and braids, but they're not as basic as before. All of these styles can be done with two elastics (maybe more if you have longer hair). For buns, I just put my hair in a ponytail, twist it into a bun shape, and then put another elastic on top. Done! It's so easy.

Braid to Bun (or Ponytail)
The Braid to Ponytail option was very popular when I was in middle school. It wasn't always a French braid...most people would just take a piece of hair, braid it separately, and then include it in the ponytail. With the French braid, it's not as prominent, but I like it both ways. Of course, with this style, you can either wear it bun a bun or ponytail.

Braids n' Buns
Okay, forgive me for that title. Also because it could describe most of the styles here. But anyway, I love this version because it's simple, easy, and seriously adorable. You can make the side braids as big or little as you want, but I usually make them smaller. Basically, you take two pieces of hair from each side and braid them as if you were doing that hippie braid hairstyle. But then, instead of leaving your hair down, put it up in a ponytail or braid! Personally, I like this option best with buns, but it looks great either way.

Tucked Under Bun (or Ponytail)
I'm sure I'm not the one who came up with this, but I was playing around with this tucked under idea a few days ago and wanted to see if I could do it higher up on my head. It didn't really work out, but I was left with the ponytail version. I really liked it, and so I tried out a messy bun, too. Your bun doesn't have to be as..vertical or tall, but I liked this messy, casual effect. Basically, to do this, just make a regular ponytail near the middle of your head. Then, make it a little loose and make some space between the elastic and your actual head. Make a hole in this extra hair space and tuck the pony tail underneath. Tighten your ponytail to make it all less loose, and then if you want to, make a bun!

Bun to Braid
I'm sure you've all seen this version of a bun on Pinterest, but I just had to include it. It's probably the hardest one on here, but I've found that if you bend over and do it that way (as opposed to standing right side up like a regular person) it's much easier. Of course, with this option, you can have a messy bun, messy braid, or both! While you could also have a ponytail with this style, I think it works best for just buns.

Double French Braid 
I included this in my last post, but in case you didn't see that one, I decided to include it here, too. This is one of my favorites for gussied-up buns and ponytails and it's really easy. You just make two French braids along both sides of your head and then combine them into a ponytail or bun.

Vintage Scarf
This one is a little bit of a cop-out, but it's a little more than just your basic headband. I love to take this cloth square scarf I have, fold it into a rectangle, and then tie it around buns and ponytails. You can do this with all kinds of scarves, too!

Textured Bun or Ponytail
This style is probably also a little bit of a cop-out, but it's another one of my favorites. If you have naturally straight hair like me, it's fun to sleep with your hair in French braids and then instead of leaving your hair down, put it up. Having a different hair texture, even if it's really subtle, adds something new and interesting to a regular ponytail or bun. To me, just a slight wave, like in the pictures below, makes for the perfect messy bun. If you have wavy or curly hair, you can also straighten it and then put it up, but that's a lot more work and not so fun to do in the summer.

And of course, you can always add headbands and clips to any of these styles, or just ponytails and buns in general! Do you guys have any other ways you dress up these basic hairstyles?

Charlotte

Currently listening to: "Moments" covered by Ed Sheeran. I've probably already included this in a post before. I know I have on Twitter. But it's just too good, even though the quality isn't the best. It's worth listening to twice. Or three times. Forgive me.

Summer Hairstyle Favorites

As someone who's lived in the South her whole life, I like to think I know a little bit about surviving harsh summers. As it seems like it's abnormally hot everywhere this year, I thought I'd share my favorite hairstyles for those unbelievable days. Though I normally wear my hair down, when I don't need any extra heat, these are the three hairstyles I usually go for:

Fishtail Braid                           
I love that this braid is a little different. It's bit more special, gets the job done, and only takes a little longer than a regular braid does. It was a little hard to learn how to do this at first, and I still haven't mastered the French version of the fishtail braid. After a little bit of practice (I taught myself using a YouTube video and an old doll), I was able to do it on my own hair without a problem. I can't find the video I originally used to learn, but this one by Lauren Conrad and The Beauty Department is pretty good. I'd like to add, though, that I don't think having a pony tail and then cutting the elastic is necessary. Also, they didn't mention that it's important to use pieces from the outer sides of the two halves, but you can see that's what Lauren does. If you're just learning how to do a fishtail braid, I'd highly recommend starting out on someone else or a doll. It's so much easier to figure out what you're actually doing where you can see it before trying to learn something while also not being able to see. If you have layers like I do, your fishtail braid will probably look a little messy, but I kind of like that!

Regular and French Braid         
This hairstyle is my definite go-to when I'm feeling up to doing more than just a ponytail. Both the braid and French braid are super easy, quick, and you can do a hundred variations of them. I'll be doing another post on ways to incorporate braids into buns and ponytails to make them more interesting, so check back for that on Thursday! 

French Braid Bun (or Ponytail)
This style is one I accidentily discovered a few years ago while at camp, and it's the perfect hairstyle for days when you don't have time to shower. It takes a little longer than a regular braid, but not as long as a fishtail braid, and I think it's a little fun and special. To make the bun, you can use bobby pins, but I don't. Mostly because I can't wear metal, but even if I could, I wouldn't because they're uncomfortable, especially in the
summer (I used to be able to wear bobby pins back when I was a dancer many years ago).

And there you have it! I hope these hairstyles will help when you don't want to wear a ponytail or basic bun, but it's just too hot to leave your hair down. And of course, you can always add headbands or pretty clips!

Are there any other hairstyles that you like to do in the summer? I also like to use these different tricks to make basic ponytails and buns more interesting. 

Charlotte

P.S. Thanks, Hanna, for taking the photo in the first picture!

Currently listening to: "Remember" by Misty Miller (Burberry Acoustic)