Skirting the Issue

BREEZY, COLORFUL A-LINE MINIS

As Couture Carrie delved into her research for this post, a realization hit: the skirt is nearly extinct! Whereas dresses and shoes number in the hundreds on all our fave shopping sites, most had only a handful of minis for summer. Let us bring back the skirt before it's too late! Donning a colorful a-line mini is the ideal way to stay cool on a steamy summer day, and these ones transition easily from day to night with a change of sandals and accessories!

Chloe's bridge line has some really cute offerings in this area. At upper left, See by Chloe graffiti silk twill skirt.

At right, See by Chloe patch pocket silk twill mini. Visit intermixonline.com.

A wonderful (and more affordable) way to wear those iconic retro prints we all adore: Emilio Pucci Cosmo print mini skirt (at left). Go to net-a-porter.com.

For the pattern-shy, there is this gorgeous [albeit, tiny] silk satin bow-tie border skirt by Alexis Mabille, for purchase at Jeffrey New York. The mustard-yellow will really flatter those tantalizingly tan gams, girls! Photo at right courtesy elle.com.

A practically fail-safe way to wear horizontal stripes? In small doses, as with this M Missoni tie-back skirt (at left), available in several colors at searle.com.

Even briefer and more flirty is this Sonia Rykiel pleated skirt in cotton candy brights. Couture Carrie particularly likes this one, as the knit material means it will still be wearable come fall with a bold pair of opaques. Photo at right via elle.com.

Though stores are practically overflowing with sale items this time of year, there are some options that are very wallet-friendly to begin with.

Forever 21 has a bunch of cute a-line and pleated skirts, such as the tropical floral (right) and abstract geometric print (above) minis shown here. Go to forever21.com.

Remember, lovelies: skirt rhymes with flirt, so slather on some self-tanner, cross your legs at the ankle when seated, and strut your stuff!

With your vest interest at heart . . .

Inspired by the "on the street" montage in today's Sunday Styles (photo at right via nytimes.com; you can see the complete slide show online), Couture Carrie presents a plethora of fabulous vests, borrowed from the boys but with a decidedly feminine bent. For summer, the vest is a wonderful alternative to the blazer. It really helps you look put together without adding extra bulk (and that is truly the goal as the mercury creeps into the 90s, as it has a tendency to do these days - steamy!!).

We'll begin with the semi-traditional, made modern by a bevy of buttons and a decorative watch-fob chain (sans timepiece). The delectable Robert Rodriguez wool notch lapel vest pictured at top left is currently on sale at bluefly.com.

Two extremely affordable options, both at forever21.com for around ten dollars each, are pictured here, one a halter and the other an abbreviated cropped version.

If you're already a vest expert, it's time to try something a bit edgier: how about this LaROK Rock and Roll vest, for purchase at shopbop.com. The bedazzled nature of this little topper make it perfect for evening!

If you're craving something a bit more casual or cozy, don Rachel Pally's oversize vest, available in several colors at shopbop.com. Would look so cute with skinny jeans!

Gonna go BACK in time!

CoutureCarrie is loving backless dresses, and lucky for us, all three of these beauties are currently on sale at Neiman Marcus! Counterclockwise from top, Marc Jacobs chiffon-sleeve silk wrap dress; Rachel Roy jeweled cutout dress (do I detect some side-boob?); Valentino Roma bow-back dress.