How to look nice but feel nearly naked

Let’s say it’s summer and it’s hot and sticky outside and you’re going to be in and out of your car. In your imagination you’d like to be a kid right now running through the sprinklers to cool off instead of running from the dry cleaners to the market to the coffee shop to finish that writing you promised yourself you’d finish and then off to the hardware store to get a spare key made and…you get the picture. While you want to be ripping things off instead of putting things on, you still have to be legally dressed in public.

The cool thing about finding some lightweight necklaces to wear in the summer is that you end up looking legally dressed but feeling nearly naked. They don’t add weight but they do bring attention to something pretty or entertaining or interesting instead of bringing attention to the beads of sweat on your brow or the wetness forming at your hairline on the back of your neck.

 

Example #1: Dazzle on a chain

 

 

If you were to sneeze in front of this chain (above), it would fly away and you may never find it. Yes, it’s that lightweight. And this little pendant circle of wire-wrapped hematite beads feels as light as a lace doily. Because it was super lightweight, I thought the price would be super lightweight. I’m not saying it was expensive but it was more than I thought it would be. But you wouldn’t believe how much I’ve reached for it. It was worth every penny! If I want to look nice and feel naked – like I’m not wearing a thing – I put this on. It couldn’t possibly weigh an ounce!

 

Example #2: Chains and more

 

This picture above is a June photo taken more than one birthday ago. I wonder if I got my wish!!! Actually, I’m guessing what I wished for and yes, I did get it. I probably wished for the same thing this year, too.

Anyway, this was a warm day as I remember. I’m sitting at Neiman Marcus in the Rotunda having lunch with friends. That top is lightweight mesh; sleeves are sheer. I found that gunmetal doubled chain somewhere–can’t remember where–for little to no money. It’s the chain on the outside of the necklace duo I’m wearing. It’s a fabulous layering piece or I can just wear it by itself. If I didn’t layer it, it would hang down around my hips so I do double it or pull on it to get staggered lengths.

If I were to guess where I picked it up (shopping tip is just on the other side of this parentheses) I’d say in it was in the Brass Plum department of Nordstrom. It’s the junior department and they have lots of inexpensive jewelry that teens clamor for. I stop by there periodically to see if they have a current trendy item for less money. The real deal item is downstairs behind a glass counter and costs hundreds of dollars. If the lookalike can pass my discerning eye, I’ll buy it.

If I remember correctly, Miss Amy Rosevere is the one who told me about this tip YEARS ago! Amy writes the fabulous jewelry blog called Jewelry Fashion Tips. In fact, Amy was at this celebratory luncheon! I love how the memory fades in and out…is that a 60 thing?

On this day I decided to add my lava pendant because I loved the two gunmetal colors together. But I could have gone without if I wasn’t interested in creating more of a focal point. Hey, I was with jewelry lovers. I couldn’t show up with just ONE necklace on!

I recommend looking for those easy chains. You can wear them now in the summer or add them to a grouping in the winter when you’re layering necklaces over cashmere sweaters.

 

Example #3: Leather cord with a little something

A pendant on a leather cord (below) feels so no-fuss in the summer time. I bought this heart shaped one last summer. It was so very different for me at the time. I wondered if I looked like I’d wandered into a Modern Art Museum’s gift shop but I got over it. I ended up adding it to everything! It makes me feel dressed to wear a necklace that finishes my outfit–even if it’s just a casual day, running around town. I add a simple earring–in this case, it’s my version of hoops. A summer cuff and a ring finishes off this summer accessory bundle.

 

So tell me, what do you wear in the heat when you’d rather be wearing nothing at all?

Save