Fire and Ice

I’m always experimenting with fresh new color combos {and especially in this season, which has been defined by HIGH-DEF brights, as seen here and here}, but my current favorite is spearmint green and cinnamon red. {This may be heavily influence by J. Crew’s winning selection of summer separates, but I’ve been on board with the unlikely duo since I first saw them united in an eye catching spread by the styling genius behind the blog CoffeeTalk.

{image via CoffeeTalk}

This summer, it’s all about the fire and ice. I’m loving, for example, the idea of crisp white jeans with a tissue-thin racerback ($22, Madewell) —

Finished off with some stacked, mint-green wedges (Paloma Barcelo, $270, Net-A-Porter) and a perfectly matching clutcheroo (do you die over this?! — $148, J. Crew):

I’d finish it all off with my current favorite nail color – Essie’s “Tangerine” ($4.95, Amazon) – or, if you dare, a soft mint hue with Essie’s “Mint Candy Apple” ($4.75, Amazon):

Scared of the latter? Don’t be. The eterna-chic Blair Eadie of Atlantic Pacific pulled it off like it was nobody’s business, and I, for one, am inspired to test-drive the trend as well. Alternately, take a blank canvas in the form of a breezy LWD (love the bustier style of this little number — $248, Steven Alan) and add a pair of on-trend cateyes (these recently joined my collection – Elizabeth & James, $155, Shopbop) and a bold statement necklace ($198, Elva Fields):

….and pair it with fire engine red tootsies ($228, J. Crew) and a pop-o-mint in the form of one of those American Apparel clutches that every chic pea on the planet owns in multiples (I have this lovely taupe/brown color and a BRIGHT yellow — $50, American Apparel):

For another beat-the-heat look, consider some eye-catching enorma-studs ($98, Melinda Maria) paired with a tunic-length top (this is actually a dress, but it looks a little…brief, so it might be better paired with some white skinnies – Aaron Ashe, $236, Farfetch), white jeans, and some bold red t-straps ($300, Zappos):

I’d top it all off with this cute little “continental” purse by Smythson ($270, Smythson)…and, because I’m kind of inclined towards overdoing it with the accessories, would probably also layer on this Alexis Bittar necklace (doesn’t it mirror the earrings perfectly?!)

For poolside chic-ery, throw this slightly hippie-dippy tie-dye cover-up ($52, TopShop) on over a simple white bikini –

And then finish with some simple silver t-straps (Musa, $200, Net-A-Porter) and the.perfect.beach.bag (I own this in a slightly different style and d.i.e. over it – Anya Hindmarch, $130, Net-A-Porter):