Let's Get Nautical!

Though it's hard to believe that August is here, the calendar doesn't lie--and so I have to admit that the last days of summer are upon us. What does this mean for summer fashion? Well, we must embrace it while we can! After all, I don't have to remind you that we don't wear white after Labor Day, do I? Rules are rules!

Probably my favorite summer trend is nautical style. After conversing with my sister (who also happens to be preparing for a semester at sea--so she should know), we decided the key to nautical-done-right is that you shouldn't look like you belong on a boat--but definitely by the ocean. While I'm pretty much a sucker for anything with anchors, Annie leans more towards blue and white stripes and maritime-inspired jewelry pieces.

So, darling fashionista friends, the time has come: let's get nautical! The following are my top five nautical-inspired picks (in no particular order):

1.) Swimming Starfish Bikini Bottom: A summer fashion "must" is mismatched swimwear. I love swapping out bathing suit bottoms in different patterns, prints, and bold colors. You can pair them all with a solid color top and magically have a million different bathing suits!

2.) Nautical Espadrilles: If you don't have a pair of espadrilles, then now is the time to jump on the bandwagon. I love the Vanna Shoe from Kate Spade, which adds a maritime twist to the more traditional espadrille style. It's all in the details, which includes sailor stripe lining and rope lacing--because who doesn't want to take their espadrilles boating?

3.) Yacht Club Vintage Button Bobby Pins: Like I said, I'm a sucker for anything involving anchors so--obvi--I'm obsessed with these cute retro bobby pins. On a boat? Use these nautical-themed hairpins to avoid a hair crisis. On dry land? No worries, you can still be sailor chic.

4.) Recycled Sail Tote Bag: Though I love designer handbags as much as the next girl, sometimes utility comes first. This bag combines function with fashion, repurposing an actual sail into a tote bag. Feeling lucky? This one features lucky number seven in red.

5.) Wish on a Sand Dollar: Some people wish on stars, but fashionistas take no chances when it comes to wish-making. From Dogeared's Make a Wish collection comes this delicate bracelet, featuring a sterling silver sand dollar on turquoise thread.

You're smelling the ocean just looking at these maritime-inspired items, admit it! As with any easily-exploited trend, subtlety is the name of the game when it comes to the nautical look. As Annie so aptly put it, "It should be just enough so that when people see how relaxed--yet put together--you look, they want to go to the ocean!" So, how about it? Are you ready to get nautical?

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Photo of the Ocracoke Island Light House on Ocracoke Island, NC, taken by me; (2) Swimming Starfish Bikini Bottom, on sale for $29.99, from J. Crew (http://www.jcrew.com/); (3) Vanna Shoe, on sale for $146, by Kate Spade (http://www.katespade.com/); (4) Yacht Club Vintage Button Bobby Pins
$10, by Strungoutandwired, available online from Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5409913); (5) "Red Number 7" $75 by Reiter8, also from Etsy (www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5074317); (6) Dogeared Make A Wish Bracelet
with sterling silver sand dollar on turquoise $26, by Dogeared (http://www.dogeared.com/); (7) Harbor of Dubrovnik, Croatia, photo also by me.