Memorial Day

Memorial Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means… white is back! Whether you believe the old-fashioned rule that white should only be worn from Memorial Day to Labor Day or you rock your white all winter long, it’s time to pull out your favorite white for the summer (or use this as a good excuse to buy a fresh, new pair)! Check out HABITUAL’s current white style offerings at Amazon.com.

And let’s not forget why we celebrate this holiday- Memorial Day is a day to remember the fine men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Whatever your plans may be for the weekend, we wish you all safe travels!

As everyone prepares to jet or drive or jitney off to their favorite summer destination for the long weekend, here are HABITUAL’s tips for pulling off the patriot look without going overboard. For July 4th beach barbecues or pool parties, we like a clean and classic look with a splash of red, white and blue.

Start with a pair of white denim shorts – a classic denim wash will work in a pinch, too. Then layer a soft chambray shirt over a solid tank – or even a bathing suit top – and don’t be afraid to roll up the sleeves. You can dump the shirt when things get too hot, or throw it back on once the sun goes down (and the mosquitos come out). You’ll probably be in bare feet, but if you’re going to wear shoes, give yourself a respite from the heels with some comfortable clogs or plain flip flops. Top the look off with red, white and blue accessories like rope bracelets, a striped watch strap, or a plain clutch to hold your sunscreen, credit card, sunglasses, and chapstick.

Tops (Left to Right): Epaulet Red Chambray Utility Shirt, Equipment Major cotton-chambray shirt , Hanes Classic fit wide strap tank in white and red.
Belt: Mango Vintage style slim leather belt
Shorts: HABITUAL Teri shorts in Whiteout
Bracelets (L to R): J. Crew Miansai Rope bracelet in red and white, J. Crew Striped watch strap
Shoes: Dr. Scholl’s Wood original in white and navy
Clutches: Calre Vivier Foldover clutches in red pebble, royal blue pebble and white

Memorial Day is coming up next weekend and the weather continues to get warmer – that means it’s time to bring out the whites!  White denim doesn’t seem to hit every single summer, but thanks to a strong runway and a difficult winter, people are ready to wear white to celebrate 2011’s warmest months.

How to wear it:

Perhaps the most basic way to wear white denim is… with more white! You can stay cool and look cool by pairing white denim with a clean white shirt - just make sure to break it up with a tonal textured belt. Mixing white with off-white is another flattering combination for many people, such as this white pant and cream sweater look from Isabel Marant’s Spring 2011 collection. If you are going to wear color, commit to it and choose a simple shape in a bold color like orange, which is proving to be one of the must have hues for summer. Of course you can never go wrong pairing white with black; try a patterned knit tank that borrows some of the white from the pants and eases the contrast of the two pieces. Finally, while we adore the ankle strap kitten heels Marant showed on the spring runway, a simple platform sandal in a neutral color will work with nearly any white denim look.

Runway Look: Isabel Marant Spring Summer 2011 Ready to Wear
Tops: (Left to Right) James Perse Roll Sleeve Shirt, Jil Sander cashmere and silk blend sweater, Missoni Moss crochet-knit tank.
Belt: TopShop white textured snake effect skinny leather belt
Jeans: (L to R) HABITUAL Aaron rolled skinny in White out, HABITUAL Geena bootcut in White out, available at Nordstrom and Zappos.com.
Shoes: Cacherel high platform