Haze.

Today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far for my city. Heat index of 115? Yuck. Thankfully I worked at the crack of dawn today and was home before lunch so I could beat the heat! So in lieu of laying out, shopping, or otherwise potentially sweat-inducing activities, I decided I needed to reinvent some basics that have been sitting in my closet for a while and gotten very little use. My black racerback maxi dress was a great piece to buy, and I just had a feeling I'd get SO much use out of it! But I've only worn it twice, and I figured I just needed some new ways to style it other than the dress + sandals + jewelry route. So here's what I came up with for today. Maybe I'll wear it out to dinner later if it cools off a bit - otherwise I might just wear a bikini (I kid, I kid :P).

Black racerback maxi, Forever21; Cropped denim jacket, Banana Republic Petites; Gray Striped Tee, Mossimo for Target; Leather belt, Vintage; Shoes, Target.

Here's my thinking. Layers are always great in the fall, and they lend an extra bit of oomph to an otherwise basic outfit. I decided to apply the same principle here, despite the soaring temps. The gray stripes make my dress feel less monochromatic and it's different from just throwing on a scarf (which I am also a fan of!). The denim jacket is too hot to wear while outside, but I'm always cold indoors, so I usually throw a jacket in my purse or car when I'm out. The denim is better to me than a cotton cardigan because the new texture gives the outfit an edgier feel. I find that mixing materials can often improve the look of a basic outfit. After all, here I'm just wearing blacks, gray/white, navy blue denim and a touch of brown. All of those colors are neutral; but if you throw in the denim jacket and the leather belt, it instantly gets a vintage touch and an intentionally roughed-up look without being too obvious. This outfit would also be great in the fall with some ankle boots or moccasins. Clearly I am looking forward to cooler weather.

P.S. This is also a good outfit on a blah day because it gives you a bit of shape but is still forgiving. The cropped jacket and belt show off the waistline while the tee shirt skims over the torso. And let's be honest...no matter what size you are, we ALL have those days! :)