STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Arena Ready for Summer

Summer wardrobes are all about simplicity and comfort. I love waking up in the morning, throwing on a cute dress and heading out the door (after, let’s be honest, at least 20 minutes spent on makeup.) But wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to spice up a simple summer outfit by just incorporating one trendy piece? This Fashionista cracked the code!

Knee-high gladiator sandals have been around for the past few summer seasons, but are especially prominent this summer. Designers are putting fresh spins on the statement sandals by releasing them in different colors and patterns, different heights, adding variations to the straps and adding things like gems, fringe, studs and heels. However, all it takes is a simple pair of knee-high gladiators like the ones this Fashionista is sporting to instantly transform a plain “I just threw this on” look into an “I actually put effort into my outfit today” look, even if you didn’t at all.

This Fashionista’s outfit is the perfect inspiration for us all to try making a statement with knee-high gladiator sandals. Her sandals are pretty basic: plain black with traditional straps. This makes for easy styling. Although her romper is quite intricate with the elaborate, multi-color pattern and zipper detail, the sandals pair wonderfully with it for a few reasons. The first is that there is a significant amount of black in the romper, therefore the sandals match and blend into the look seamlessly. She also kept her jewelry choices very minimal and reserved, which prevents the look from appearing too busy and loud. The romper, being the length of basic shorts, is the ideal length for these sandals. A longer hemline would make for an awkward visual and lack of equilibrium. The key here is pairing these fun sandals with basic summer staple pieces, like a go-to romper, a classic denim jacket and dainty jewelry.

What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “Don’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. I bought these sandals because I loved the trend, but they sat in my room in the box for months after I bought them. I felt like I could never find the right outfit for them. Then, one day, I decided to bite the bullet and make myself wear them with a simple pair of denim shorts and a black tank top, and from there, styling them became fun!”

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