The 4th of July. An excuse to drink beer, dress up in festive clothes and eat late-night salty munchies… all day. Sounds like a typical college weekend and it is oh-so-welcomed after 2 months of spending our weekend nights at home with our parents playing Scrabble. But what to wear?

Swimsuit shopping has been dreaded by women for a very long time, but it doesn’t have to be. Sure, seeing all that cellulite harshly highlighted by the flourecent lights of a dressing room is U-G-L-Y, but there are so many cute suits this season that you may not even notice those ripples.

I know there is a serious anti-summer-scarf movement out there, but I am not a part of it. I love scarves – yes, even in the summer. They are really versatile pieces and can really add a lot to an otherwise boring wardrobe.And they can be incorporated in many ways – not just tying those suckers around your neck.

Floral prints are flirty, feminine and perfect for spring/summer. Have no fear! Finding floral prints that don’t resemble your grandmother’s couch is easy these days, as the oh-so-classic rose print got some modern touches this season.

If you’re a Sex And The City fan (and who isn’t!?), you probably recognize this famous look from the opening credits of the show when SJP is flouncing around New York, splashes in a puddle, and sees herself on the side of a bus. Carrie’s three-tiered cream-colored tutu dress was such an iconic fashion statement that it even made a cameo in the SATC movie.

Even short haired girls know, a summer outdoors is a hair disaster waiting to happen. Cruising in a convertible. Spending a windswept day at the beach. Biking with friends. Floating your day away in a pool. They all sound fantastic right about now, don’t they? Well your hair doesn’t agree.

Let’s face it, summer is only 3 months. Is it worth going into debt buying that totally adorable DVF wrap dress? Sure Carrie Bradshaw would say yes, but Carrie Bradshaw is a fictional character. I however, your trusty budget sylista, am 100% reality. And not reality like The Hills reality – reality, reality. So listen up.

Once upon a time, khaki was used strictly for military uniforms. That time has come and gone, and while the word khaki is derived from a word meaning ‘dusty’, it doesn’t have to look drab. Gap has revolutionized this fabric with their latest CFDA Design Collection that hits stores this week. Hot designers, such as Alexander Wang and Vena Cava, made this drab fabric fab-u-lous.

I love dudes. Straight up, dudes are amazing with their tallness and deep voices and facial hair and whatnot. I even like their ability to eat astounding amounts of food and their random, dorky humor. There are so many awesome things about guys that girls in general just don’t have.

So, long skirts were in style at some point in the last 5 years and you somehow have, like, 12 taking up space in the back of your closet. You’re obvi more into the show-off-your-legs kinda skirts these days, but you can’t bear to part with them. You don’t have to – in fact, they could be the most versatile pieces in your entire wardrobe!