Ride of the Summer
A bikini, a blazer, a pair of jeans, and a bike. The makings of a perfect summer outfit and perhaps a very good afternoon.
This season, we’re interested in clothes that don’t make perfect sense. The kind that combine something polished with something playful, adding just enough kitsch to make getting dressed feel fun again.
The Rules are Optional
Summer is full of plans made at the last minute and outfits assembled with the same spirit. What begins as a bike ride in a bikini, jeans, and a blazer might end near the water, at someone’s apartment, or around a table long after the sun has gone down. There is no reason to dress for only one version of the day.
That uncertainty leaves room to shift gears. Floral socks appear beneath heels, a tie finds its way around the waist, and a bedazzled knit hat comes along despite offering absolutely no protection from the summer sun.
The result feels collected rather than coordinated. As though every piece carries a memory from somewhere the day has already been, or a suggestion of where it might go next.
New to Marmalade: Emily Dawn Long
Among the playful layers are two dresses from Emily Dawn Long, a new designer at Marmalade.
A sleeveless black dress offers a blank canvas for stacks of bangles, socks with sandal heels, and a flower worn at the waist. In gold, sheer fabric catches the last of the summer light while a red coral necklace brings the look back down to earth.
Both dresses feel special without becoming too serious. They belong to the kind of summer evening that begins before anyone has decided on the plans and lasts long enough to justify dressing up.
Summer is brief, so there is little reason to be practical. Wear the bikini with jeans, the socks with heels, and the statement necklace with everything. Take the scenic route and let a good outfit steer you somewhere unexpected.
Shop the Story
Explore our summer new arrivals, including new pieces from Emily Dawn Long and looks worth taking for a spin.
Styled by Kasey Widmyer
Shot by Ella Cochrane