It’s hot.  And from the looks of it, everyone is finding ways to escape the heat and take advantage of slow Augusts with plenty of vacation time.  Whether you are daydreaming of the beach from your desk or sailing around Greece, here are my favorite summer looks to keep you cool and a short list of the pervasive seasonal trends.

*Plenty of dresses – any and every length

*Off-the-shoulder everything – dresses and tops

*Sexy, low backs

*Strappy Sandals

*Crop Tops

*Denim Cut-offs

*Long skirts

Feature Photo: @netaporter Dress by Zimmerman Photo 1:  @juliarestoinroitfeld Dress by Loveshackfancy Photo 2: @netaporter Top by Caroline Constance Photo 3: @dodobaror Photo 4: @matchesfashion Dress by Thierry Colson Paris Photo 5: @thesartorialist Photo 6: @avenue32 Skirt by Lisa Marie Fernandez

Having long hair in Texas summer heat is both a blessing and a curse.  I’m always looking for new styles to try and ways to get my hair pulled off of my face.  Here are some of my favorites looks for this summer.  I’m especially in love with this first style, the messy half-up bun.  It’s definitely the hair trend of the summer.  See how to do it here.

All of the looks below are perfect after a day at the beach.  Just add salt water.

Feature Image: Harpers Bazaar UK, All Photos via Pinterest

I love color and I have always loved makeup and it’s ability to transform and finish a look.  While currently, I have about enough time and energy for the same old blush and mascara each day (its the bare minimum I can get away with), I am pretty sure that I need the entire Christopher Kane for Nars collection.  It is the best seasonal color palette I have seen in a very long time – it screams summer and happiness!  And, no one does color pigments like Nars – he just gets them so right.  Lastly, the packaging alone is a reason to buy.  It is so good.

I am especially dying over the 1. ‘Parallel Universe’ Duo Eyeshadow, the 2. ‘Violet Atom’ Illuminating Multiple, and 3.’Glow Pink’ Lip Gloss.  Even though some of the colors look may very intense in their tube, they actually look incredible on and act almost like “neutrals”.  What’s not to love?

*All photos via Nars  and Refinery29