Ralph Lauren Blue Label Lucia Suede Concho Pant $1,298 – Ralph Lauren knows Americana, and it shows in these classic pants adapted from vintage riding chaps.

Right to Bare Arms

Either find some sleeveless numbers or go all Edward Scissorhands on some old jackets.

Summer Layering – Sleeveless by Les Fabian featuring a sleeveless cardigan

Leggings of the Fall

Slip a legging — or jegging or whatever the helll the kids are into these days — under those short-shorts.

Summer Layering – Leggings by Les Fabian featuring fringe shorts

Lighten Up

Try a light jacket, cardie, hoodie or sweater  in a fabric that breathes, like cotton, linen or silk.

Summer Layering – Light by Les Fabian featuring a stripe sweater

Put a Necklace on It

Heap on the accessories to add a layer of sophistication or plain ole whimsy.

Summer Layering – Accessories by Les Fabian featuring a chain necklace

The Long and Short of It

Mix up your proportions and lengths — if summer ain’t about a crop top, what is it about?

Summer Layering – Crop by Les Fabian featuring a studded jacket

From a bird’s eye view of the contents of my bag, you’ll see color on top of pattern on top of sheer on top of lamé, and you’ll even see a fanny pack. There are big pieces, little pieces, warm pieces, swimming pieces and a $1 vest. Here lies before us an infinite algorithm of wild wear for an epic journey. Let me break it down for you.

Sack It To Me

This is a time when those rucksacks I was talking about will come in handy. That blue backpack holds everything you see here. For the festival itself, it’s best to be hands free, erego a tiny backpack or fanny pack are key. Also, string your beverage around your body in a traditional Spanish wine gourd for good luck.

CROP IT TOP

Starting on top, I’ve brought a series of bandeaus. The three on the right are swimsuits. The thin striped American Apparel, and the sequined Pat Field ones are not for bathing, though no guarantees. They’re better than a traditional bra because if you take off your top, you’re still wearing enough of a shirt. The shirts are cropped, wide and loose. They flow and are light as air.

High Waist, Zero Waste

With cropped tops and bandeaus, the best partner is a loose high waist. A flowing floral skirt (with pockets!), a short floral flounce, or a long patterned short are resilient to dirt because it becomes one with the pattern. Or go stretch short denim for the daisy inside ya.

Safety Shorts

When you’re carefree frolicking about, cartwheeling in said floral skirts, you’ll only give happy surprises when your bum is not bare, but covered in shine. American Apparel does great things for happy bikers, and Missoni makes a killer covering bikini bottom.

Dress it Up

Though cutout and crazy here, what you see beneath is a floor length paisley halter dress from Shopmamie that has taken me through some wild festival times. That leopard piece is a piece of holed chiffon that wears like a dress – a Salvation Army find. Then Urban Renewed that fabric on the right into a side paneled patterned piece.

In Case of Chill

If the night brings a chill, I’ll bring my brightest. Both relics from my Mom and Grandma.

Get Armed

But what if it’s not cold enough for a whole jacket? Of you think it might get chilly later and you just don’t feel like carrying a whole extra shirt? Well, my friends, you need sleeves. Made by Tilly and William, they fit snug around the tops of your shoulders and hug your arms like leggings. Made of mustard lace, sold at A. Turen, and psychedelic prints, they can be trippy and practical.

Pants of Two Fittings

Leggings with flair (not flare) and floor length gauchos from circa 2004 will suit me well if the night dips into chill.

Mud Friendly Shoes

Your shoes must be strong, and so must your feet. If TOMS are good for children in third world countries, they can certainly survive 4 days at Bonnaroo. The mismatching “Birkenstocks” are actually by a company named Gold Star which I bought in Rome last summer – they are resilient. The middle pair are by Off The Beaten Track, which I bought specifically for festival-going.

What else?

Makeup – make it bold colors on the eyes, sparkles on the nails, and violent lips.

Water bottle – bring your own for free, earth friendly thirst quenching.

Maya Water Facial Mist - this is an absolute must to revive and moisturize tired skin

Phone + Pop phone – Okay, I might not need the whole telephone while galavanting, but I’ll need my blackberry to

TWEET YOU EVERYTHING!

Follow me @JessicaLapidos as I traverse Bonnaroo…. this could get weird. I’m psyched.

(In order of appearance to me)

High Waist Native Shorts | Pendelton Meets Opening Ceremony

Here the outfit began, a tall cut flounce short with an old time print.

Loose Knit Crop Top | Wool and the Gang

Hand-knit by Peruvian women, this cotton crop breathes and fits the high waist proportion.

Striped Blazer | Topshop

Make it work aprop with a sport jacket, and make the Man Repeller proud of your pattern smashing.

Lace Bike Shorts | I Still Love You

These will be your new essential. Safety shorts with subtle pizzazz.

Thigh Rise Knit Socks | Pendelton Meets Opening Ceremony

With light patterned details in the knits (think horseshoes and snakeskin), these’ll give you added warmth for a light chill.

Rounded Salmon Frames | Cacharel

Even on a rainy day, it’s good to be optimistic.

Box Stitch Braid Ribbon | 3.1 Philip Lim

Match the native print with a lanyard stitch from your childhood (or maybe just mine?).

Jaded Rock Ring | Kenneth Jay Lane

The jade stands alone emboldened by the salmon surrounding it.

Wicker Flap Satchel | Stella McCartney

This only works for work if you don’t need to bring your own computer. (AKA I can’t wear this to work)

Wood Wedge Nude Bootie | Maury and Eve

I first chose these, but suede and rain don’t get along. And as this May is raining on our parade, stick to platforms that can take weather the storm.

(L-R) Just a Cheap Shirt, Stella McCartney, MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela, Carin Wester, See by Chloé

Long Sleeves:

So 90′s but like totally, whatever. You can take it with you. Tie it around your waist. A slim long sleeve or button up will make a fabulous belt as you wait for the nightly chill. Plaid is rad. Iceberg is cool.

Oversized blazer:

A bulky blazer, especially in tweed like this Sonia Rykiel, can be quite warm. Just remember that your office might be quite cold and air-conditioned. I showed you how to take your look from office to party with an oversized sport coat. Use yours from fall.

Cape:

Ah that cape you invested in like this Hussein Chalayan piece that made the perfect top layer to seal in extra warmth is now your only source of cover. No, you’ll be dressed underneath, but keep it the layers light, and the bottom tight.

Wide Leg:

These  Matthew Ames pants are more of a harem while Behnaz Sarafpour works it wide, but any pant with volume (and light enough texture) can stay a staple in your wardrobe as we move into summer. Pants like this would werq at work.

Crop Top Sweater:

Timo Weiland has sandwiched this thick knit crop top between a button down and a heavy coat. For spring, take those layers away and rock the crop with a high waist skirt or shorts. Throw a bandeau underneath for that extra in-case-I-get-warm layer.

The ensemble includes:

OVERSIZED BLAZER: This one by Acne, is long enough to cover a tight skirt. You can ditch the skirt at the office on the way out. FYI, A cardinal rule for work appropriateness – cover your bum. That said…

ROUCHE SKIRT: This one by A.L.C., you want to find one that rouches, allowing the most versatility in length. Pull it long at the office, hike it up (just a tad ladies, you’re no ho’) to party.

CROP TOP: This one by Topshop with its overall straps, it crops at the waist and fits snug with the height of the skirt. It has a make-your-own-dress effect, and you can let a strip of high midriff breath sexy.

CROPPIER CARDIGAN: This one by Preen, find a cardigan that buttons above the bust. This gives a gorgeous peekaboo to your decolletage, and makes it easier to stash in a purse. This will be your jacket for the evening.

PATTERNED HEADSCARF: This one by Modcloth, you can wrap a scarf round your neck to hid the cleavage during the day for a classic appeal. At night, tie it round your head in a bow for a royal headpiece look.

CHUNKY CHOKER: This one by Aalia, you can hide your wild jewelry underneath that classy scarf you’re wearing, and bust it out at night.

CUT OUT WEDGE: This pair by Donna Karen, a lace up wedge is perfectly right for work, but the cutouts make it sexy for night too.

**Not pictured** Be a lady, wear stockings to work. If the weather calls for it, take them off later. Play with colors and levels of opacity. Keep it classy.

Rifle through your own closet, you might be able to layer this way with what you have. If not, happy shopping! Remember – smaller separates have a longer life.

Revolve Clothing.com has just started to carry one of my favorite brands, Anzevino & Florence, purveyors of LA-based streetwear that’s both clever and modern.

So far, Revolve is stocking A&F’s flouncy sheer dresses and sequined racerback tanks, but the brand also includes plenty of t-shirts and hoodies with their own playful approach to streetwear.  They are the perfect pieces to take from day to night, and this cropped sequined top is no exception.

 Pair it with a high-waisted shirt or shorts, like the model has done, and I think you could get away with it in daylight hours if it’s worn with flats and minimal or zero jewelry.

Crop tops are officially back, people, so you’re going to have to get those abs in shape!

Shop the brand on Revolve Clothing. com here

Visiting the Topshop in New York let me disappointed, it was totally not worth the extremely long wait the delayed openings created. I left thinking I’d check back when the Fall stock started coming in, and it looks like I won’t be disappointed this time. Besides the fact that there can be no delayed openings for a collection of clothing, these looks are awesome. The leopard booties, thigh high leather boots and bleached out denim dress are so tacky-chic I can’t resist. There is a strong 80′s influence, an overabundance of sequins, crop tops and harem pants. Sounds perfect for fall, Topshop you’ve won me over again.

SOURCE: Refinery 29′s Pipeline

T-shirts may never go out of style, but as with any fashion item they have gone through their fair share of trends. Click to see view their progression from underwear to couture.

T-shirt’s were first worn by American soldiers in World War I as undershirts because they were cool and comfortable. Everyone has some basic Hanes in their closet, even Marlon Brando. In the 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire Brando’s controversial fitted t-shirt had to be sewn in the back as one could not yet buy fitted t-shirts. James Dean was also a pioneer of this underwear as outerwear look; with such sexy iconic men wearing them no wonder the t-shirt is such a long lasting piece of trendy clothing.

In the late 50′s screen printing began on shirts in Miami, Florida. Used to publicize resorts and fictional characters, Mickey Mouse was one of the first screen printed t-shirts to become popular! Still popular today, Mickey Mouse has quite the history in fashion! (Who knew!)

The 60′s t-shirts worn by hippies can be defined by one awful word: tie-die. Thankfully, we have replaced this phenomenon with the much nicer looking and involving less clashing color color fading known as ombre. Ringer shirts also became popular with wanna-be rock stars in the late 60′s.

The 80′s brought the invention of thermochromism dyes into the t-shirt world, which cause the fabric to change color in the heat. American Apparel has attempted to bring back these t-shirts which are sure to be a nightmare if you forget to put on your deodorant. The 80′s also mark the time when t-shirts began to be used for personal expression, such as anti-war statements.

A lot of advertising for designers in the 90′s was done for free by consumers courtesy of t-shirts. Designer logo t-shirts were a huge trend that rivaled Britney Spears’ ever-present crop top. Apparently, the crop top is coming back. Wear with high wasted skirts to cover your belly button, please and thank you.

The new millennium’s celebrity infatuation ushered in the trend of humorous/ironic t-shirts. The Team Aniston/Jolie trend has been replicated with many other celebrities since then. Websites now make personalized screen-printing widely available, so you can make your own “feed the models” t-shirts: we all know they need some more meat on those bones. American Apparel t-shirts (left) are the most popular for screen-printing because of their availability and softness.

Recently, t-shirts have become more expensive then ever. Know as “it t-shirts”, this fad includes the Olsen Twins line The Row where t-shirts are made with couture details and cost around $250. Raquel Allegra’s t-shirts, which retail for $490, are hand shredded and have been a big hit with the DIY culture. 

One things for sure, t-shirts will always be around. What do you think will be the next t-shirt trend?