Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot

Holy buckets, it is hot out. Like, really really ridiculously hot. And while we California girls are, by nature, hot (so hot, in the immortal words of Katy Perry, we'll melt your popsicle), after spending the holiday weekend frolicking by the sea in Newport, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod, being back in the stifling city has come as a bit of a rude awakening. Also I have a little sunburn that isn't helping much with my body-temperature issues.
Luckily, if I have picked up anything from the nine summers I have spent sweltering burgh, it is how to dress appropriately for the heat. The trick is light flowy dresses that give your skin room to breathe and allow for whatever upskirt breezes you may be able to find (hey, if it was good enough for Marilyn, its good enough for me). Throw on some cute sandals, jewelry and shades, and grab a big bag to tote a bottle of water, sunscreen, and other heat-busting gear, and you'll be stylin' while you keep from overheating. So it's easy to be hot and cool all at once.

Here are some of my picks for cute heat-beating dresses (okay, plus one romper I couldn't resist), and the accessories I would wear with them. As Paris would say, that's hot.

1. Gray tiered-skirt dress, $35, from American Eagle; 2. Drapy silk dress, $130, from Banana Republic; 3. Bird-patterned romper, $44, from Modcloth; 4. Floral cross-back dress, $60 from The Gap; 5. Adjustable jersey dress (can be tied seven different ways for different looks), $38, from American Apparel; 6. Floral halter dress, $23, from Forever 21; 7. Loose jersey dress, $16, from Old Navy; 8. Blue patterned wrap dress, $168, from Anthropologie; 9. Strappy striped dress with buttons, $4, from Urban Outfitters.

1. Long gold-chain necklace, $95, from Kate Spade; 2. Braided headband (keeps your hair off your face), $16, by L. Erickson, available from Amazon.com; 3. Tortoise-shell framed sunglasses, $120 by Ray-Ban from the Sunglass Hut; 4. Gold leaf-shaped cuff bracelet, $124, by Kendra Scott, from Zappos.com; 5. Nude suede "Gigi" sandals, $50, by Sam Edelman, from Piperlime.com; 6. Recycled sailcloth tote, $110, from Seabags.com.