How to wear silk: 8 Style Panel tips, pit stains not included
Thanks to its light, airy and breathable nature, silk is one of summer’s definitive go-tos. Especially with this season’s array of crop tops, off-the-shoulder ruffles and flowing midi skirts, the fabric is more popular than ever. And when hot summer days call for stylish wear while keeping us cool, incorporating silk into your outfit is a no brainer. However, while it may be the ideal fabric to wear during the warm season, it’s no easy feat to master the skill in silk dressing without a) looking like you’re ready to hit the sack, b) avoid its static-cling properties and c) leave traces of sweat in unflattering places. But before you swear it off completely, this week Style Panel is helping us take the guesswork out of styling this summer favourite. You know, just in case you can’t figure out how to wear silk without showing your pit stains to the world.
Whether they are dressing it up with heels or dressing it down with Birks, the ladies of Style Panel agree that silk makes for an ideal addition to any summer look. Our newest member Eleni McMullin of Convey The Moment sees the true versatility of the fabric, noting how she loves to dress her floral faux silk pants up for the night and down for the day. Loving silk for its easy-breezy ways, With A City Dream‘s Emma Walker and Velvet & Vino‘s Becky Kung both show how a silk jumpsuit can easily up the glam factor for a night out. And if you think teaming a jacket in the summer raises eyebrows, think again. Melanie Morais of Born Lippy proves that wearing a jacket in the summer (especially for those cool nights) is totally doable when its silk and breathe-easy.
Question 106: How do you wear silk? Read the answers now!»
Jump to: BARBARA ANN SOLOMON, TORONTO | BECKY KUNG, CALGARY | ELENI MCMULLIN, CALGARY | EMMA WALKER, DENVER | KIRA PARAN, EDMONTON | MELANIE MORAIS, CALGARY| NICHOLE ALABI, TORONTO | NICOLE WILSON, TORONTO
Barbara Ann Solomon, 25
Toronto | Barbara Ann’s Style Blog
My favourite way to dress all summer long is in draping silks. Nothing feels better on a hot day than this natural material, as it allows your skin to (finally) breathe. Silk can be beautiful when worn fitted, but during the warm months I prefer to keep things relaxed and loose. With this statement silk kaftan, I kept my makeup simple and paired my favourite black mules and pearl shark-tooth earrings for a look that can easily go anywhere.
Barbara’s wearing: Kaftan, Vintage. Mules, Zara. Earrings and bracelet, Nektar de Stagni. Belt, Banana Republic.
Nicole Wilson, 29
Toronto | Dainty Girl
Silk is so luxurious, so when it comes to wearing it in the summer, I always opt for a relaxed, casual fit. Fitted silk can result in an uncomfortable and unsightly sweat situation.
When I saw this dress at Anthropologie, I was drawn to the simple pullover styling and the colourful bohemian motif on classic black. As soon as I tried it on I fell in love with the way it casually draped over my body, flattering all the right places while being comfortable for hot summer days. The handkerchief hemline falls just above the ankle making this silk dress a little more eye-catching than the average maxi.
Nicole’s wearing: Dress, Anthropologie. Shoes, Le Chateau. Bag, Brave Leather. Bracelet, Shop for Jayu.
Kira Paran, 29
Edmonton | Northern Style Exposure
I love to pair silk on silk, and if possible, pattern on pattern! I think it takes a comfortable silk look and adds that much more sophistication. It’s a great lightweight material for beating the heat, without losing that feeling of luxury.
Kira’s wearing: Silk track pant, J.Crew Collection. Blouse: J.Crew. Sandals, Birkenstocks. Bag, Marc Jacobs. Sunglasses, Clearly Contacts.
Eleni McMullin, 27
Calgary | Convey The Moment
When it comes to summer days, we want nothing more than to keep cool, and silk—or in this vegan’s case, faux silk—is an undeniable summer must-have. The lightweight breathable material is by far one of my favourite fabrics to reach for on warmer days. Whether it is real silk or not, it can be worn in so many different ways. One of the most popular ways to wear it is, of course, a silk blouse. I admit I have them in multiple colours, prints and styles because of how easily they can be paired with cut-off shorts, distressed denim jeans or even a printed midi-skirt. However, my favourite silk trend would have to be these adorable printed pants. Nothing is harder than squeezing into a pair of tight jeans on hot summer days, so these floral numbers are a dream. They keep you cool, look fantastic and can easily be dressed up or down. For a daytime look, I love to match them with a loose tee and a pair of Birkenstocks or flats. For a dressier nighttime look, I would change into a pair of heels. No matter how you style them, they are a summer necessity.
Eleni’s wearing: Silk pants, Anthropologie. Shirt, Forever 21. Watch, Michael Kors. Clutch, Forever 21. Sunglasses, Ralph by Ralph Lauren.
Emma Walker, 17
Denver, CO | With A City Dream
Easy and breezy is the name of the game this summer, and silk is just that. A regal fabric that comes in oh so many forms, my favourite way to wear silk is in the form of a jumpsuit or a scarf. In this outfit I paired the two together for the ultimate sleek and silky outfit.
Emma’s wearing: Jumpsuit, Little Mistress. Scarf, Vintage.
Melanie Morais, 25
Calgary, AB | BornLippy
I absolutely love wearing silk in the summer! It’s such a comfortable and breathable material and enhances an otherwise casual outfit. Lately, I’ve fallen in love with silk jackets. It may seem kind of crazy to wear a jacket in the summer, but when it’s thin, it makes for an easy layering piece (paired with shorts, jeans, skirts, etc.) on a windy summer night.
Melanie’s wearing: Jacket and shorts, Club Monaco. Wedges, Gap. Bag, Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses, Ray-Ban.
Nichole Alabi, 27
Toronto | Nichole Alabi
I love wearing black or white camisoles in the summer. If you are like me and you have the tendency to get pretty warm in the heat, the last thing you want is to have moisture marks on your clothing. Moisture is less likely to show up on black and white than it is on colour. Also, because wearing a cami keeps your underarms uncovered and able to breathe, silk camisoles have become my sexy summer go-to (silk dresses are also a great option!). I paired my cami with some super cute, silky shorts to create breezy, monochromatic look.
Nichole’s wearing: Camisole, Zara. Shorts, H&M. Bag, MCM. Watch, Michael Kors. Earrings, American Apparel.
Becky Kung, 30
Calgary | Velvet & Vino
I love silk.; its subtle softness seems so fitting for the easy-breezy summer season and when worn in the form of an ultra-stylish jumpsuit, it makes for the perfect summer outfit. I love wearing this look for a dinner out with girlfriends on a casual summer evening, or on date night.
Becky’s wearing: Jumpsuit, H&M. Heels, Marc Fisher via Winners. iPhone case, eBay.
 looking like you’re ready to hit the sack, b) avoid its static-cling properties and c) leave traces of sweat in unflattering places. But before you swear it off completely, this week Style Panel is helping us take the guesswork out of styling this summer favourite. You know, just in case you can’t figure out how to wear silk without showing your pit stains to the world.
Whether they are dressing it up with heels or dressing it down with Birks, the ladies of Style Panel agree that silk makes for an ideal addition to any summer look. Our newest member Eleni McMullin of Convey The Moment sees the true versatility of the fabric, noting how she loves to dress her floral faux silk pants up for the night and down for the day. Loving silk for its easy-breezy ways, With A City Dream‘s Emma Walker and Velvet & Vino‘s Becky Kung both show how a silk jumpsuit can easily up the glam factor for a night out. And if you think teaming a jacket in the summer raises eyebrows, think again. Melanie Morais of Born Lippy proves that wearing a jacket in the summer (especially for those cool nights) is totally doable when its silk and breathe-easy.
Question 106: How do you wear silk? Read the answers now!»
Jump to: BARBARA ANN SOLOMON, TORONTO | BECKY KUNG, CALGARY | ELENI MCMULLIN, CALGARY | EMMA WALKER, DENVER | KIRA PARAN, EDMONTON | MELANIE MORAIS, CALGARY| NICHOLE ALABI, TORONTO | NICOLE WILSON, TORONTO
[caption id="attachment_188760" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photography by Trevor Negin[/caption]
Barbara Ann Solomon, 25
Toronto | Barbara Ann’s Style Blog
My favourite way to dress all summer long is in draping silks. Nothing feels better on a hot day than this natural material, as it allows your skin to (finally) breathe. Silk can be beautiful when worn fitted, but during the warm months I prefer to keep things relaxed and loose. With this statement silk kaftan, I kept my makeup simple and paired my favourite black mules and pearl shark-tooth earrings for a look that can easily go anywhere.
Barbara’s wearing: Kaftan, Vintage. Mules, Zara. Earrings and bracelet, Nektar de Stagni. Belt, Banana Republic.
Nicole Wilson, 29
Toronto | Dainty Girl
Silk is so luxurious, so when it comes to wearing it in the summer, I always opt for a relaxed, casual fit. Fitted silk can result in an uncomfortable and unsightly sweat situation.
When I saw this dress at Anthropologie, I was drawn to the simple pullover styling and the colourful bohemian motif on classic black. As soon as I tried it on I fell in love with the way it casually draped over my body, flattering all the right places while being comfortable for hot summer days. The handkerchief hemline falls just above the ankle making this silk dress a little more eye-catching than the average maxi.
Nicole’s wearing: Dress, Anthropologie. Shoes, Le Chateau. Bag, Brave Leather. Bracelet, Shop for Jayu.
Kira Paran, 29
Edmonton | Northern Style Exposure
I love to pair silk on silk, and if possible, pattern on pattern! I think it takes a comfortable silk look and adds that much more sophistication. It's a great lightweight material for beating the heat, without losing that feeling of luxury.
Kira’s wearing: Silk track pant, J.Crew Collection. Blouse: J.Crew. Sandals, Birkenstocks. Bag, Marc Jacobs. Sunglasses, Clearly Contacts.
[caption id="attachment_188752" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photography by Katch Studios[/caption]
Eleni McMullin, 27
Calgary | Convey The Moment
When it comes to summer days, we want nothing more than to keep cool, and silk—or in this vegan’s case, faux silk---is an undeniable summer must-have. The lightweight breathable material is by far one of my favourite fabrics to reach for on warmer days. Whether it is real silk or not, it can be worn in so many different ways. One of the most popular ways to wear it is, of course, a silk blouse. I admit I have them in multiple colours, prints and styles because of how easily they can be paired with cut-off shorts, distressed denim jeans or even a printed midi-skirt. However, my favourite silk trend would have to be these adorable printed pants. Nothing is harder than squeezing into a pair of tight jeans on hot summer days, so these floral numbers are a dream. They keep you cool, look fantastic and can easily be dressed up or down. For a daytime look, I love to match them with a loose tee and a pair of Birkenstocks or flats. For a dressier nighttime look, I would change into a pair of heels. No matter how you style them, they are a summer necessity.
Eleni’s wearing: Silk pants, Anthropologie. Shirt, Forever 21. Watch, Michael Kors. Clutch, Forever 21. Sunglasses, Ralph by Ralph Lauren.
Emma Walker, 17
Denver, CO | With A City Dream
Easy and breezy is the name of the game this summer, and silk is just that. A regal fabric that comes in oh so many forms, my favourite way to wear silk is in the form of a jumpsuit or a scarf. In this outfit I paired the two together for the ultimate sleek and silky outfit.
Emma’s wearing: Jumpsuit, Little Mistress. Scarf, Vintage.
Melanie Morais, 25
Calgary, AB | BornLippy
I absolutely love wearing silk in the summer! It's such a comfortable and breathable material and enhances an otherwise casual outfit. Lately, I've fallen in love with silk jackets. It may seem kind of crazy to wear a jacket in the summer, but when it's thin, it makes for an easy layering piece (paired with shorts, jeans, skirts, etc.) on a windy summer night.
Melanie’s wearing: Jacket and shorts, Club Monaco. Wedges, Gap. Bag, Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses, Ray-Ban.
Nichole Alabi, 27
Toronto | Nichole Alabi
I love wearing black or white camisoles in the summer. If you are like me and you have the tendency to get pretty warm in the heat, the last thing you want is to have moisture marks on your clothing. Moisture is less likely to show up on black and white than it is on colour. Also, because wearing a cami keeps your underarms uncovered and able to breathe, silk camisoles have become my sexy summer go-to (silk dresses are also a great option!). I paired my cami with some super cute, silky shorts to create breezy, monochromatic look.
Nichole’s wearing: Camisole, Zara. Shorts, H&M. Bag, MCM. Watch, Michael Kors. Earrings, American Apparel.
Becky Kung, 30
Calgary | Velvet & Vino
I love silk.; its subtle softness seems so fitting for the easy-breezy summer season and when worn in the form of an ultra-stylish jumpsuit, it makes for the perfect summer outfit. I love wearing this look for a dinner out with girlfriends on a casual summer evening, or on date night.
Becky’s wearing: Jumpsuit, H&M. Heels, Marc Fisher via Winners. iPhone case, eBay.){kind=link}