Opinion
Five fashion brands I think we should add to our range
by Stephanie Vinzens
Steph’s style crush: for elegant summer looks, Sasha Mei is my ultimate inspiration
25.7.2022
When summertime rolls around, rather than asking myself, «What can I wear today?», I ask, «What can’t I wear?». With this ongoing heat-related outfit emergency, I need all the ideas I can get. And I get mine from Sasha Mei.
«Sasha Mei is a creator and writer based in Toronto», I read on the About page of her personal website. That’s all it says. It was on Instagram where I first encountered this fashion-influencing Canadian. A quick glance at her carefully curated, no-nonsense feed was all it took for me to click «Follow» – as 90,000 people had done before me.
But even on social media, Sasha doesn’t get very personal – unless it's about her skin. She’s quite candid about her acne problems. Which proves incredibly refreshing in the often filter-driven world of Instagram. When it comes to stories saved in her «Me» highlights section, though, there are only two. In one she explains why she doesn’t do hauls, videos in which influencers show off the results of their latest shopping sprees. Going big is simply not her style. In her words, «I’d rather save up for stuff I really want and buy less as a result. It makes for a better curated wardrobe.»
She’s so right. I’m just obsessed with her minimalist, elegant style. Here are 7 outfits of hers that have inspired my summer wardrobe selection.
1. Simply slip it on
A clean, comfortable, classy look. Slip dresses are considered a summer must-have. Typically made from inelastic satin fabrics, slip dresses can look great. But satin fabrics can also pose problems for those of us trying to find the perfect fit, especially for curvy bodies. A slip dress made of lightweight knit, on the other hand, like this one in a green pastel, hugs the curves – without pinching and stretching.
2. Barely there
When temperatures are high, you don’t necessarily have to strip down to the bare minimum. If you opt for loose cuts and light textiles such as linen, silk and cotton, keeping covered doesn’t mean overheating. This combo of flowy print trousers and an oversized blouse is a great example of a dressed-up yet breezy summer look.
3. Light colours = cool colours
The lighter the colour, the cooler it is. That’s because light colours reflect light. And that’s why white, the colour all the way at the end of the spectrum, is the ultimate colour for the year’s hottest season. For me at least, nothing screams summer more than an all-white look – preferably in the form of a shirtdress like the one Sasha is wearing here. I love this adaptable piece, which can be transformed from a practical beach cover-up into a chic dinner look with the addition of a bit of gold jewellery and the right pair of heels.
4. Black, black, black
I love the black-from-head-to-toe look. So simple. Yet so effective. The combo of wide suit trousers and a tank top, as modelled here by Sasha, is an absolute favourite of mine – all year round. The rumour that dark clothing is less suitable for warmer months is a fallacy. Sure, black textiles do absorb sunlight, but they also provide better protection from UV radiation.
5. Summer mesh
Crochet became hugely popular during the pandemic and has even outlasted it, earning a place among summer wardrobe classics. Loosely crocheted mesh allows your skin to breathe and leaves you with the sensation that you’re in the middle of summer holiday. I can already feel the sand under my feet with this crocheted bralette and circle skirt combo.
6. A blast of colour
If you want to be noticed, add a few maxi dresses in bright colours to your wardrobe. This salmon-coloured dress exudes elegance with its slender A-line and sophistication with the extra touch of a knot to the asymmetrical neckline. And it has pockets. Enough said.
7. Volume, baby
For me, voluminous dresses and puffy sleeves equal a dream come true – maybe because I wasn’t allowed to go to Carnival in a princess costume as a child. These days, I prefer the look without kitsch. This strapless dream dress has a hearty cut but still looks simple and stylish because of its dark, solid tone.
Has endless love for shoulder pads, Stratocasters and sashimi, but a limited tolerance for bad impressions of her Eastern Swiss dialect.
Fashion
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
1 comment
later