With constant barbecuing, themed parties, vacationing and memory-making, summer is one of the busiest times of the year. One of the hardest tasks during this time of year is staying fashionable while beating the heat. A quick fix for a cooler outfit is a lightweight dress with just the right amount of accessories. So, how is it possible to accessorize lightly and still make a statement? Here are five tips below to get you started on how to accessorize a summer dress.

1. Lightweight layering
When choosing a dress, you want to aim for thinner fabrics and brighter colors. Both of these choices make layering very simple. Distressed women’s denim vests or lightweight cardigans are perfect to pair with dresses for both night and daytime wear.

2. Mix colors and prints
Mixing colors and prints is a new and funky way to spice up an outfit. The possibilities are endless! Pairing black and brown together is in style for the season, so why not take advantage of it? Pattern mixing can be a challenge, but it is definitely worth a shot. One example is mixing a floral dress like pippa and julie dresses with a nice pair of striped flats. Mixing these patterns keeps you in the safety zone but also shows creativity.

3. Bring on the bling!
Jewelry adds perfect bulk to a plain dress, but keeps it classy at the same time. One of the hottest trends today is layering your jewelry. Pair a nice set of chandelier earrings with chunky bracelets and a few rings. If your dress has a dramatic neckline or a loud print, keep necklaces to a minimum. Sometimes the cut of a dress is enough of a statement.

4. Straw everything
A straw bag, straw shoes and a narrow and wide brim straw hat are very essential to the perfect summer wardrobe (and they match everything!). Avoid pairing these items together, though—you could end up looking like a farmer!

5. Shoe It Up!
Wedges, clogs, flats and platforms are perfect for spicing up any dress. A good color palette to stick to when picking out shoes is neutral tones, such as black, brown, nude and white. These help bring out the colors of your actual clothing, rather than just the shoes being the statement piece.

-Guest Blogger Lyndsey (www.hellolyndseyyy.blogspot.com)