Sail Away Style...We Go Nautical!

There are trends that come and go, and then there are the classics. The go-to looks that every hip urban girl can pull off effortlessly. My favourite of these classics for the summer has to be nautical style. With crisp white, flattering navy, accents of gold, and a pop of bright in your colour of choice, nautical always looks fresh. Nautical doesn't mean uniform either. There are so many ways to interpret this look. For example, check out Marc Jacobs' beachy take vs. Betsy Johnson's 80s inspired navy in spring 2011.

Off the runway, I'd wear this retro Gull Wing Dress by Anthropologie, with a vintage metallic clutch and cute wedge platforms to a casual wedding or formal BBQ.

Out running errands or [window] shopping, I'd go for a relaxed and comfy in this red striped Ahoy Crop Top, $32 from White Crow, with a high waisted pant and cute loafers.

          

Don't be afraid to test the waters when defining your nautical style. Simply incorporating the basic elements like stripes, navy, and white when dressing starts a great foundation. If you're concerned you've interpreted the look a little too loosely just add a telltale accessory. I recommend this antique button pendant Cruise Necklace, locally designed by Fredrick Prince, $59 to pull it all together.

Challenge yourself to create your own take on nautical this weekend. I bet it could be achieved without making a single purchase. Tell me you don't have a white collared shirt or own something striped and I'll call you a liar. Look again behind the laundry! 

The point is, you don't have to get trendy to embrace this "trend" and you probably don't have to do much shopping to create your own sailor girl ensemble the next time you've got "nothing to wear". If you come up short, breeze into White Crow's pop-up inside The Burroughes Building (Queen & Bathurst). They've got a few nautical inspired pieces on deck.

- Tamika Auwai is a fashion junkie, splurge-a-holic and founder of Shop Socials.

Image credits: Nymag.com, Anthropologie, White Crow, Fredrick Prince.