The following blog post is by contributor Ashleigh McHenry. Ash is a blogger and resident of Charleston, South Carolina. She loves fashion, drinks tequila and writes to be funny.

Independence Day weekend is fast approaching and many of us have picnics, cookouts and get-togethers to attend. With the sweltering temperatures and unbearable humidity of the last few weeks, dressing for the weather and looking chic have not necessarily been synonymous. Well, don’t you worry your glistening brow. Grab a bottled water, or even better, a stemmed glass of sangria and leave the shopping to me. Here are a few ideas to keep you cool, collected and classy for a fabulous Fourth weekend.

Idea 1: Pretty Pastels


Light colors are a great idea for summer. They attract less heat and look great against your tan. This feminine cap-sleeve dress is only $29 at Old Navy. It is lightweight and will allow your skin to breathe, even in the most sizzling situations. Paired with a sparkly necklace and neutral wedge, this is perfect for a get-together with coworkers or the boyfriend’s family. Dressed down with some chunky, funky bangles and a flat metallic flip-flop, you can take this to a friend’s patio barbecue and still be comfortable enough to beat the guys in cornhole.

Idea 2: Bohemian Beauty
So maybe the more pulled together, more preppy look isn’t your style. If you tend to go more where the wind blows, maybe a more free, bohemian look is for you.

Again, light colors prevail with this dress from Rampage (another steal at $29 at Macy’s). If you choose to go with the maxi dress with a print, choose solid accessories, like simple but large wooden bangles and simple shoes without too much detail. Let your dress do the talking while you flirt with your cute neighbor from across the backyard.

If you choose a solid color maxi dress, break up the solid color with a fat braided belt, a tasteful but flashy hobo bag or bold jewelry choices. A few pops of color from a fabulous long necklace can bring the attention to your face. Just be careful when standing close to the grill; don’t bend over to inspect the burgers TOO closely.

Idea 3: Sporty Chic
So your friends are planning a backyard blowout instead of fancy fete. There will be a keg, co-ed touch football and someone eventually heading to the ER from an unfortunate incident with a roman candle. If that sounds more like your crew, you can still look good without showing up in your gym clothes.

Express has a ton of great tanks and shorts in stock, for affordable prices. With a nautical flair, these horizontal stripes are perfect for casual parties and the sailor shorts have just enough flair with their big metallic buttons. Pair these up with this straw fedora by Eugenia Kim from Target ($16), you have a look that keeps you cool and can move from party to pigskin in mere moments. Just be sure to wear some sensible shoes (maybe some cute Puma sneakers so you can comfortably jump for the deep ball) instead of those new pumps you found last week.

Hopefully you can run with a few of these ideas to celebrate your independence this Fourth of July. You can look chic in the heat, and not empty your bank account. Happy Independence Day everybody!