Dear Dolly:

I wear suits all year round and during the summer I wear seersucker and cotton poplin to work. How can I dress down a suit for the weekend?
Thanks, Hoping to be Mr. Dolly

Dear Hoping:
First and foremost what do you look like? Mr. Dolly must be handsome and fashionable!

More to the point—let’s talk about summer. The beauty of summer is shedding winter. Put away all those dark suits. Start wearing loafers without socks, sandals (get a pedicure—all the movie stars do) look great with a suit and work your polos and T-shirts into your summer work wear. A seersucker blazer with jeans or a white T-shirt looks great on a cool summer night as does poplin khakis with sandals and a pale pastel polo. For a more conservative look wear your light weight suit jackets with shorts and loafers or tennis shoes (but not the ones you work out in) and a great cotton button down underneath (match your shirt with your eyes and the women will come runnin’). Be loose with what you wear–it’s summer and the best time to look sexy!

Dear Dolly:

I am 54 years old and am planning a Bermuda cruise the first week of June for 5 days. I need packing ideas (i.e. shoes, purse, complete outfits, lingerie). It should all be attractive and comfortable. I also need a purse that will look sharp but will be safe for a passport and roomy for gifts. Any cosmetic ideas would be welcome.
Thank you, Bermuda Bound

Dear Bermuda Bound:
You are so lucky to be going to that beautiful island. Bermuda is very pink and green and bright in June so your wardrobe should be colorful. And Bermuda is a colony, remember, and conservative, so no thong bikini! I have broken down what I think you should take—let’s start with a new purse:

1. Go to Nordstrom or The Treasure House and ask for a Longchamp bag. They are colorful, durable, have inside pockets and lots of room. You’ll have it forever. Bring a little clutch (nothing fancy) for dinner.

2. Your wardrobe should consist of the following:

a. A nice summer dress for dinner—bring a matching cashmere sweater because it gets cool at night (or treat yourself to a new Pringle one on Front Street in Hamilton!).
b. Two skirts—a colorful one that can be worn with a T-shirt in the day and a blouse at night.
c. Two pairs of pants—one white and one a bright color.
d. Four T-shirts—different colors to wear with skirts and pants.
e. Two blouses—to wear with pants or skirts at dinner.
f. Two bathing suits and a cover-up.
g. One pair of shorts (or buy a pair of Bermuda shorts there).

All of the above should work together color-wise so you can mix and match according to the weather. Remember it is an island so it can be very windy. Bring a packable raincoat or windbreaker and a SCARF!

3. Include three pairs of shoes—one flat sandal, one sandal with a heel, tennis shoes and whatever you wear on the plane.

4. As for cosmetics, bring a sunscreen. Pink lipstick and mascara will be enough for makeup.

5. Two nightgowns will be plenty.

Don’t over pack! Tennis whites are also a must if you plan to play. Have a great trip. (Maybe you could pack Dolly?)