But we can further it a bit by wearing them woven into the hairline – it’s a great way to frame the face, says Phil Mania, owner of Mania’s Hairstyling in Park Ridge, NJ.

I personally love braids because they are 100% humidity proof. You can wear them in all sorts of weather, and even if you have the frizziest hair, you can hold that style. That makes them ideal on summer’s hot, sticky, days.

Mania's Hair Styling

You’ll also notice a lot of milk maid styles going on at the red carpets – likely for the same reason!

Phil Mania advises using Bumble and Bumble’s  “Prep” to first moisten the hair, creating a nice foundation to work with. Then simply braid the hair and finish off your look with Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode for added support and humidity-free finish.

This look can be made casual with a simple denim romper or sexy with your flirty summer frocks and favorite sandals. That’s why I love it…well, in addition to that whole banishing bad hair days element.

Another fabulous thing about braids – do you have straight hair you would love to add a little bit of wave to? Try braiding it at night before bed and unbraiding in the morning – you’ll notice a wave that will be perfect for bouncing your hair through sunshine-filled days! That also, of course, works if you want to have those waves before a big night out – no styling tools required!

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Summer Braids

I have been posting a lot about sales on Gilt Groupe lately because I think it’s a really great site, but if you are unfamiliar with it you can check it out with my invitation.

The Paul Smith sunglasses featured at Gilt Groupe are on sale until Sunday, July 5 at midnight.  I love the colored plastic frames with oversized lenses.  Here are my picks from the sale:

Image: Gilt Groupe

Paul Smith Gradient Sunglasses in Purple $108 (reg. $325)

I love this color!  Unique and vibrant colors are in this summer, so these are an amazing price for a great style.

Image: Gilt Groupe

Paul Smith Aviator Frames $98 (reg. $325)

This a great verions of the classic black plastic aviator that is in style this summer.  These are similar to the Carrera sunglasses that are so popular in Europe.

Image: Gilt Groupe

Paul Smith Oversized Square Sunglasses $98 (reg. $325)

Again, a ridiculous price for designer Paul Smith sunglasses.  I love the color combination in these with the deep forest green and the amber tortoise shell.  These are a smaller size so they would fit on many face shapes.

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Paul Smith Sunglasses On Sale

Yellow is a fun way to brighten up your accessories wardrobe for summer.  It’s one of those colors that’s best used sparingly – a little adds a bold hit of color, but too much can overwhelm your outfit.

Here are three cheery choices for yellow sandals:

The “MacKenzie” by Anne Klein features patent leather uppers and a fun flower on your toes.

Want to go flat, but still have some fun?  The “Newport” sandal by Bouquets has clear crystals ornamenting the straps.

Need a little height?  The “Oscar“, also by Bouquets features and easy-to-wear 2 – 1/2″ heel.

images: Zappos

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Sunny Yellow Strappy Sandals for Summer

If you want to try a trend, but don’t want to go for a luxurious look, like these Stuart Weitman Tiajuana style Gladiator sandals from Zappos.com,  take a few steps to decide whether the shoes are your style.

Try a pair of less expensive sandals for a while. Try something from Target, Ross, or TJ-Maxx. Then work your way to Neiman’s Last Call or Nordstrom’s The Rack. If you successfully move up to the Last Call/The Rack level..congratulations, you’re ready to take the plunge! Buy a pair of awesome Gladiator sandals, run, don’t walk, don’t use dial-up, use a LAN line to order your expensive shoes!

Accessorize. Don’t just put on a pair of Gladiator sandals and expect them to look good with your regular dress, skirt, or jeans. You may have to buy some new jewelry, a scarf or headband so the shoes don’t wear you. There’s nothing worse to see then a girl walking down the street who you know just bought something super trendy and threw it on with her normal clothes not even thinking about her current wardrobe.   (Ciao Bella By BC Footwear -$$56)

Think about where you’re going to wear them. Wearing them to the office may be okay if they are flats, and if it is summer. But don’t wear them if your office doesn’t do the business casual Friday thing or if your boss warned you against wearing open toed shoes because it was an “OSHA” issue (true story!)

Finally, if after you try the shoes on once and they just don’t work don’t worry. Every trend isn’t for everyone. That’s why it is called a trend. Not everyone is going to wear the shoes and not everyone has to embrace the look. And in the end, come twenty years from now you can look at pictures on Facebook and MySpace and laugh at your friends who wore the big Gladiator sandals while you wore cute little ballet flats next to them.  (Photo to the left: Marc by Marc Jacobs)

Photos from: Zappos.com

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Ease into the Trend: Gladiator Sandals