11 Summer Party Looks You Can Wear Right Now

Let’s say you’re going to ______’s annual _____, which is _____. It doesn’t make a difference if you fill in those blanks with your oldest friend/clambake/ten minutes away or Paul Allen/yacht party/happening in Puglia this summer. Whatever the occasion, you’ll need some hair and makeup ideas to get you going. (Photo: Getty Images)

By Elizabeth Siegel

WET BEACH HAIR
Channel Honey Ryder. Only show up for beach and pool parties so you can always be emerging from water with dripping-wet hair in a little white bikini. That’ll get people talking. Kidding! We’re referring to an old-school hairstylist trick that’s just as sultry as Ursula Andress (a.k.a. Bond Girl of all Bond Girls)—using salt spray to add tons of sexy, piecey volume to your hair while sneakily “soaking up sweat and oil throughout the day,” says hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins. However you’re wearing your hair (up, down, braided, in a bun), mist it two or three times with salt spray (try John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray) and scrunch away. If your roots get flat or sweaty between parties, Miss Social Butterfly, massage in another spritz for a quick lift.

VICTORIA’S SECRET WAVES
Show us a summery hairstyle that’s hotter than Victoria’s Secret waves, and we’ll give you however much Alessandra Ambrosio makes to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway.* To get all va-va-va-voom-y, scrunch a ton of volumizing mousse through damp hair—"you need a blob the size of a tangerine,“ says hairstylist Rebekah Forecast (try John Frieda Luxurious Volume Thickening Mousse). You can let your hair air-dry or blow-dry it (no nozzle or brush necessary) because you’re going to smooth it with a curling iron, anyway. When your hair is dry, wrap it around a large iron from ear level down to add big, rolling waves. Now (settle down, you’re almost done) blast the waves with cold air from your blow-dryer to break them up, and pretend you’re in front of a wind machine at a Victoria’s Secret shoot (just us?).

*We most certainly will not make good on this bet. We’re just making a point.

Related: 10 Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger

LOW BRAIDS
Low braids are the Nantucket reds of summer hairstyles—classic and preppy, and you can do better than that. Before you braid your hair, part it down the center, and spray dry shampoo all over until your hair has an airy texture. Keep the braid loose and low. You want it to start below the nape of your neck so it looks like it’s windblown and close to falling out. It’s what makes this style cool and 0 percent preppy. Plus, the dry shampoo gives hair staying power, even if you’re dancing up a storm or stomping divots—and yes, we’ve seen Pretty Woman 17 million times.

COLORFUL, SUMMERY HEAD WRAP
Sometimes it’s better to hide frizz than to go to battle with it—and a colorful, summery head wrap is the kind of thing cool fashion-y types use to do it.

Step one: Pick your scarf. “Bright colors like neons work best in the summer,” says hairstylist Guido. “Just make sure they don’t match your outfit. A white dress with a brightly patterned or solid scarf is your safest bet.”

Step two: Get your hair out of the way by misting it with dry texturizing spray (like Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray) and twisting it into a messy bun. “You need the dry texture to keep the scarf from slipping,” says Guido. And finally: Fold the scarf—and make sure it’s a really big one—into a strip three inches wide and place the middle against your nape. “Pull the ends forward, crossing them above the center of your forehead just behind your hairline,” says Guido. “Bring the ends back to the nape and knot them.” At that point, it should look so cool that no one will notice how much your hair is frizzing out.

(Photo: Getty Images)

SMUDGY EYE LINER
Party like T-Swizzle. By which we mean trade in laser-perfect liner for something smudgier and edgier. It’s a smarter bet in the summer when your liner’s going to smudge before the bartender’s back with your Negroni, anyway. Bear in mind: Smudgy doesn’t mean smeary. Ward off drunk eyes by choosing a creamy waterproof liner (like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils) and putting on undereye concealer last. “It prevents liner from smearing,” says makeup artist Lucia Pieroni.

METALLIC GOLD EYE SHADOW
If nothing else, remember this: Shadows that reflect the sun make your eyes look smoking hot. Metallic gold eye shadow is pretty and glint-y and puts all the focus on your eyes. Even after sunset, “it looks very rock and roll,” says makeup artist Pat McGrath, who used lash glue to affix gold glitter to the center of the lids and along the lower lash lines for Anna Sui’s spring show. A gold cream shadow, like Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow in Riches, works, too. Tap a little over the center of your lids, wear it as liner, or try a sheer wash over the entire lid for a more elegant effect.

Related: The Most Flattering Haircuts for Women in Their 40s

(Photo: BFA)

BRONZE MAKEUP
You can never, ever go wrong with radiant, bronzy makeup in the way Lily Aldridge wore it to the Save Venice Ball. “A cream bronzer melts into the skin, so there are no harsh lines,” says makeup artist Quinn Murphy, who buffed Nars Matte Multiple in Vientiane over Aldridge’s cheeks, jawbone, and temples for this look. Keep the rest of your makeup warm (peach gloss, gold shadow) for an overall look that’s soft and not “too bombshell,” says Murphy. Next step? Call a florist—Aldridge’s black-rose crown was custom made. But you can get a similar look by sticking one rosebud into the base of a bun, says hairstylist Serge Normant. “I’ve used flowers from hotel rooms as last-minute hair accessories quite a few times.”

(Photo: Getty Images)

ORANGE-RED LIPSTICK
More summery than classic red and a whole lot sexier, orange-red was our favorite lipstick from spring runways, like Margot Robbie’s, because, jeez, just look at it. Better yet: Throw on a black or white dress. Add an orange-red lipstick. Finish with lots of black volumizing mascara. And you’ve got yourself a look. Try Dolce & Gabbana Voluptuous Lipstick in Italian Monica or Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in True Red.

(Photo: Courtesy of brand)

PAPAYA NAIL COLOR
Get your nails did. And did right. The difference between coral and papaya nail polish? The former belongs poolside in Coral Gables, and the latter looks amazing wrapped around a mojito. We likeButter London Nail Lacquer in Tiddly and & Other Stories Nail Colour in Lindsey Salmon, vivid oranges with just a hint of pink.

(Photo: Courtesy of brand)

MAGENTA NAIL COLOR
Or go all dark and mysterious. Magenta manicures and pedicures have cool lavender undertones that made them look amazing on Chanel’s spring runway, and it doesn’t get more stylish than that. We like Jinsoon nail polish in Farouche, Milani Color Statement Nail Lacquer in Hot Pink Rage, and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Orchid Me Not (a deep magenta that’s flattering on dark skin).

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