Lemondrop

Dear Jessica,

I have a couple of Fourth of July parties this weekend and I want to look festive, not hokey. How can I combine patriotic colors and still look cute?

Thanks,
Sarah, 26, Richmond, Va.

Red, white and blue happen to be my favorite summer color combination, but I like to throw in a twist. Here's four simple solutions for the perfect Independence Day party outfit, all sourced from looks you likely already have in your closet (click on the thumbnails below and you'll see the original, every-day outfit each piece is pulled from).

Change It Up
Instead of following the flag exactly, choose a variation on the traditional Fourth of July color scheme. For example, substitute royal blue with navy, denim or chambray. Instead of red, go for a bright coral or dark pink. The key is to isolate only one color from the flag for a chic Americana look. See the full look here.



Classic Fabrics
Nothing looks more American than seersucker, madras patchwork or denim -- just not all at the same time.

Complementary Colors
Step outside Old Glory's color scheme and add on an extra color. You'll still look patriotic in red and navy with a dash of lavender or blue and white plus yellow. Turquoise jewelry looks incredible with red, white or dark blue.

These are a few of my favorite July 4th looks. What will you wear?



Jessica Schroeder is the author of the personal style blog, What I Wore. Check out her site for daily inspirations on great ways to rock your wardrobe!