Cottage fashion: 15 Style Panel tips for keeping it fashionable when you’re up north this summer
While we may have tackled the cozy-casual look last winter, taking on cottage style in the summer can be a task a tad more difficult. The cottage lifestyle is all about freedom and relaxation, so it’s no question our style should reflect the same characteristics. The last thing we want is to look prim and proper while lounging on the deck, right?
With the July long weekend fast approaching, we want to make sure your wardrobe is ready for the countryside. Whether you’re heading up to your family cottage or hanging out with friends at a campsite, we have tips on how to retain your everyday flair during your time away from the city. So before you throw on your favourite sweats or give in to the flip flops, read what our ladies from the Style Panel have to say on how to put together an effortless chic look at the cottage this season.
If you’re a girl who doesn’t like to waste time thinking of what to wear at the cottage, See Shop Eat Do’s Whitney Cosgrave suggests a stress-free ensemble. By throwing on a cute romper in the morning, you achieve the perfect casual yet put together look to prance around in the sun all day. A cottage look is never complete without topping it off with a chic hair accessory. While Leah Says’ Leah Gust adds a baseball hat to complete her sportswear inspired outfit, Lion Hunter’s Mo Handahu accessorizes with a chic turban to solve her no-time-to-fuss look. BornLippy’s Melanie Morais believes in adding cute accessories like a fedora or sunglasses, not only blocks the summer sun, but to also add a stylish twist to a basic look. If you’re still unsure of what to pack for the cottage, The Style Mogul’s Christina Cravero advises us to always remember the 3 C’s: casual, chic and comfort.
Question 57: How do you retain your style at the cottage?
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Melanie Morais, 25
Edson, AB | BornLippy
Although I’ve never had my own cottage, I’ve been lucky enough to have a few friends along the way that have invited me to their little summer oasis. In my opinion, cottage wear is all about comfort but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. I’ve always been a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl but a way to keep it stylish and put together is to add some cute accessories. I am a huge fan of fedoras, not only do they basically look great on anyone, but they also save your head from those awful sunburns! Adding a fedora, cute sandals and sunnies and you have yourself a great outfit for summer fun. Enjoy the cottage everyone!”
Melanie’s wearing: Fedora and t-shirt, Aritzia. Jeans, Levi’s. Sandals, Gap. Sunglasses, Ray-Ban.
Mo Handahu, 29
Halifax | Lion Hunter
Summer time and the living is easy! A road trip to a summer cottage is a must this summer. This easy to put together look paired with some platform sandals is perfect for such a trip. Cottage living comes with no time to fuss about hair, so a turban is the best remedy to save time and still look chic!
Mo’s wearing: Shorts, top, denim shirt and earrings, Value Village. Sandals, Little Burgundy. Sunglasses, Asos.
Kayla Short, 26
Halifax | Short Presents
With the sun finally making its grand appearance, it might be drawing you away from the city and into the country. Making the transition from street style to cottage style can be hard on the head especially if you haven’t had your morning Starbucks. For hang outs at the lake it’s best to keep things simple; you are there to relax after all, and so your clothing should reflect that. I like to play with bright patterns and prints, but as you can see here I keep things pretty basic. I’ve styled my oversized gingham shirt here with some cuffed skinny jeans, and my slip-on suede mocs; it may not be blingtastic, but this lax outfit is perfect for days spent on the lake. I usually for-go the accessories as I am notorious for losing things and/or forgetting them while travelling, so I typically opt for leaving my sparkle at home.
One thing I will NEVER wear at the cottage is a scented product! I get eaten alive by mosquitoes when I’m outdoors and I swell up like a balloon, so wearing scented products (even hair products) are a huge no-no for me. I often opt for longer pants and sleeves too because of this especially if I’m not in a windy location. Basically any sort of barrier I can create between myself and the bugs-the better.
Kayla’s wearing: Shirt, Gap. Skinny Jeans, Joe Fresh. Sunglasses, Ray-Ban. Shoes, Rockport.
Anum Khan, 23
Toronto | SummerxSkin
Cottaging does not have to mean you can be a total beach bum and wear sweats for the weekend! Try to find leggings that are most comfortable for you (I love my TNA ones) and wear them with a nice tunic or short dress. I like to accessorize as much as possible with stackable bracelets, layered necklaces and a pretty clutch. This kind of outfit is also practical because you can dodge the bug bites and wear cozy-chic flats or loafers to match your look.
Anum’s wearing: Tunic, envelope clutch and necklace, H&M. Leggings, Tna by Aritzia. Loafers, Forever 21. Bracelets, Butterfly Beads. Ring, Minling Pan Studio.
Leah Gust, 31
Toronto | LeahSays.com
I’m guilty of not really having much of what you’d call a “casual” wardrobe. I love clothes and love wearing my favourite pieces as much as possible so cottage attire doesn’t really look much different from everyday attire for me. I have, however, been closely following the sportswear trend and am slowly incorporating it into my look. For this challenge I’m trying my hand at a baseball hat! I picked up this great camouflage Yankees number and paired it with a simple striped dress from Joe Fresh. I added these cute gold sandals but I could have just as easily worn some colourful trainers or a pair of chucks to make the look even more sportswear. Comfy cottage dressing doesn’t need to be frumpy – add a few sportswear pieces and look super put together while you lounge on the dock!
Leah’s wearing: Hat, New Era. Dress, Joe Fresh. Sandals, Gap.
Iva Grbesic, 37
Toronto | One Chic Mom
Canadian’s love their cottages. Many of us try and escape the hustle and bustle of city life and relax at the cottage, enjoying the lake and all that nature has to offer. Enjoying nature doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style.
Many cottagers host BBQ and parties and the attire doesn’t have to be relegated to grubby shorts or cargo style capri pants. One of this season’s must haves is the maxi dress. I thought this black maxi was the perfect choice to bring to the cottage for BBQs and parties with friends and family. You can dress it down with flip flops and minimal jewelry or you could pair it with wedges and a statement necklace and wear it out to dinner at a local Muskoka resort for a date night.
Iva’s wearing: Dress, Joie. Wedges, Jimmy Choo. Necklace, Avon. Bracelet, Cocoa Jewelry.
Becky Kung, 30
Calgary | Velvet & Vino
Let’s face it; we can’t always wear high-heels everywhere we go! However, there are certainly many ways we can pair together some of our closet classics for a stylish summer-weekend getaway at the cottage or lake, and yet still be as comfy as ever.
My suggestion is to pair a light denim chambray shirt with a simple skirt or a pair of cut-off shorts. The chambray is perfect to slip over top of your bikini or even pull the sleeves down if it gets chilly at night. I often pair my chambray with cotton stretchy skirts, which are so comfortable, and yet stylish, you can’t go wrong!
Becky’s wearing: Denim chambray top, Thread & Supply. Cotton pencil skirt, Forever 21. Sandals, Old Navy. Necklace, Aldo Accessories. Sunglasses, Tory Burch.
Barbara Ann Solomon, 26
Toronto | Barbara Ann’s Style Blog
Summers are all about being outside, leaving the city’s hustle and heading to cottage country. This is my favourite way to relax and take in the beautiful Canadian landscape. Cottage style is all about ease and comfort. The days are hot and usually spent on the dock, and the nights cool down and the bugs come out.
I’m pale, get cold easily and usually get eaten alive by mosquitos, so I have a few essentials that keep this trip fun and safe. Sun protection is a big one for me, and it can make or break a weekend so a strong SPF and a hat are needed during the hours when the sun is strong. Bug spray is necessary during the nights, and I also try to wear long sleeves and pants as this helps avoid the bites.
This season, trade your sweatpants and shorts for a light maxi skirt, allowing the night’s breeze to keep you cool.
Barbara’s wearing: Skirt (dress), Collective Concepts. Denim shirt, Bluenotes. Heels, Kimchi Blue. Necklace, Joe Fresh.
Krystin Lee, 26
Toronto | Suburban Faux-Pas
Before the BBQs, campfires and boat outings, there’s the drive to the cottage. We always seem to be running around in the wee hours of the morning packing our car or making a list of last minute items we need to pick up. This outfit is an easy transition from city to cottage life. I often sport my bathing suit under my clothes so once we arrive, there’s no time to waste and I’m ready to go!
Krystin’s wearing: Jacket, Old Navy. Shirt, J.Crew. Shorts, Gap. Belt, H&M. Shoes, Aldo. Sunglasses, Karen Walker. Bag, Coach. Necklace, Stella & Dot. Watch, MK.
Christina Cravero, 27
Toronto | The Style Mogul
We’re all thinking of the Canada Day long weekend and most of us head to cottage country. Usually I would be heading north, however this weekend I will be staying local and attending the Digital Dreams Music Festival! For those heading away, the 3 C’s are a must: outfits have to be casual, chic and comfortable! One of my favourite go to outfits for cottage life is a maxi dress & cute sandals. There is nothing better than a flowing loose fitting dress for drinks on the dock with the girls or even evenings around the fire. Keeping accessories to a minimum will let you escape the heat in a fashion forward outfit!
Christina’s wearing: Maxi dress, Ann Taylor. Clutch, Steve Madden. Sandals, Marc Fisher. Bracelet, Massi. Sunglasses, Ann Taylor.
Nicole Wilson, 29
Toronto | Dainty Girl
Cottage style is all about comfort—an outfit you can throw on between the beach, the BBQ and the bonfire without breaking a sweat! On a warm summer day, I always reach for something lightweight with a relaxed fit and 99 per cent of the time, it’s a breezy summer dress. Casual dresses make it so easy to look stylish without sacrificing comfort on a hot day and you can always throw on a sweater, shawl or jacket in the evening if you need to.
I love this nautical striped maxi dress. The basic stretch jersey is simple and cozy while chic details like a racer back and a subtle hi-low hemline keep it stylish for the city or the cottage. I simply swap my heels for a cute pair of flat sandals and I’m ready to hit the road! I accessorized my cottage-chic look with pops of summer turquoise, a statement necklace and a metallic drawstring satchel—the perfect bag for my cottage essentials! Last but definitely not least, I finished my summer cottage look with sunscreen, sunglasses and a fedora—ready for fun in the sun!
Nicole’s wearing: Dress, M for Mendocino. Sandals and sunglasses, Aldo. Bag, Boohoo. Necklace, Shop for Jayu. Watch, Michael Kors. Fedora, Smart Set.
Zoe Smythe, 30
New York City | Zoe’s Fashion Feed
My favourite time of the year is summer when I head to my grandmother’s cottage in the Okanogan. Whether I’m sitting by the lake, touring the local wineries, biking or stuffing myself with fresh Okanogan fruit, I want my outfits to be easy to pack, casual and comfortable. This striped jersey knit dress is versatile enough to go from the beach to a winery and back again. It will defiantly be a staple on my upcoming trip!
Zoe’s wearing: Dress, J.Crew. Belt, thrift. Sandals, Dune.
Whitney Cosgrave, 25
Los Angeles via Vancouver | See Shop Eat Do
Time spent at the beach (or cottage) is precious so I like to spend as little time as possible figuring out what to wear, but I also still like the be cute. When I found this Tommy Hilfiger romper last weekend I knew it was the perfect thing to wear to look casual yet still put together on vacation. The best thing about rompers is the fact that you don’t have to think about a top and a bottom – just throw it on (or pull it on, I guess!) and you’re ready to go.”
Whitney’s wearing: Romper, Tommy Hilfiger.
Cara McLeay, 28
Vancouver | A Fashion Love Affair
Nothing beats a simple white dress in the summer. They provide a timeless and effortless look, and are cute tossed over a bikini on the way back from the beach, or layered with a sweater in the evening.
Cara’s wearing: Dress, Billabong. Sweater, J.Crew. Sunglasses, House of Harlow. Flats, Zara.
Amber Desilets, 30
London, ON | Canadian Fashionista
Summer is officially here and people are planning trips to their cottage and so begins the questions of what to wear. I say just because you’re giving up the comfort of your home for the weekend doesn’t mean your style has to suffer.
You can have a laid-back style and be cute at the same time; an easy way to accomplish this look is with a summer dress. You won’t have to sacrifice style for comfort, as it adds a touch of femininity and elegance, while still remaining somewhat casual. A dress is the perfect option for the beach as a cover-up, comfy enough to hang out on the front porch or dock with friends and some cocktails and it’s also easy enough to dress up with some bold accessories for a night on the town.
If you’re like me and can’t give up your heels for the weekend, opt for a pair of wedges: it will still give you the height you crave, without making yourself look too high-maintenance. Last thing on your list is some sunnies. You can’t leave home without them in the summer!
Amber’s wearing: Dress, H&M. Sunglasses, Oakley Backhand. Necklace and belt, Smart Set. Wedges, Aldo.
