With beach days in plain sight and cool breezy nights to look forward to, we city-dwellers are faced with a harsh reality: the hot and humid air and the desperate need to stay cool. Wearing minimal clothing and swearing off black seems logical. Sure, I’ll just wear shorts and flowy tops. But wait, back up – there is no way I can retire almost half of my wardrobe for fear of dark colors. Its times like these when we need a Fashionisto, like this week's, to accomplish the impossible!

This week's Fashionisto sports a dark outfit, yet he manages to remain effortlessly cool. His light-weight top from ASOS is just loose enough to let the city breeze blow by and his coffee brown shorts act as a refreshing alternative to an all-black getup. My favorite touch is the accent that leather sandals and jewelry add to this look. For edgy shoes like the ones seen above, check out LD Tuttle sandals. Also, experimenting with leather and studded or metal details can liven up a basic outfit like this one.

This Fashionisto sports silver Pamela Love jewelry. Accessorizing with jewelry in the summer (when heavy coats, scarves, and hats aren’t stealing the spotlight) is a golden opportunity! Any pop – like his layered silver necklaces – is eye catching in a sea of neutral.

But, back to my main point: never say no to going dark! We all know black is essential, it’s a staple, and its hard to sacrifice once the hot summer months roll in. This week's post is a friendly reminder that you never have to. Light-weight fabric, shorter bottoms, and great accessories are the answer to our biggest summer problem. So remember Fashionistas and Fashionistos, stay cool!