shopbop shoptalk: what to wear: backyard bbq

I’ve got a lot of guy friends who can’t wait to show off their Weber grills and marinating skills, which means a slew of BBQs are in my near future. What should a Fashion Forward wear to a casual backyard fête that revolves around chip dips and charcoal? Well, save the carnivorism for the picnic spread, and leave the latex leggings, monochromatic black, and skyscraper platforms at home. This is the time for punchy popsicle brights and beach-easy cool. My ideal summer cookout begins with a frosty passion colada and this outfit:

Yellow is getting a lot of buzz as the summer accessory hue du jour (check out this FabSugar post featuring the cheeriest shoes around), so what better bag to bring to an outdoor soirée than this sunny Botkier mood-elevator? I feel more festive just looking at it.

Since the bag is such a showstopper, I’ll keep the rest of my outfit simple—or will I? At first glance the Free People Breezy Convertible Cape looks basic enough, but with a little creativity this baby morphs into, oh, about a gazillion different silhouettes: one-shoulder, sleeveless cowl neck, backless, strapless, and then some. The white version really enhances a sun-kissed look, while the Electric Grape is just plain fun.

Finishing touches? Siwy denim cutoffs, chic flat sandals (nothing worse than a heel getting stuck in the grass), au courant aviator sunglasses, and a few mixed-metal bangle sets. And after hours of lawn-chair lounging, if the party happens to move from deck to downtown, all I’ve got to do is convert my Free People top into a halter dress and hit the town.

--Suzanne