I'm hankering for one of those blistering hot summer days, when the only sane and comfortable thing to wear is a short lightweight dress. When the next heat wave rolls in (forecasted to hit LA later this week!), I'll opt for a frock featuring a pretty print, just like the ones featured in these pics. I think these skin-baring dresses--along with these darlings from , , , , , and --totally epitomize easy breezy summer chic.

Photos: ,

This vivid print vintage-looking dress takes me back to my Deadhead days. But it also transports me to the future, as in this summer's trip to Mykonos, where I'd throw it over a still-damp bikini and feel gypset glamorous...

I've been long lusting for a particular pair of Aquazurra heels, these gorgeous, sexy beloved by fashionistas far and wide, including stylist Giovanna Battaglia, pictured above and below, who has them in both brown and black, as well as Style.com editor Marina Larroude. Well, I am happy to report that they're on sale today and tomorrow, as is having a two-day site-wide 20% off sale (use code WEAREFAMILY13), along with other desirables recently featured here, including this Rebecca Taylor tweed and this cute May Y Sol raffia tote .

Me and my clutches. You know I can never have enough. The stripes and poms poms got me here. But there's more! It's reversible: the other side features a pretty paisley print. Two-for-one cuteness.

With the wedding circuit quickly approaching, I'm thinking it wouldn't hurt to have this striking one-shouldered dress in the arsenal. Designed by former Vogue editor and current celebrity stylist Kate Young, it hits all the right notes: fun, feminine and fabulously inexpensive.

Gwyneth Paltrow was nearly ubiquitous in LA last week, promoting her new cookbook, "" (which is indeed good--I used it to cook my son's birthday dinner last week). She wore lots of short dresses and short shorts but what really stood out were her Michael Kors neon heels. They seem to have the effect of making already tanned, toned legs look even more tanned and toned--and I am thinking these everyday sandals might yield the same.

My sister-in-law came over the other day to borrow a dress for a black-tie party. She quickly zeroed in on a one-shoulder, floor-length black dress. It fit perfectly, but it needed something... a belt. I had her try on a handful, and it was fun to see how each one effected a different vibe (fancy, super fancy, etc.). Soon thereafter, I happened upon this swishy, sexy maxi dress, which takes the guesswork out as it comes with a brown casual belt. But sub in a black velvet sash on and it's ready for painting the town red...

I just got back from an adventurous week-long vacation in Aspen, and while I enjoyed the snowy summits, brisk runs along the Rio Grande Trail, breathless hikes up Buttermilk, along with margaritas at the newly renovated Hotel Jerome (so chic!) and countless sushi rolls at Matsuhisa, I am happy to be out of my rugged snow boots and back in the city. Now, all I want to do is throw on a dress. This tweed Rebecca Taylor number is deeply feminine, downright flattering and crazily wearable--all without a lot of fuss. (The denim-like blue hue also makes it easy to dress down, especially with a pair of flat strappy sandals.)

These sandals are as versatile as a pair of black pumps but a gazillion times more original and sexy and statement-y and fun. Plus, they're on sale.

If any of you missed out on that sold-out Club Monaco striped featured a few weeks ago--or you're simply just hankering for more striped cuteness, consider this leather-pocketed, zipper-trimmed number by . It's a good one!