How Bustle’s Elly Ayres Works This Season’s Best & Brightest Trends Into Her Look

The sun-filled days of summer are often reflected in our style choices — it's the best time to experiment with rich colors and unapologetic prints. That’s why we’re taking a cue from Bustle's Senior Branded Fashion Editor Elly Ayres, who envisions herself celebrating the season dressed in lush patterns and vivid hues. Macy’s makes that sartorial dream a reality, having everything needed to create the ultimate summer paradise look.

“Summer is one of my favorite style seasons because it usually ushers in an inherent playfulness and levity — both in fashion and state of mind,” says Ayres. The season provides the perfect playground for all of her favorite fashion moments: tropical-inspired color, bubbly prints, and pieces you can actually move in. “If I’m not actually on vacation, I want my looks to make me feel like I am,” she says, adding, “and if I am on vacation, then even better!”

Whether Ayres is meeting up with friends at Prospect Park or escaping the heat with a happy hour at her home in Bed-Stuy, she’s all about expressing the joie de vivre embodied by the season. To help us create our own paradise-inspired looks, Ayres is sharing the Macy’s pieces that she’s loving this summer, along with tips on how to style them.

Living Room Lounging

When hosting friends for a pre-dinner hangout, Ayres gravitates toward pieces that put a laid-back spin on luxe. “This dress’s easy silhouette keeps things low-key, and its reimagined tropical print combines warm orange tones with tranquil blues,” she says. She also appreciates the minimal heel on the powder-blue sandals: “After a quarantine spent in sneakers, I’m easing back into heels at my own pace!”

This particular look also complements Ayres's decor in her apartment, which combines her two favorite things: the ocean and rock ‘n’ roll. Her walls are adorned with album covers and beach-inspired prints, creating a vibe that’s both peaceful and energizing. Of course, a turntable is always ready and within reach whenever she wants to listen to one of her favorite records.

Stoopin’ In Style

Ayres finds style inspiration in everything from the rosebush outside her window to the street style seen in her Brooklyn neighborhood, so it’s no surprise she spends summer days hanging outside on her stoop. During these moments, she’ll go more casual, invoking what she calls her “on-trend tourist look,” since it consists of a tropical-print shirt and sporty sandals. “Maybe it’s my Florida roots creeping in, but I love how bright and summer-centric this look feels,” she says.

When it comes to her summer beauty routine, Ayres swears by a lightweight moisturizer, like Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. For hair, she goes for low-maintenance, beachy waves that are made by using a curling wand and alternating the directions of each curl — finished with a salt-free texture spray. “I’m definitely a lipstick fan through and through, and this creamy matte pink (Smashbox’s “Big Night”) captures the celebratory mood I’m bringing with me into summer,” she says.

If you’re ready to add some paradise-inspired pieces to your summer wardrobe, Ayres says to start with a tropical-print piece you love, and use it to inform the rest of your look. “You can keep it simple but sophisticated with a midi dress and heeled sandals, or go for the bold in a printed short-sleeve shirt and color-blocked shorts and sandals,” she says. “No matter what combo you choose, if you enjoy your look, that’s all that matters.”

Photo: Lauren Perlstein; Digital Tech: Kelsey Wagner; Photo Assistant: Rachel Cabitt; Art Direction: Molly Kugelmann; Branded Fashion Director: Jenna Wexler; Senior Branded Fashion Editor: Elly Ayres; Production: Danica Butkovich & Kat Fry