3 Rules for Pulling Off Summer Whites Like Nicola

There’s a good reason the term “winter whites” is in almost everyone's fashion vocabulary, and that’s precisely because the stark hue brings some much-needed light into the often-dreary wardrobes that emerge come winter. But (and this is just my opinion, of course) the neutral — though anything but basic — shade is even better come summer, when it looks crisp, chic, and cool amidst any and every warm-weather backdrop.

As great as it looks (especially when worn from head to toe), many ladies are afraid to rock the all-white style come summer, likely because they simply haven’t been schooled on the proper way to pull it off. But that’s where rising star and Transformers: Age of Extinction actress Nicola Peltz (who you may recognize as your most recent up-and-coming style star) comes in.

The blonde beauty — who’s been absolutely killing it on premiere red carpets around the globe, wearing everything from beautiful blue Balenciaga gowns to stunning Stella McCartney numbers — has been rocking her fair share of summer whites in a way that will make you want to stop what you’re doing right this second and steal the look for yourself. And to help you do just that, here are three simple rules for pulling off summer whites in style, courtesy of the pretty Miss Peltz.

1. Make the ensemble lightweight and breathable

No one looks cool when they’re a hot, sticky mess, so keep your all-white ensemble light and airy by working with fabrics like chiffon and pieces such as lace skirts, like the Dolce & Gabbana one Peltz wore to a press conference in Berlin. Give yourself even more breathing room with a low-cut back or subtle side cutouts, like those on the star’s Stella McCartney bodysuit.

2. Keep it minimal

Head-to-toe white is a style statement on its own, so keep the look minimal for an ultra-sleek and not-too-fussy look that lends a sense of elegance and sophistication to any ensemble. Though you don’t have to stay all covered up like Peltz in her Stella McCartney number, keep your ensemble, makeup, hair, and accessory as simple as possible for the chicest effect.

3. Mix flirty and fierce to avoid a one-note look

When minimalism just won’t cut it, try combining flirty, feminine details — like floral prints or embellishments and a peplum waist, seen on Peltz’s Giambattista Valli gown — with fierce, bed-head hair; a smoky, sultry eye; and a structured, almost futuristic silhouette for a look that will wow all summer long.