Just in time for Toronto’s end-of-May heat wave, Vancouver-based brand Lifetime Collective asked me to take part in a style-off with other fashion bloggers to show how to wear three of its key SS12 items – the Paige dress, the Stevie Tank, and the Beaches shirt — in looks for both night and day. I say “just in time” because when dealing with such sudden mega heat, everyone’s all like, “What the heck do I wear?”

Both day and night looks are tricky during the summer, because you’ve got to figure out how to keep cool while still wearing enough clothes to venture out into public spaces respectably. Also, are you wearing the right dual-function pieces? You’re heading to the park in a breezy summer dress, but when you get there, you’re faced with one of two options: get down to your skivvies or stay trapped in a fabric cylinder of contained heat (honestly, this happened to me just yesterday).

Even for a night out on the town, the question remains: which pieces in your wardrobe will keep you looking sexy (not sweaty) and allow for some coverage if it gets cold at night? Here’s a break down of my two looks.

The Day Look: After a fiasco yesterday in the park, I’ve learned this lesson: do not go to the park or the beach in a dress without being properly prepared, or without wearing a dress that can magically transform into a bandeau top and pair of high-waist shorts.

This day look is really an ideal outfit for a beach day. Why? A bikini can easily be worn under a sundress, and the knotted tank top (worn on top) can be used as an easy cover up when needed while in the sun.

It is practically two outfits in one. If you’re heading straight to dinner afterwards, remove the layered tank and you’ve found yourself all set in a cute little black dress. Or if you like to wear numerous different looks throughout the day, like I do, try storing a pair of bottoms in your bag to switch up the outfit. Boom! That’s four different looks by my count.

*Please VOTE for my look by June 15th for your chance to win up to five $50 Lifetime Collective gift certificates!!*

The Night Look: You really can’t beat a good white shirt, and to me there is just something so sexy about wearing a simple shirt. Maybe it’s the Tom Cruise circa Risky Business in me, but I just love wearing an oversized white shirt with a pair of barely-there shorts in the summer. I like to keep my heel height to a minimum when my hems are on the shorter side of short, but overall, this is an outfit I would throw on to take me from an evening on a patio to late night dancing. The sleeveless leather jacket is a plus, because it is basically the only way I can wear my staple motorcycle jacket in the summer months.

*Please VOTE for my look by June 15th for your chance to win up to five $50 Lifetime Collective gift certificates!!*

What I Wore: Day Look: sun hat from 290 ION Fashion, Stevie tank and Paige dress by Lifetime Collective, vintage backpack from Amsterdam, sandals from Oasis. Night look: sunglasses by Luella, Beaches shirt by Lifetime Collective, shorts by D&G, shoes by Chanel from Fashionably Yours.

(Post as seen on PostCity.com, all images by Jillian Botting)