Let’s face it. This past year hasn’t been one of your best. You’ve been waiting for the opportunity to make the world your runway again because being locked up in the house forced you to put your fashion sense on the back burner. Yea, the pajamas at work were conveniently comfortable, but nothing upstages the feeling of getting dressed for a night on the town or happy hour with friends. Now that summer’s arrived again, it’s time to update your wardrobe with the latest trends and mix and match some of those cute pieces you lined up last year. 

Summer is a fun season for fashion; you can play with vibrant, bright colors, make bold statements with an effortless touch, and you don’t have to worry about your outfit going unnoticed while buried under an avalanche of winter layers. 

We got to sit down with Sasha Marshall, owner of Haus of Aplomb Boutique, to discuss her introduction to entrepreneurship and advice for invigorating your warm weather wardrobe. Marshall’s personal challenges finding clothing as a petite woman prompted her to try and fill an accessibility void in fashion. Thus, birthing her first business, Haus of Aplomb, a locally owned online boutique. After learning that establishing a boutique exclusively for petite women would be a difficult task, Marshall turned her focus towards building a high-fashion, luxury brand filled with “vision and purpose.”

“The biggest thing that I wanted to do was encourage and empower women to show up as their most confident selves on any occasion,” Marshall says. 

She aimed to create a boutique that separated itself from the crowd, where the values were different.

“One of my main values that I prioritize is faith …[and] my brand [being] a sisterhood [displaying] equality for women.”

In a subtle sense, Marshall, by marketing her business as one that offers attainable clothing versus affordable clothing, encourages customers not to limit their thinking. Expensive price tags can be intimidating. She wants women to understand it’s possible to obtain what they want.

“Attainable means it’s always within reach.”

Marshall describes her venture with entrepreneurship as an enjoyable experience, and one of her favorite parts is curating items to sell. Sometimes fashion serves as a mental escape for people. The pandemic has pushed us into what Marshall calls, a “sweatpants era.”

“Getting dressed is a form of self-care. It’s time that I get to spend with myself. Some [women] enjoy loving on themselves as they are getting dolled-up.”

Haus of Aplomb wants to break women out of the casual mindset they’ve become accustomed to over the last 18 months. 

“Style is an individual personality. A mood. Style is how someone represents themselves without having to open their mouths.”

As a boutique owner, Marshall had to learn how to step outside of her comfort zone and play with styles that deviated from her personal preferences.

“I have to remember I’m not my main customer.” 

Marshall’s perspective reminds us style should be an enjoyable experience and an opportunity to express our individuality. In this case, feeling reenergized to rediscover one’s style becomes an act of liberation. With that in mind, here’s some of her style suggestions and what’s on trend as you dive into the summer season. 

Miniskirts

Miniskirts are fun because they’re versatile. Pair these with your favorite sneakers or mix it up with a fancy blouse. Pleated miniskirts are currently on trend, but there are also plenty of other options to accentuate every figure. Marshall noticed a lot of her customers were most comfortable wearing pants that conceal their legs, but as a brand that exudes confidence, she pushes women to embrace all of themselves.

“It’s okay to show some extra skin and be proud that we are out and about again.” 

Denim Bottoms

Denim is always going to be on trend but, within that, there are style considerations to make to fit the season. Personally, Marshall is not a fan of wearing dark denim when the temperatures rise; she feels light to medium wash denim materials are more appropriate for summer. Also, there’s nothing wrong with rocking a classic distressed look, but Marshall suggests finding unique denim items that can function as a statement piece. Split hem jeans also add flare to any outfit. And pair your denim bottoms with clear strappy heels to elevate your look. 

Maxi Dresses 

“Every girl should have a maxi dress in their collection.”

Sundresses are an effortless, one-and-done look. Depending on how you style or accessorize your ensemble, you can dress them up or down, and they come in various styles for any occasion such as a flowy design for a beach day or formfitting on a night out. Since dresses are a top seller, Marshall intends to deviate away from the solid colors and add more abstract prints to her collection. 

Solid Color T-shirts

You can never go wrong with a solid crisp white or black shirt. Whether that’s a tank top, crop top or a classic short sleeve T-shirt, solid tops are perfect for layering, adding a subtle effect to any bold outfit and coordinate with almost every design or style. Throw a blazer on top or add your fave fedora and you’ll be prepared for any summer adventure. 

Since launching Haus of Aplomb in September 2020, Marshall has received overwhelming support. She’s looking forward to continuing to grow personally and professionally while enjoying the entire process. 

Become a #AplombBabe and shop the latest collection at shophausofaplomb.com. Follow @shophausofaplomb on Instagram.