Perfect Outfit: Snag These So-Cal Summer Staples

Summer brings with it a ton of dressing dilemmas: One minute you're trying to beat the heat and the next you're being blasted with enough A/C to freeze the polar ice caps--and let's not even talk about trying to cover up crazy tan lines. But if you have a solid 9-to-5 day ahead of you and an evening engagement after that, don't fret about what to wear, because today's Perfect Outfit is giving you the 411! Just follow Jenni Kayne's own Caroline DeJean's lead and pair a tailored boys' club blazer with a well-worn button-up shirt. Then throw a highlighter-hued skirt and some killer heels on and you'll be set for a full day at your desk and a little al fresco after-hours activity, to boot. Just don't forget to punch out your timecard before you hit the mojitos.

Essential # 1: Bright and tight mini. Show off your summer-ready stems with a little mini skirt. Extra points if it comes in a bright and sunny hue, with a lovely print, like Caroline's JK number. Jenni Kayne Taped Mini Skirt, $245, available at Jenni Kayne, 616 North Almont Drive (at Santa Monica Boulevard); 310-860-0123.

Essential # 2: Faded chambray shirt. A super soft chambray shirt is a classic in the making. It will look amazing with your printed pieces and is perfect to throw on over a bikini while your lounging poolside. Oxford shirt, available at American Apparel, $54, Robertson Boulevard (at Burton Way); 310-385-9183.

Essential #3: Shrunken boyfriend blazer. Don't even think about retiring this menswear-inspired jacket. Keep it on hand for a breezy summer stroll and layer it over your flirty floral frocks to merge biz with pleasure. The possibilities are endless. Silence and Noise Open Front Blazer, $78, available at Urban Outfitters, 1440 3rd Street Promenade (at Broadway); 310-394-1404.

Essential #4: Substantially strapped shoes. Get footloose on the dance floor with these hot summer steppers. They've got a peep-toe so you can show off your coral pedi, and come with enough coverage to still make a super-chic statement. Bootie sandals, available at J. Crew, $395, 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Avenue Of The Stars); 310-286-7595.