Throw A Summer Party In Style

It’s the official start of summer here in America and I couldn’t be more ready for it. I’m excited for: summer radio hits (every year has a ‘summer track’ don’t you think?!); long, lazy weekend days spent by the pool (in between sweating like there’s no tomorrow on the subway!); parties with pals under the boundless blue sky; and wearing all my favorite summer clothes. If you’re planning a fun party to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend, or perhaps another occasion over the summer, then today’s post in partnership with INC International Concepts is just the inspiration you need to throw a summer party in style! Click through after the jump to see how I put together this cute, colorful and totally #MakeYouSmileStyle summer party! Oh, and yes, that’s an #INCpopsicle shirt I’m wearing and it’s amaaaazing!

In any house party the kitchen often becomes the beating heart of the party, so when you transition outdoors to entertain during the summer it’s important to create a space that can offer the same central space as the kitchen does when inside. Set up a food and drink table that holds all of the beverages and snacks for your guests. Place a few chairs nearby but also allow for clear space around the table for others to stand and access the refreshments. This is a nice way to keep things feeling casual. Tie helium-filled balloons to chairs to add height, color and a playful tone to the festivities! I mean, balloons are always welcome, right?!I like to wear my party outfit while I’m doing the final preparations for an event. I guess it helps me feel like I’m moving out of organization mode and into party mode! I paired my popsicle shirt with a pair of navy pants. As the popsicle print was small scale, I wanted to pair the shirt with a solid to help it pop and be the hero piece of my look. I rounded things out with a pair of flip flops to keep the overall look casual and suitable for the summary, laid-back vibe of the outdoor party.To keep your party looking stylish and streamlined, consider color coordinating your food and decor. Here, I took inspiration from my popsicle shirt and the popsicle colors for the party color scheme. Everything from the balloons to the drinks to the cups to the food linked back to the popsicles – so fun!Here I am welcoming my guests with a big smile and a bunch of balloons!One of my favorite things to do when I’m throwing a summer party is to make an impromptu photo booth area for guests to let their hair down and have some fun – not to mention capture that all important ‘gram moment! As we know, if it didn’t get ‘grammed, it didn’t happen! 😉 For this party I used a bright orange garage door as the backdrop for the ‘photo booth’ and then had a stack of INC x Popsicle emojis on hand for guests to pose with! You can download the emoji back right here. So, what are you waiting for?! It’s time to put on your own popsicle shirt and throw a summer party! // Photography by Will Taylor | Posted in partnership with INC International Concepts, available only at Macy’s. All views my own.