How Emna styled her old Meg in the heat, and what accessories can do.
Emna just got back from Tunisia. North Africa, Mediterranean coast, 45 to 49 degrees of relentless heat. She packed light, mostly pieces she’s had for a while, and made them work for everything: the airport, the beach, family dinners, strolling through the city.
Emna and Denise, took us through what actually worked. The takeaway wasn’t about buying new things. It was about how she wore what she already had, and how a single accessory could take the same piece from morning coffee to evening drinks.
Here’s the styling sitch for a far-flung holiday.
WHERE
Tunisia. The Mediterranean coast. The kind of heat where you want to wear almost nothing, but you still have places to be and people to see.
Emna brought her old Meg favorites, pieces she’s worn a hundred times, and styled them differently depending on the moment. The clothes stayed the same. The accessories did the work.
THE IDEA
You don’t need new clothes. You need to look at what you have with fresh eyes. A belt. A scarf. A pair of statement earrings. The right shoe. That’s what takes a piece from “I threw this on” to “she looks amazing.”
And those pieces you bought a few seasons ago? They still work. They work even better now that you know how to wear them.
THE PIECES + THE STYLING
The Airport Outfit: Biggie Side Slit + Terry Cloth Jumpsuit
You’re going from air conditioning to intense heat. You need to be ready the moment you land. Emna’s move: the Biggie side slit shirt in terry cloth, layered over a strapless terry cloth jumpsuit she scored at our sample sale. The jumpsuit is in that same 80s terry cloth fabric you know from the pants and tops. It absorbs everything, keeps you cool, and you’re basically ready for the beach the second you step off the plane.
“Once I’m done with the airport, once I’m done with the AC, I am ready. Ready for the beach, ready for the heat.”
The clogs are easy to slip off at security. The scarf is for the cold plane. The sunglasses and a big bag for everything else. That’s the whole kit.
Denise made a note: if you want Meg to make that terry cloth jumpsuit in other colors for next spring/summer, with the 80s jogger elastic at the ankle, tell us. We’re listening.
The Biggie Side Slit Shirt
Emna wore this shirt every possible way. It’s one of those pieces that does everything, but only if you let it.
At the airport: buttoned up, layered over a strapless jump, with clogs and a scarf for the cold plane.
In the evening: open over a sheer skirt, left loose and flowy for a more relaxed vibe.
And then she showed us the trick with the side slits. You can use them to tie the shirt in different ways. Knotted in front. Criss-crossed. Cinched at the waist. Worn backwards. Tucked and half-tucked.
The difference was how she tied it, what she wore underneath, and which shoes she threw on.
We have a lot of these in stock right now, which is why Emna made a point of styling them in so many ways. They’re worth it.
The Renegado Jumpsuit
This is an old favorite, the best heatwave piece, and in such a cool pattern. When it’s 49 degrees, you’re not wearing much else. Emna wore it constantly: deep V-neck, beloved pockets, flowy legs.
The casual version: just the jumpsuit, clogs or Birkenstocks.Hair up.
The elevated version: a belt cinched at the waist, big funky earrings, sandals instead of clogs. Suddenly it’s dinner.
“Most of the time I didn’t even wear a bra, to be honest. You can wear one if you’d like. But 49 degrees? No.”
The Renegado Dress in Black
Different from the jumpsuit, different from the set. Denise showed this one in black. It’s a big flowy tent, which is exactly what you want in the heat.
Emna wore it as a poolside over her swimsuit, with sandals and a hat. At the beach, unbuttoned, worn as a coverup over a swimsuit. But Denise showed another way: unbuttoned all the way down, with a white tank underneath and big jorts or jeans. That look could take you into fall, honestly.
We’ve done two recuts of this dress this year. People love it.
The Renegado dress in Citrus
We just got this one in. It’s lightweight, with great coverage for hot days, and that citrus print pops against a tan. Emna didn’t want to put it on at first (”I’m too hot for even this”), but once she did, it was perfect. Great for breakfast, a stroll, sitting poolside.
The Renegado Set
The citrus print skirt and drawstring top. Emna wore the top slightly off-the-shoulder with a straw tote and mules. Very Mediterranean, very easy. Bra optional.
For evening, she swapped the straw tote for a smaller bag, added a statement earring, switched to a heeled mule. Still the same set. Completely different energy.
The Marketplace Pant
This pant looks almost like a track pant because of the cut, but it’s elevated. Emna wore it two ways:
Daytime: with ballet flats, untucked Biggie shirt. Easy strolling-around-the-city energy.
Evening: with a bandeau underneath, a scarf tied as a top, a white necklace, small gold earrings, and a little clutch. Still the same pant, now going to dinner.
The shoe swap changed everything. Sneakers to a flat or clogs.
The Luis Pant
Same principle. By day, with a simple tank ( as a set) and sandals, sneakers and a tee.
By night, with a statement top, earrings, and heels. The pants are the foundation. The accessories tell the story.
WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERS
Emna’s kit:
Big funky earrings. She wore them constantly. “If you know me, you know I love big funky earrings.” They take a simple jumpsuit or a plain tee and make it feel intentional.
Scarves. On the plane for warmth. On her head for the beach. Tied as a top for evening. Wrapped around her waist for a little extra polish. One scarf, four uses.
The right shoe. Clogs and Birkenstocks for daytime, easy to slip on and off. A heeled mule or a kitten heel for evening. The swap takes two seconds and changes the whole outfit.
A bag that works. The straw tote for day, big enough to throw everything in, beachy but still chic. A smaller bag or clutch for evening.
DON’T PACK AWAY YOUR SUMMER CLOTHES
Denise made this point, and it’s worth repeating: these pieces transition into fall. Don’t put them away.
The flowy marketplace pants? Put a big sweater over them, tuck the pant into a boot, and suddenly it’s an October outfit. The Renegado dress unbuttoned over a tank and jeans? That works now, and it works in three months. A tight underneath the wide-leg pant if you run cold. A bigger sleeve, a chunkier boot.
“So many of you come in and say, ‘I packed that away for summer, I packed that away for winter.’ You don’t need to. It does it all.”
THE ARCHIVE + THE SAMPLE SALE
Emna found that terry cloth jumpsuit at our sample sale. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece, and it was perfect for the trip. That’s what digging through the samples is for: scoring something unique that nobody else has.
If you’re in Toronto, come by the store. We’ve got samples, one-offs, and pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
And every Sunday, we do an archive sale on Instagram. Old favorites, past-season pieces, things that still absolutely work. The Renegado set Emna wore? That’s archive. Proof that Meg pieces don’t expire. They just keep getting styled in new ways.
MY NOTES
The best vacation wardrobe isn’t new. It’s the pieces you already know and love, styled with intention.
Emna didn’t pack a suitcase full of options. She packed a few key pieces and made them do everything. The accessories were the variable. A belt, an earring, a different shoe. That’s what made each outfit feel right for the moment. Also, when doing a bright piece like the citrus set, I do so love that neutral fisherman sandal which doesn’t “fight” the look.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t overpack. Bring what you love, bring a few great accessories, and play.
— Sheri
WHAT EMNA WORE
Biggie Side Slit Shirt, in stock
Terry Cloth Jumpsuit, sample sale
Renegado Jumpsuit, archive
Renegado Dress in Citrus
Renegado Set, archive sale
Marketplace Pant, in stock
Luis Pant, in stock
Summer Jute Bag, in gold
Sample Sale: In-store in Toronto. Come dig.
Archive Sale: Every Sunday on Instagram. Set your alarm.
Coming next: Meg is back with sneak peeks of the new fall/winter collection. Lots of surprises.
