Summertime arrives with balmy temps and golden rays. It's a time to look great and feel great! Jump start the season with the must-haves for embracing the heat with confidence and style...

1) Wedge sandals... 

Cork or espadrille, open toe or peek-a boo, whatever fits your feet and keeps you comfy, go for it! With all the styles from sexy heights at Jessica Simpson to a modest lift at Sofft, pick up a pair that fits your comfort level. A great pair of sandals can take you from Shoprite to the beach and evening dinner. Find what works for you...

2) The white top... 

This versatile top can be in a lightweight knit with a touch of Batten-burg lace to keep you current. Get into the trend with a dolman sleeve, casual enough to wear with your favorite shorts or dress it up with a funky colorful print skirt. Whatever the fashion, the idea is to keep it crisp and clean with some visual texture to make it interesting...

3) The wrap dress...

This is an essential dress every woman should always have in her closet! Wrap dresses fit EVERY body shape and a woman can control the level of sexy she wants to project. Diane von Furstenburg's wrap dresses are fabulous, but you can find one at most any price point. Sleeveless for summer or with a short cap sleeve, wrap it over your bathing suit on the boardwalk or slip on a pair of stilettos for a romantic dinner at your favorite hot spot. You can be super sexy or devilishly demure, you decide...

4) A pop of tangerine...

The hottest color for Summer 2012 is any shade of tangerine. If you aren't bold enough to sport clothing in the color, why not try a splash of it in your make-up? Hint with an orange hued lip gloss or go for the gusto with Indian Orange from YSL. You will be sun-kissed to perfection, working this color into your mix even if you are a black and white kind of gal! If these options don't appeal to you, pick up a pretty scarf or incorporate tangerine into this next essential...

5) Bold earrings...

Relax and have some summer charm with accessories. Big and bold earrings are in the limelight and this is where you can really have a lot of fun!  Go free with color and embrace that frivolous girl inside with a pair of knockout bling. A little something colorful or metallic, earthy or pop funk, match a great set with you number one bathing suit for impact. Summer slick hair and bijou aims the focus on your bright smile, a timeless woman's accessory...

6) The classic button-front shirt...

Pristine, preppy or provocative, every woman needs to invest in a great button front blouse. It can be gauzy enough to serve as a beach cover-up or embellished to bling up a look for a night out. Buttons in front hint to a woman's mystery, allowing her to decide the level of sexy she feels comfortable exposing. In colorful cotton, viscose, neutral linen or poly sheer, this can be your go-to classy lady look, a canvas for trending accessories...

7) Tribal jewelry...

Wood, coconut and hemp combined with animal patterns are the essence of summer season. You will find plenty of beautiful accessories depicting the tribal fashion trend in a huge variety of traditional and contemporary styles to choose from. Turquoise and silver accents add a Southwestern ethnic flavor, while African inspired necklaces sport large, chunky wooden beads. Pick up a little something wild with natural elements for funky summer flair...

8) A clutch purse...

If you get one new purse this summer, make it a clutch preferably with a small handle. "Clutch" is a bag you can carry in one hand, but within that description is a world of shapes, styles and sizes. A clutch can be a classic evening bag, or a checkbook wallet that slips into a larger bag. It can be fabric or leather, playful or sophisticated, zip-closed or fold-over...

9) Great moisturizer and SPF...

Do you get flaky legs and crusty heels? Very ugly and itchy in the summer! An effective moisturizer is essential to hot weather survival. You need a great body cream and face lotion, both with sufficient SPF to keep your skin protected and supple. Invest in a small three-ounce travel bottle to squeeze your favorite moisturizer into and keep on hand in your purse for a quick shot. This time of year, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E is a best friend keeping my hands and feet soft and smooth everyday...

With summer at the door, I know I want to be ready with all my essentials at hand... xoxo-Sonya