ILANKA | ROTTERDAM | FASHION BLOGGER | FASHIONNERDIC

Coat:MNG|Sweater:Zara|Dress (worn as skirt):Sfera|Bag:Vintage|Booties:Asos

Layers are at their chicest when staying within a similar color family. Length is also created, but without the severity of a purely monochromatic palette.

SARAH | NEW YORK | BUYER

Shirt:Zara|Shorts:Forever 21|FlipFlops:Havaianas|Sunglasses:Oliver Peoples

Summer is almost over, but Sarah, an SYS mainstay, is getting one last ride in. Shorts are not only practical in the heat, but you don't have to fret over getting fabric tangled in the bicycle gears!

NATHALIE | ITALY | LAW STUDENT | MY FLOOR IS RED

Dress:See By Chloé|Sandals:Zara

Sartorial simplicity at its best. Nathalie steers clear of bells and whistles and embraces a shift with clean lines and a graphic print.

ALICE | KRAKOW |BLOGGER | ALICE POINT

Top:DIY|Shorts:Bershka|Wedges:Bershka|Bag:Zara|Headphones:Urbanears

Alice turns her back on dull warm weather-wear, opting for bold black and fresh florals.

ILANKA | ROTTERDAM | FASHION BLOGGER | FASHIONNERDIC

Tank:H+M|Skirt:Zara|Bag:Zara|Wedges:Mother's|Necklaces + Bracelets:H+M

It's hot out there! Ilanka keeps it cool in light fabrics, using a pale cerulean as her pop color.

ALICE | KRAKOW |BLOGGER | ALICE POINT

Trench:Zara|Cardigan:Zara|Leggings:H+M|Booties:Zara|Bag:Zara|Necklace:Vintage

The best way to offset a somber palette is to add a jolt of color. Alice took her neutrals up a notch with boldly patterned leggings.

AURELIA| PARIS | MEDIA |FASHION IS A PLAYGROUND

Blazer:Zara|Blouse:Vintage|Shorts:Zara|Bag:Vintage|Wedges:Zara|Belt:Vintage|Socks:H+M

Coffee and cream with a touch of nutmeg is Aurélia's way of staying within the same color family while creating chic contrasts.

AURELIA| PARIS | MEDIA |FASHION IS A PLAYGROUND

Jacket:Nouvelle Selection|Tee:Urban Outfitters|Shorts:H+M|Sandals:Zara

What better way to add a little luxe than with sequins? Whether in shorts (as in Aurélia's case) or another casual staple such as a tee or leggings, a traditionally sporty piece in a chic material is the epitome of sartorial modernity.

NATHALIE | ITALY | LAW STUDENT | MY FLOOR IS RED

Jacket:Topshop|Shirt:French Connection|Shorts:Zara|Booties:DinSko|Bag:Miu Miu|Tights:Calzedonia|Belt:Claudio Orciani

Remember a neutral can be a pop color, too. Nathalie's palette is somber with muted tones, but she brilliantly uses a café au lait-colored bag as if it were the brightest hue in the spectrum.

NATHALIE | ITALY | LAW STUDENT | MY FLOOR IS RED

Jacket:Zara|Dress:Benetton|Booties:DinSko|Tights:Calzedonia|Bag:Miu Miu

Nathalie's Miu Miu Vitello bag may look familiar. It appeared in an early Sarah post from March. Both ladies utilized this nude bag as the pop color to their neutral palettes. Remember, as long as there's an element of contrast, a neutral can be a pop color.

FIL | MILAN | STUDENT | THE THREE F

Cardigan:Zara Man|Shirt:Principe|Shorts:Levi's|Shoes:Timberland|Bag:Gucci

Fil proves that comfort and refinement aren't mutually exclusive. He crisply personifies the Italian emphasis on fit and tailoring.

ALICE | KRAKOW |BLOGGER | ALICE POINT

Shirt:H+M|Leggings:Lucyd Acyd|Boots:Zara|Necklace:Vintage

Alice is sliced and diced in graphic leggings. She kept it simple on top with a bit of volume, making it easy to zone in on the bottom.

IRIS | THE NETHERLANDS | FASHION STUDENT | FASHION ZEN

Jacket:Zara|Leggings:H+M|Boots:Zara

Like Shannon did in one of yesterday's posts, Iris adds a medley of hues (in the form of leggings) to a cool-weather outfit. Staying warm doesn't mean resorting to the sleeping bag jacket.

MARLA | JOGJAKARTA | STUDENT |VERSICLE

Cardigan:Zara|Dress:Bought at local store in Jogjakarta|Booties:Bought at store in Bandung|Bag:Vintage|Belt:Vintage

Marla's entire palette is quiet and neutral, but she's beautifully incorporated prints (in the dress) and texture (in the beaded bag and suede booties).

AURELIA| PARIS | MEDIA |FASHION IS A PLAYGROUND

Cardigan:Urban Outfitters|Dress:Zara|Sandals:Zara|Bow:Made by Aurélia |Bag:Zara|Socks:H+M

This feline print has proven to be one of the most popular features on SYS. Iris wore the dress with her own self-made collar and Alice cleverly used it as a top with high-waisted shorts. Above, Aurélia pairs the dress with a blooming bow-tie she made herself. What all three ladies did was take a Miu Miu-inspired dress that has become a Zara bestseller and made it their own with personal details.

ALICE | KRAKOW | BLOGGER | ALICE POINT

Parka:Reserved|Top:H+M|Skirt:H+M|Wedges:Queen's Wardrobe|Bag:Zara

Floral is a given in the spring. If you don't want to look like a walking botanical garden, take a page out of Alice's book and balance it out with neutral pieces and accessories with an edge.

NATHALIE | ITALY | LAW STUDENT | MY FLOOR IS RED

Jacket:Zara|Top:Vintage|Shorts:H+M|Sandals:Topshop|Tights:Topshop|Bag:Balenciaga

Color is not the sole source for adding pop to an outfit.Try patterns, texture or both! Here, Nathalie punctuates her neutral look with dainty dots.

IRIS | THE NETHERLANDS | FASHION STUDENT | FASHION ZEN

Jacket:Mango|Shorts:Zara|Boots:Zara|Bag:Louis Vuitton

Iris is on trend with her military-inspired jacket. Here she mixes it with sequined shorts and a classic, albeit tailed, Louis Vuitton Speedy. Sequins and a Speedy have an air of sophistication, but Iris makes them more playful by wearing them in fresh ways.

ANA | ARAD, ROMANIA |LAUNCHING CLOTHING LINE | HIGH STREET CARDIGANS

Dress:Ana's own design|Sandals:Zara|Scarf:Miss Selfridge

A great way to play with stripes, an SYS favorite, is to juxtapose a separate print. A safe way to do this is with a scarf near your face. This way, the two patterns aren't competing with each other.

AURELIA| PARIS | MEDIA |FASHION IS A PLAYGROUND

Shirt:Zara|Shorts:Zara|Booties:Asos|Bag:Vintage|Belt:Vintage

Often chic is in the details. Aurélia graces the Paris promenades with understated elegance by fusing feminine pieces with edgier items. See more of this and other outfits on her blog.