Your Stylist: The truth about this season’s tie-dye trend

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Resident Image stylist and market editor Melissa Magsaysay soothes your sartorial woes in the weekly Your Stylist blog column.

Please settle this little dispute between me and my sister. She says tie-dye is ‘in’ and has been trying to convince me that I should buy some tie-dye things to bring on vacation this summer. I don’t believe her and don’t see how I can wear it without looking like a high school hippie. LP, San Diego

I completely understand your hesitation to believe your sister, but trust me, she’s not trying to set you up for fashion failure. Tie-dye is a huge trend that started with the neon, digital patterns on Proenza Schouler’s spring/summer 2010 runway. It’s looking so fresh this season, and you can definitely wear it without looking like a dread-locked, noodle-dancing deadhead or like you’ve been shopping in the junior’s department.

Tie-dye has taken a surprisingly high-end turn, getting splashed onto everything from a basic T-shirt to leather skirts and bags. For your vacation, try this navy T-shirt with a simple white tie-dye pattern from Tory Burch. It would look great with slim, cropped white jeans and brown sandals or just thrown over a bikini. For something more festive that has ‘summer vacation’ written all over it, this bright, multicolored bucket bag from Halston Heritage will brighten up a solid dress or casual ensemble of a tank top and jean shorts.

Rebecca Minkoff has a traditional tie-dye pattern covering her modern carryalls that could transcend the summer and be toted right into fall.

If you choose to wear tie-dye as a T-shirt or dress, stick to neutral tones such as white, black, tan or navy to avoid the teeny-bopper feel and always pair it with classic accessories or none at all, especially that old hacky sack.

Send your style queries to melissa.magsaysay@latimes.com

-- Melissa Magsaysay

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