On a summer day or night, we dream of Popsicles, snow-cones and ice cream sundaes dripping down our cheeks. And when we're not stripped down to our swimsuits at the beach, we're trying to keep cool ... whether it's wearing linen suits, cotton camisoles or a favorite jersey dress.

Well, you can also lick the heat with color - take a few of your favorite summer fashion basics and put them together in a whole new way. Layer different colors of tanks with your jeans. Throw on a scarf or pareo with your sleeveless dress. Mix and match capris and shorts with colorful tops. Slip a T-shirt under your jacket. Use your imagination. Think "cheerful," according to leading color expert Leatrice Eiseman, director of the Pantone Color Institute.

"Stabilizing neutrals combined with pops of brighter colors to create unique, distinctive looks are the basis for a great summer wardrobe," says Eiseman.

Dish up a few new ways to wear your warm-weather clothes and you'll feel like you've got a few new tasty treats.

Here are some refreshing combos that won't make you sweat:

- Rosy red and peachy pink: Do a twist on your favorite hues of red and put these two unlikely shades together. Wear gold accessories. Tres chic.

- Navy blue with turquoise: Think about the depths of the ocean and then go into your closet. Those navy blues from spring will get a wave of new life when matched with sparkling turquoise blues.

- Blue with lavender: The lighter purples are perfect for summer, and a great combination when paired with another warm-weather favorite: lavender with a pinkish twinge.

- Purple and orange: A real feisty combination. The color purple has been a big fashion winner all year, and this summer it really gets bold with a splash of orange. Animal print accessories are great with this combo.

- Olive with brown: The yellow greens are summer favorites, especially when paired with bolder colors. But if you want a little more sophisticated color palette, try mixing them with brown for more of an organic feeling.

- In the limelight: Lime green is still a summer color that works great with hot pink, lemon yellow and purple. Try cool mint for a change.

- Brown and orchid: Another way to give those trendy lilac pieces a summer update. Earthy greens and metallic blues are also great contrasts with brown.

- Silver and gray as neutrals: Base your wardrobe around a new neutral like silver or gray; skip the black for summer.

- White, the ultimate neutral: It's summer and you can't go wrong with white or cream as your background, no matter what you wear.

The bleached pastels are always a hot combination, but the bold brights like yellow are coming on strong. Earth tones such as brown and classics like navy can also be striking. Just watch those melting ice cream cones.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.

© Copley News Service

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