With winter now officially over and the Sun finally heading to our British shores, the changing seasons make it the perfect opportunity to brighten up our fashion clad wardrobes in time for High Summer 2010.
‘Where to start?’ , I hear you cry?
Well girls, I believe it all lies in just a few of my ‘fashion discoveries’ that any of you can remodel, reprocess and restyle this Summer to show off your fashionista roots.
The trends which have made a style impact for most of this year focus heavily on feminine chic, mirroring the classic and versatile looks of Chanel and Burberry with their own modernistic take on the strict tailoring we’ve seen on the high street and across the catwalk in recent months. Gone are the bodycon LBDs, instead being replaced by soft rouching, silk drapes and ruffled layering to give a more natural feel to today’s fashion.
Nude pastels have defiantly dominated the fashion scene in the last few months, but don’t always need to be seen as a safe option when choosing a daytime or formal outfit. Jazz things up by bringing lemon, mint and violet shades into your wardrobe for a dash of colour and adding the ultimate accessory of the moment; the statement necklace.
Still in for 2010 is the boyfriend blazer that we all seem to love, which has now been re-introduced with a twist. Although the beautifully classic one-colour longline version is still a popular choice, try to be daring this summertime and aim for bold patterning to dress up a casual day outfit or to emphasise your attire on a big night out. The tribal warrior trend has played a big part in the SS10 collection, and has been immortalised through geometric prints and bright, colourful accessories.
ASOS have re-created such looks by the introduction of their ASOS Africa range, focusing on vivid, eye popping prints to make you stand out from the crowd. Their African inspired print blazer, priced at £70, comes in a range of fantastic, vibrant colours and will quite easily transform and enliven a plain vest top and jeans for a night out, or look bang on trend thrown over a simple sun dress.
Flower power has been a big thing so far this year, featuring in just about everything from tea dresses to hosiery; from scarves to handbags. Whether you prefer the cuter, understated look or the bolder, exotic prints, florals never really seem to be far away from the fashion world and seem to pop up again and again. Try pretty, frilled crop tops for those not afraid to bare a bit of skin, alongside attractively feminine ruffled day dresses and georgette vest tops.
For a look to suit all shapes and sizes, the maxi dress is the ultimate must-have of the moment. A staple piece for the coming Summer season, it is yet another fashion item that can easily be worn day or night with the right accessories. The benefit of the maxi is that it is designed to accentuate the bust line, whilst making the lower half of the body look smaller. If you don’t want to draw attention to your upper arms, the dress will still look great paired with a cropped cardigan or blazer, and can also be worn with a sleeveless waistcoat to really give it that ‘New Romantic’ feel. Make sure to choose the right footwear though when it comes to the maxi style. Opt for chunky wedges to give a more slender effect and to add height so the dress isn’t sweeping the floor. If choosing to wear in the evening, glamorise as much as possible with chunky bangles, strong, daring necklaces and an oversized clutch.
When it’s time to hit the beach, most of us struggle when it comes to finding swimwear to suit our shapes. If a two piece isn’t for you and you want to stand to attention, try the black mesh insert swimsuit from ASOS priced at just £28. The body con design will cling to all the right areas and black will always flatter body shapes. However, if you feel a bit more conservative when it comes to beachwear and want to keep it simple, ASOS Premium’s metallic studded swimsuit, now £25, ticks all the right boxes by adding just a hint of glamour. The embellished print is designed to attract attention to your top half and away from the midriff that some of us prefer to cover up at this time of year .
The last trend to feature for the sizzling Summer months is something you will either love or loathe. Last seen in the 80’s, the see-through/sheer fabrics look, better known as the ‘underwear as outerwear’ boudoir craze, is everywhere right now but doesn’t need to be as controversial as it sounds! Stay away from colours too overtly sexy like black and red and aim for pretty camisoles and boned corsets in soft hue colours that are consummate for this look. The key word here is what we constantly hear when it comes to fashion....’layering’. A simple lace body over a chiffon blouse and teamed with elegant heels and a structured bag fits the bill perfectly. Contrast your outfit of girlish items with strong, mannish blazers and biker jackets to give it a romantic, military theme. For an all-out, ultimate feminine theme, go for the corset dress. Elegant, chic and undeniably sexy , Lipsy’s lace corset dress, now £40 at ASOS is spot on for the new trend du jour.
This year’s Spring Summer clothing has most certainly proved itself to be fresh, soft and extremely womanly. Take a root through your wardrobe right now ladies, and see what inspiring trends we can cook up with a few basics we so often keep tucked away not knowing what to wear with them. Invest in just a few staple items to carry you through to Autumn ’10 without overdoing your budget and you will be pleasantly surprised at just how many original and sharp looks you can pull off with just a little practice and catwalk inspiration. Carrie Bradshaw, eat your heart out.
