It’s time to get clever about summer dressing.
How many times have you stepped out of your house into the blistering heat, cursing your decision to wear a jacket, only to be caught in a downpour minutes later? Luckily, this season’s trends provide the perfect fashion loopholes to avoid ever feeling like you should have double-checked the forecast before you got dressed.
We’d like to introduce you to five clever styling tips that will see you adequately suited and booted for whatever the British climate throws at you...
1. The winter coat
Don’t resign that fabulous winter coat to the back of the wardrobe just yet. Taking inspiration from Miu Miu’s SS14 collection, that pink coat you bought at Christmas can be fully incorporated into your summer wardrobe (winter coats are in fact the perfect juxtaposition to a bare leg). A flying jacket will toughen up tea dresses, and this ASOS pastel-toned duster coat, £60, will look sunshine-friendly over a slip dress and Birkenstocks.
2. Socks and sliders
This trend might take some convincing, but if Phoebe Philo swears by the combo that’s reason enough for us to try it out. There are a few ways to have fun with this trend: pop tan sliders on with a summery sock, try black and navy slip-ons with a slightly translucent sock of the same hue, or make like Marni with these bejewelled sliders from Zara, £59.99.
3. Layering gets playful
Spring layering is an art that once mastered will see you making the most of your whole wardrobe. Richard Nicoll’s SS14 collection is a masterclass in summer styling - he mixed gingham prints over, and under, fine knits and midi-skirts. If you’re not sure about braving that cami dress you bought for your holiday into the office, simply slip it over a long sleeve turtle neck for an ideal transitional look. Pinafore dresses will look perfect over the gingham or plaid shirts that you might be tempted to tuck away until next winter. We're loving this gingham print dress from Topshop Boutique, £65.
4. Do the dungaree
Dungarees are our hero piece for this season as they ace both practicality and style. If you bought a suede or leather pair this winter, you can wear them over a fitted crop top or sheer blouse this summer to make them sunshine-savvy. Stella McCartney has an incredible pair of indigo denim flared ones, but for those of us with less cash to splash, American Apparel’s white cotton ones look like they’ve trotted off the Margaret Howell runway and will look gorgeous over a crisp shirt and paired with Converse.
5. Culottes are your friend and they are everywhere
Gauchos, wide-leg cropped pants, culottes, whatever you want call them, they’re having a moment. The wonderful thing about a culotte is that they flatter all shapes and spell out summer without the full-leg commitment. They look their best with a fitted t-shirt and a midi-heel. Try these Whistles navy silk culottes with a denim jacket and mules and you’ll be good to go.
