Everything you must know about what to wear this summer
... as revealed by Britain’s leading fashion experts
The holy grail for any grown-up shopper is a ‘capsule wardrobe’; nine key items that cover every fashion eventuality from a day in the office to a garden party, while simultaneously taking into account the capricious nature of the nation’s weather.
Get it right, and it will save you both time and, ultimately, money. After all, one winning investment piece is always better value than a host of cheaper near-misses.
Which is all fine in theory, but how does one find these perfect pieces? We’re told high-waisted jeans are most flattering on grown-up women, but how high is high? Do jackets really need shoulder pads? how many inches separate the perfect short skirt from something best left to your daughter? And how much should proper cashmere cost?
We invited fashion experts to tell us how to get it right this season, whatever your silhouette. happy summer shopping!
Emma Farrow, formerly design director at topshop and now head of design at Finery, says: A FITTED shirt is always flattering with a skirt or layered under a sleeveless dress, and now the tie-waisted shirt — which will create the illusion of a waist if you’re an apple shape — is back for spring.
With any shirt, it’s important you can move your arms without the fabric pulling — look to see what happens to the buttons when you move around. If they’re straining, the shirt’s too small.
If you have a heavy bust, remember a shirt doesn’t have to have buttons. Finery’s Cobham style (£49), for example, has a flattering tie waist and a buttonless V-neck. Oversized shirts are