Seven summer style updates worth trying
Fashion seasons and real life seasons are like human years and dog years. If fashion’s spring/summer (which starts around the end of January) were real-life spring/ summer, we’d be at the point now where kids being on their school holidays is a tad grating and you’re quite looking forward, actually, to the nights drawing in so you have an excuse to eat shepherd’s pie and get your jumpers out.
But here we are, now arrived in real life spring/summer and you are probably just starting to think it’s time to reacquaint yourself with your toes and get quite excited about leaving the house without a jacket. News of this weekend’s heatwave hailed a decisive moment in my own getting dressed MO; I’ve had my ankles out and have put my winter coats out to take to the dry cleaners (possibly a premature decision, it might snow next week).
The first rule of updating your wardrobe for a new season should be to look at what you’ve already got first… what fits? What have you grown out of (literally or metaphorically)? What’s missing? What sparks joy and what sparks meh? What must you absolutely ban yourself from buying again because you’ve multiples already (it’s A-line white denim skirts for me, although no one should be ashamed of a pile of essential outfit builders, like good T-shirts). Once you have your existing arsenal clear in your mind, it’s time to sprinkle in a few updates.
There are options galore in the shops now – maybe fashion and real seasons are syncing a little? These are the ones I’m backing as the most useful and flattering with potential to still fill you with excitement when you’re digging them out from under the bed again next year…
The linen shirt
Linen is a classic summer look but it’s also enjoying A Moment. I love the idea of wearing a long, loose linen shirt as 2019’s breakfast-to-beach outfit – which I’m aware will only account for a couple of hours of my clothes-wearing time over the summer. But there are plenty of other situations to make it justifiable. Wear over shorts or tucked into jeans with a cardi over the top on those days in July when it feels like winter. Asceno’s is the one I’m lusting after – the olive green and blush pink options are lovely and cut with a great neat-butlong silhouette. Uniqlo also has an excellent selection – shop the women’s section for fitted version or try a men’s one for the perfect slouch.
The kaftan dress
We’re really down to the minutiae when it comes to dresses now and it’s true that really anything goes – tea, midaxi, polka dot, ruffled dresses… The niche I’ve recently discovered is the kaftan dress, which is very different to the pure kaftan (this is a huge thing already). There’s a silky, lighter feel to the kaftan dress, which makes it different to its namesake relation. Confused? Maybe don’t think about the name and look at how lightweight and pretty this Essentiel Antwerp frock is. It’s long with sleeves, so ideal when you want to be covered but cool in the sun. Just think how nice it’ll look with boots and a polo neck come winter, too.
The buttonthrough skirt
It’s a wonder that we ever did without midi skirts. We probably never actually did, just called them something different. In fact, we definitely didn’t because just look at the Forties/fifties and Seventies – midi-skirt heaven! It may be in administration but LK Bennett is still trading and has its great Oda skirt back in stock and has also introduced a chambray circle version, the Annelin. I counted 13 variations on the buttonthrough on M&S’S website, from a longer denim option to a green checked style that would be excellent with a white shirt and espadrilles for Wimbledon.
Silky trousers
When images landed of Michelle Obama in a clementine and oatmeal striped pyjama/trouser suit hybrid this week, it felt like confirmation that silky trousers have replaced linen ones as the style to wear this summer (linen will have a considerable presence elsewhere in your wardrobe). The former First Lady’s look was by London label Roksanda, which is a haven for ultra-luxe breeziness. Another queen of languid glamour is Danish designer Stine Goya who has a maximalist’s dream smorgasbord of slippery soft palazzos.
A safari jacket
This summer is all about the safari jacket, which is now less Indiana Jones, more elegant alternative to a denim jacket. Next is really backing this look, which we could also categorise as a “shacket” (a shirt/ jacket hybrid), with several subtly different iterations – the £35 khaki utility jacket is my favourite (it also comes in denim) but there’s also a £42 cropped version. I prefer ones that come with either a belt or an elasticated waist detail as it stops things looking too block-y. Arket’s £89 Expedition jacket is the one to opt for if you’ll be wearing yours for smarter scenarios; the D-ring belt and sharp epaulettes are just the kind of thoughtful details this upmarket spin-off from H&M now delivers.
Smart shorts
Let’s talk about knees. My cousin calls the ones our family is afflicted with “Keen knees” (my grandmother’s maiden name) so I am all too aware of consciousness around this area. While mine will forever be more sausage than supermodel, I’m not going to let that get in the way of trying a look that I really love, and this summer, that’s the chic short. High waisted, baggy around the thighs and often long enough to be within touching distance of the knees.
Unsurprisingly, it’s an Australian label that has nailed the ideal tailored short. Lee Mathews’ Bonnie style comes in khaki or off-white, both spanning the “could pull on over a swimsuit or wear with a blazer for work” spectrum. At a similar price point to Mathews are Tibi’s brilliant belted shorts, while on the high street, Jigsaw’s £79 Portofino style is sublime.
The naked sandals
Net-a-porter reports that they have sold 11,000 units of the “naked” sandal to date. As the name implies, it involves a rather terrifying flesh to leather ratio, which I’ve never been sure is a good idea in the foot zone. But 11,000 people can’t be wrong, can they? Besides, the super strappy sandal does look chic when it comes with a great pedicure.