Keep cool and stylish through the heatwave
Gingham, smocked tops and seersucker dresses are essentials for a stay-at-home summer, says Caroline Leaper
When we entered lockdown it was winter. I, for one, was still going to work in boots and a hefty navy pea coat. Yet here we are now, emerging (gradually) into a heatwave. For those of us who have spent much of the past two months comfort dressing in cosy loungewear, it’s a shock to the system and warning signal; the weather’s changed and some iteration of a Proper Summer is back on the agenda, so you had better get dressed for it.
From Quarantini-time dresses to roots-covering headbands, and the perfect bag to take to a socially distanced picnic, summer 2020’s fashion wish list is different, but no less desirable. These are the pieces that will see you through…
The picnic check bag
It is unlikely that you’ve seen a proper handbag in weeks. As we are released from lockdown, attending socially distanced park gatherings or taking solo jaunts to the beach, you might like to be reacquainted. Woven bag styles have flooded the shops – there are new straw It bags to be found in Loewe’s collaboration with the Ibiza boutique Paula’s, while crochet totes are leading on the high street at Zara and H&M. I love the idea of a bag that looks like it matches the checked picnic blanket; independent British brand Lalo’s gingham styles are made from recycled plastic materials.
The seersucker dress
Enough with all the linen. I don’t intend to spend any unnecessary time indoors, tediously ironing my favourite summer dresses. Enter the seersucker dress, the easy breezy alternative that you can screw up and roll around on the grass in with no creasing consequence. In cotton or viscose, it’s just as airy as linen, and comes cut into flattering tiered dress silhouettes and dyed in spring-worthy pastel shades. It’s ideal for a socially distanced barbecue, but also in life beyond lockdown where you could dress it up with heeled sandals and take it to a wedding – one day.
The bandanna sandals
Since it first appeared on the Prada catwalk back in 2016, the clunky Eva foam-sole sandal has been steadily rising in popularity – but it’s a trend which looks set to peak this summer. French label Arizona Love wraps its trekking shoes with vintage paisley and leopard print bandannas. The alpha move now, though, is to go “bespoke” via lockdown craft hobbies; buy a plain pair from Teva (£40, ASOS) and twist your own
tie-dyed fabric through the loops.
The statement hat
By “statement”, I just mean very, very large. Raffia sun hats look great in selfies, protect the face from UV damage and can fully disguise hair that hasn’t been cut in 10-plus weeks. This summer’s mantra is the bigger the brim, the better; Topshop and Mango have the best selections on the high street, including some with brims exceeding 30cm in diameter that will even throw shade over the shoulders. There are finer details to obsess over too; will you pick something with a delicate contrasting ribbon, or a contender like this one by Lack Of Color (at selfridges.com) with a show-stopping scalloped brim?
The smocked top
Smocking is set to be one of the summer’s key micro-trends, a detail now found on everything from handbags to dresses. Pictured here is the top version of Copenhagen-based brand Ganni’s latest It dress – you’ll observe that it has generous smocking across the bodice providing extra stretch, making it ideal to wear for a big, leisurely lunch. I like that it also has a flattering square neckline and puff sleeves, meaning it’ll translate beautifully on a Zoom call. If your upper half is all that can be seen, you’ve got to throw everything at it.
The cotton cargo trousers
Sometimes, even in a heatwave, you don’t want to wear a dress. There are many busy-looking summer trends to choose from (I’ve seen florals, checks, smocking and fringing all in action on a single garment) but there are also plenty of more relaxed, pared back options. Cue the cotton cargo trousers, an update on winter’s utility trousers trend, but now found in lightweight fabrics and sun-soaked colours; try beige, khaki or terracotta. Find a flattering wide-crop style that a) allows for a breeze up the leg and b) shows off good sandals. Then just tuck in a simple vest top.
The knotted headband
Call it a hangover from the VE Day street party, but Forties-style bandanna ties are the heatwave’s answer to winter’s padded velvet Alice band. I’m not talking about anything over dramatic or millinery-esque. It’s about short, neat, efficient bows that will keep your hair off your face and neck, cover your roots, and add a touch of colour and print into the picture on your next virtual pub quiz call. Find an old silk scarf, and voila. For those who can’t be bothered with the slight faff of tying one, you can even buy them already affixed to a headband. Now pour a Quarantini, close your eyes, and imagine you’re on a yacht off the coast of Mykonos, rather than, yep, still in the garden.