5 things you need this summer
We women in our 50s are the absolute bane of High Street moguls. We’re the biggest, most attractive market, with the most money at our disposal yet, frustratingly (for them), we’ve stopped shopping.
In place of the credit card binges of our youth, we’ve developed this new middle-class habit called ‘shopping our wardrobes’. What this means is rediscovering, re-wearing and restyling all the clothes we’ve hoarded over the decades.
In my case, this means trotting out things I bought, never wore, then promptly forgot about.
This summer I’ve dug out an unworn pair of Jil Sander sandals with chunky heels and ankle straps that seemed wildly extreme in 1999. It might have taken 17 years, but they’ve come right: perfectly in proportion with this summer’s longer skirts and cropped trousers.
If you haven’t cottoned on to wardrobe trawling, I urge you to give it a try. There is no better feeling than digging out a favourite that has come of age.
When people ask where you got it, being able to say ‘This old thing? I’ve had it for years’ is deeply satisfying.
So does this mean you don’t need to buy anything this summer? I’ve spent a long time thrashing this out with friends.
A retail buyer told me she operates on a ‘one in, one out’ policy, insisting a new item performs a role a current one never did or can no longer do.
Admirable, but it requires you to be able to summon to mind every last thing in your wardrobe. No, me neither.
BUT even if you can’t perform these feats of fashion memory, the new buying mentality undoubtedly has the need/want balance firmly skewed towards the ‘need’.
With this in mind, I’ve narrowed my essential summer wardrobe into five categories.
Always excepting the eventuality of a special occasion — a whole other matter — these are the things I believe are worth the search if you don’t have them already.
If you set out with a core colour palette in mind — say white and blue with a touch of red and khaki — then you have your summer uniform sorted. 1. A SHIRT OR BLOUSE: There’s enough style action in this department to add a necessary spritz of life to an old wardrobe. To me, it’s about fresh blue-andwhite stripes or something ruffly or printed with a Victoriana air. Anything that’s not tight and short — wear them loose or softly tucked into a waistband.
My High Street pick is a light blue striped shirt, £25.99, zara.com. 2. JEANS: They are definitely back, as a grounder for everything — wear them with the hems rolled up and smarten them up by teaming with much more formal tops, sandals and mid-heels.
If you only have skinny jeans, then it’s time for a more relaxed pair.
Braving a trying on marathon is as hit-and-miss as it always was, I won’t lie. But Marks & Spencer’s straight-leg Ozone jeans, £15, in six colours are a good place to start. 3. A MIDI SKIRT: Yes, you might have some, but this is the year to add to your stockpile. The ideal is skirts that hit anywhere from 2 in below the knee to 2 in above the ankle, maybe in cotton poplin with a slight flounce or sunray pleated (head to Zara for these styles).
Alternatively, try a midi printed with Fifties flowers such as the floral print midi skirt, £75, from silkfred.com. 4. A SUMMER TOTE: One thing that does need refreshing every summer is the big, basket-sized bag that can be used anywhere from the office to a weekend picnic. I like something that gives the illusion of being organised and spick-andspan with structure, such as the everyday shopper, £69.50, boden.co.uk. 5. THE UTILITY JACKET: This is a triumphal long-term purchase if you can get it right. With our summers of unpredictable downpours, a lightweight, but semi-smart, coat/jacket is something not to be without.
Practically every fashion editor I know has a version of an army jacket, such as Topshop’s Unique. I give Boden’s army green parka, printed with splashy blue and white flowers (£129, boden.co.uk) top marks — it looks much more expensive and is the makings of a trophy purchase you’ll still be glad you went for in 2018.