Summer has officially arrived in
the UK. You can tell, because regardless of whether the sun is shining or not –
it’s really hot. Finally! For true fashion lovers, the summer is so much more
than a sexy season. Fashion celebrates change, as do those that love it! And a
new season brings about another reason to shop, to update our wardrobes and to
change and create the new summer look.
It’s likely that we’ll already
have in our wardrobe the absolute summer essentials; a maxi dress or two, some
maxi skirts, some patterned light weight trousers, a good selection of camis
and a few key pieces from the previous summer’s trends. However, with the
weather shooting way up towards thirty degrees, Fashionistas, it is now,
thankfully, the time to bring our summer wardrobes up to date and bang on trend.
And as the summer sales are now
in full swing, what better time to shop the season’s key trends and get all of
those summer pieces we have been eyeing up whilst waiting for the weather to kick
in. Of course, whilst sale shopping it is particularly easy to get distracted
by all the discounted prices and lose sight of the items we need to actually
transform our wardrobe. In fact, it’s always easy to lose sight of what we need
when shopping no matter what the case and I often find that if I don’t do the
necessary research beforehand, I end up returning from my trip just as unsatisfied
as I was before I left.
I have spent the past few months
not only purchasing my summer wardrobe, but returning it too. Although I have
managed to accumulate some new clothes, most were far too generic and bland for
me to get excited about wearing – so, unless they looked amazing on me, I
returned them. Of course, returning sale items is not always so easy, so I have
done the due diligence and put together a list of all the season’s key items I
will be shopping and NOT for summer 2015!
Here’s how to update your look
for summer 2015
Don’t Buy Patterned Trousers
Say good bye to patterned trousers.
OK, so this is what I read on Who What Wear – it’s not necessarily a styling
tip that I’ll be following myself. I like patterned trousers and I own several
pairs, but I will avoid buying any more in the sale.
DO Buy Matching Sets
Again, according to Who What
Wear, it’s not cool to wear patterned trousers on their own, but it is
completely fashion forward to rock patterned matching sets. Did someone say
Zara? Plenty of matching sets, both patterned and single coloured line the sale
rails of Zara.
DO Buy Culottes
Like me, the likelihood is that
you’ll own a few pairs anyway and have been mixing them into your ensembles on
the warmer days we’ve experienced already. Now it’s summer and the sales are
here you can be a little more experimental. Go for white and light and brighter
coloured culottes.
Don’t Buy Court Shoe Stilettos
I know how hard this is. I love
stilettos, they are the staple of any wardrobe and they look sharp and sexy
with any and everything. But, the truth is, stilettos are now just as fashion
forward as skinny jeans. So unless you don’t have a black pair of stilettos in
your shoe collection don’t buy them.
DO Buy Statement Sandals
Now is the time to buy the most frivolously
priced or designed shoe. Whether you go all out and go for designers like
Sophia Webster or Charlotte Olympia or again, just go for one of Zara’s more
experimental shoes – now is the time. Think crazy colours, lots of
embellishment and something that you’d never usually buy.
Don’t Buy a Blazer
Does anyone wear blazers anymore? They have kind of died out. A classic wardrobe must indeed, but also boring and not doing anything for your life. Need I say anymore? If you
own a black, navy or grey blazer, you’re pretty much covered. Don’t buy another!
DO Buy…
A Bomber jacket
Cool, edgy and will transform
anything you wear it with. If you’re bold, go for a brighter patterned and
printed bomber. If you’re a minimalist, this Olive green bomber jacket is so
much nicer than the generic khaki green most are wearing.
A Denim Jacket
You can get a denim jacket super
cheap in the sale. The key is to go for the right shape. The fitted denim
jacket is so nineties, hence why my once much loved denim jacket now resides in
my ever growing eBay pile. To get the
denim jacket right, go boxy, boyfriend style.
The sleeveless jacket
Whether you’re more of a leather
vest kind of girl or more tailored chic sleeveless blazer kind of girl, the key
is to put emphasise on proportions and silhouette. Everything is loser, longer
and oversized. So, buy leather vests slightly loser and sleeveless jackets with
a hemline that nears your ankles.
Don't buy cami tops and vests
Of course cami tops are absolute
essentials, but again, they aren’t game changers. So, again, unless you don’t
already own a few of these, don’t buy anymore.
Do Buy Off the Shoulder Tops
Off the shoulder tops are on and
popping right now and paired with any bottoms you might have in your wardrobe,
will make your look completely summer 2015. To avoid looking too ‘Spanish gypsy’,
go for your off the shoulder tops in broderie anglaise or lyocell.
Do Buy Shorter/Crop Tops
Buy crops tops in the dozens.
With much wider, loser garments trending at the moment, the crop top is the
perfect way to show off your waistline when wearing voluminous culottes or midi
skirts. The crop top is a much cooler option too.
Don't buy Gladiator Sandals
I know that gladiator sandals are
all the rage at the moment, but I honestly can’t think of a summer when
gladiator sandals were NOT in fashion. They are a standard summer sandal and in
my humble opinion, always will be. I have owned a pair of gold gladiator
sandals for the past ten years and have never felt that they were ‘soooo out
old or last season’.
DO Buy lace up ballerina flats
If you don’t own a pair of black
pointy flats, then get a black pair and go for an exclusively summer coloured pair
too. As everyone needs a silver shoe for summer 2015, this is a good shoe to go
for in silver. But if you’re not too bowled over by metallic shoes, red or
leopard is a little more adventurous than black.
Happy shopping!
