Dear Mattie: How do I hold on to summer?
— Savouring Summer in Ambleside
Dear Ambleside: Summer trends have a lot of flair this year. Flair adds to an outfit by having a sense of styling. Flair is not necessarily trendy - it can be a personal touch from another season. Summer is a great time to mix and match different pieces. Let's start with white. White is synonymous with summer. Everything comes in white, so this will be an easy place to start. If you like a bold look, then all your pieces can be white, or you can break it up with patterns and other summer colours.
White streamlines an outfit, even if it is casual. White leaves a smart impression, as long as it is clean. Classic white looks include a T-shirt, shorts, a lightweight long-sleeved shirt, sneakers, sunglasses and a hat. A white T-shirt looks great with denim or cargo shorts and sneakers. A patterned top dresses up white shorts with metallic sandals. A white long-sleeved shirt acts like an outer layer for a summer dress on a cool evening. Add the white sunglasses and hat to any outfit and you have a summer look. Knit tops with a strappy underlayer are trendy this summer. The look is that of a lightweight coverup, mostly in neutrals and black and white. The knit is large and airy, like a crochet. The shape is slouchy. This look works best as the weather starts to cool in the evenings. It also looks great over a summer dress, enhancing the layered look.
Themes that stand out this summer are flowers, butterflies and ruffles that look like petals. You can find these themes in the patterns on tops, bottoms and dresses. You can also find them in their actual shapes as origami on a purse, trim on a head band, or embellishment on jewelry. The most popular flower this season is the understated daisy. From what I have seen this season, the daisy has been working hard and looking great.
A trendy summer piece should be unique to the season. Sunglasses and hair styles are a perfect example of looking like you live by the beach, but aren't there right now. Most women have many sunglasses to match their different moods and styles. Big and bold colours are very popular, especially patterns like flowers, stripes and colour blocking. Graphite split-colour frames with coloured lenses make a modern statement.
To finish off your look, try something different with your hair such as a slicked-back ponytail, a large braid to the side, or even small French braids around your face that look like a hairband. Putting your hair up is a great way to add summer to your hairstyle.
The overall trend this season falls into a confident lifestyle vibe. Free and easy is the rhythm for casual trends. Sophisticated and smart rules the office and evening looks.
My favourite vibe this summer is the music festival look - a modern hippy. These looks are not challenging; they are as easy as a big, floppy summer hat, white trousers, or a striped beach-sized tote. Each item can be the starting point of your outfit or they can be worn together to create the ultimate fashion statement.
Adieu,
Mattie
Mattie is a freelance writer and fashion expert. Reach her on her Facebook page or follow her on Pinterest at Mattie a la Mode.
