KEY POINTS:
Summer is just around the corner so we think it's about time to sort your warm weather wardrobe. The broader key trends of spring - femininity, dark romance - are still popular, but we're thinking of the mini trends that will help your wardrobe look fresh and up-to-date. From the new bohemian to the return of 90s favourite chambray, here is Viva's summer wardrobe checklist.
ANYTHING FRINGED
Or anything with an opulent print. Alternatively, a headband. In other words, anything remotely bohemian. But this time around, Sienna Miller is nowhere in sight. The new boho is more global and folk-inspired, and takes its cues from Gucci's Fall 2008 collection. It's a look that was huge on the overseas catwalks, but has taken a while to filter down to our local stores. What better season to channel your inner hippie than summer? Several of the key pieces for the season hark back to the new boho: maxi dresses, gladiator sandals, headwear, busy prints, tassels and fringing. Make it a summer of love with Trelise Cooper's patterned dresses, Karen Walker's tasselled and shearling waistcoats or Stolen Girlfriend Club's tasselled bikini and loose peace sign dresses.
WHITE
A white dress looks great with a healthy summer tan. It's also a refreshing change from a LBD, which can sometimes look a bit too heavy and "done" during the summer months. Whether you go with Alexandra Owen's structured dress, Kate Sylvester's prim lace or Karen Walker's girlish ruffled dresses, a white dress will be a solid summer purchase.
SOMETHING SHEER
Sheer fabric could well solve the problem of being too hot in the summer months, just make sure you're not flashing anything inappropriate. A flash of a bra under a sheer top is fine - sexy even - it all depends on how it is worn. Fabric should be floaty, and teamed with something to stop it from looking too saccharine: think cropped skinny jeans or a chiffon dress worn over a sexy lacy slip.
BRIGHTS
Designers always get colour fever in the summer months, and this summer is especially cheery on the colour front. Designers are going for bold, strong colours that pack a punch: jewel tones, oranges and pinks. Alexandra Owen's amazing orange frock combines two summer trends in one - bright and maxi length - and the Karen Walker and Kate Sylvester ranges both feature lots of bright orange. Cybele's colour palette is more toned down, with lots of jewel tones, as is Lonely Hearts (their range combines a great mix of lace with purple tones), and Beth Ellery's hot pink dresses look nothing short of amazing.
ONE-SHOULDER
Disco fever took over the international runway recently, so expect the look (sequins, pant suits, wide-legged pants) to hit locally next season. There's a 70s feel to some collections already though, with one-shouldered dresses and tops appearing at Deborah Sweeney, Sera Lilly and Helen Cherry. It's a classy way to show off a tan (fake of course) and some extra skin.
LIGHTEN UP
It may conjure up unwelcome images of the 90s, but yes, chambray is back. Light denim made a major comeback in Chanel's summer 2008 collection, where Karl Lagerfeld dressed models in everything from denim jackets, wide-legged pants, and bathing suits (something we don't recommend). Fashion wunderkind Alexander Wang also embraced the washed-out denim, with light coloured cropped pants, shorts and shirts. Locally, the summery denim is everywhere, from Twentysevennames to Jaeha, Sylvester, Juliette Hogan and Huffer. The easiest and hippest way to allude to the look? A boyfriend-style chambray shirt - we like those done by Twentysevennames and Levi's.
CROPPED PANTS
These are a great way to bring some grown-up tailoring into your wardrobe for summer, and provide a refreshing change from all that bohemian fluff. Pants should be cropped and skinny, sitting a few inches above the ankle. Sylvester's chambray cropped pants are a great way to cheat and check two things off the list.
A FLORAL PRINT
We are sincerely sorry to keep banging on about this, but florals continue to be fashion's biggest crush. They took over the fashion landscape in winter, and look set to continue to be popular through until winter next year. For summer, small girlish florals should be your print of choice, but we also like bold florals mixed together a la Dries Van Noten. However you wear them, florals will be an investment as they continue into the next season.
SHORT SHORTS
Get ready to bare your legs, as shorts get even shorter for summer. Denim cut-offs with raw edges will be the wear of choice for leggy young things - if you want a pair, make your own by cutting the legs off your baggy jeans - but there are other options. Luella's spring/summer 08 collection featured cute high-waisted satin shorts, and locally Sylvester and Twentysevennames have done their own version of a more grown-up denim short, both of which allude to another key trend:
chambray.
ROUND FRAMES
Two summers ago everyone was in massive Jackie O frames; last summer it was all about the Wayfarer shape. For summer 08/09, eyewear looks to John Lennon and Iris Apfel for inspiration with round frames. Mary Kate Olsen no doubt helped kick-start the look into the mainstream when she wore round Chanel sunglasses. Locally, Kate Sylvester and Karen Walker both offer several round options, with wire and plastic frames. Other options for fresh summer eyewear include delicate and smaller shapes (think 1950s) and other retro shapes.
CASUAL FOOTWEAR
Fashion footwear is sometimes pretty redundant in summer. Who cares what's trendy when you're at the beach in your jandals? But there are fresh and easy to wear footwear options for summer that don't involve rubber. The gladiator sandal works well with the bohemian look, and patent strappy sandals are a great for summer's in the city. If you just can't let go of your jandals but still want something special, may we suggest the Designer Jandals range from Number One Shoes? The range
includes designs from Hailwood, Zambesi, Carlson and Kingan Jones, and they're only $12.99. Score.
RETRO SWIMWEAR
We're hesitant to name a swimwear trend, because we think that when it
comes to swimwear, you should simply wear
a) what you like and
b) what suits your body shape.
But because this is a trend checklist, we will say that two of the freshest swimwear looks are retro shapes and ethnic bohemian styles. Look out for one-shouldered one pieces, like Gucci's pair, or bikinis with paisley prints, tassels and embroidery.
