SUMMER STYLE | HOW TO DRESS FOR AN ENGLISH SUMMER

My personal style is very low-key which means whenever I venture out on a lovely summer’s day I am hit with a serious case of style envy. I always feel a bit clueless when it comes to fashion, as a result of my budget, disorganised way of life and chronic lack of accessories. Why can I never find a pair of sunglasses? So I thought I would create a beginner’s style guide for the mercurial British summer so girls like me, who don’t have the inclination or the funds to buy head to toe TopShop, could have some inspiration. We can't all be Kendall, but we can take notes on her enviable style.

BASICS 

Every wardrobe needs a few key items to be complete and effective, this differs for each individual but the pieces that get the most use are usually: a T-shirt that drapes perfectly, silk vests, denim cut offs, boyfriend jeans, ripped jeans, a white button down shirt, a pair of fitted black trousers, and anything black, grey or beige. I know it sounds boring, but when you add in the seasonal wear these essentials create an instagrammable outfit in seconds. Picture a River Island swimsuit with your white shirt thrown over your shoulders and denim cut offs. Add a pair of flip flops and a beach bag and you will be living it up in Weston Super Mare. In England, every closet benefits from the warmer pieces, a jumper, a kimono, a slogan hoodie and a beautiful coat are handy to have all year round. My inspiration for creating the perfect pile of basics usually comes from the off duty style of supermodels, as they are usually made up of popular items we all own, Vogue cover or no. 

TRENDS

Some trends just never ever die, the timeless trends, shall we call them. My favourite trend is stripes. They are flattering, come in monochrome (my favourite) and colour, can be adjusted to suit all body types, are suitable for work and play and are available in almost every high street store. What’s not to love? You can rock the stripe in so many different ways, the simplest being the classic T-shirt with loose jeans. It’s easy and supermodel stylish. In addition to the timeless trend there is also the seasonal trend, culottes had a big moment last summer and it seems they are back for 2016. My favourite thing about culottes as well as the becoming length is the versatility, they can take you from day to night with a swipe of liner or lip gloss. 

ACCESSORIES 

This is the one key facet of style where I fail miserably, I don’t have the forethought to invest in accessories. My jewellery doesn’t have a home, I literally hang my necklaces up on the curtain rail in my bedroom because ain’t nobody got time for a tangled necklace. I really love anklets and snazzy watches to personalise an outfit. There are so many awesome accessories out there, what is your favourite accessory to take your style to the next level?

@heyclaire

SHOES 

As a girl who lives in Chelsea boots like it is an eternal winter, shoes are the hardest part of the summer for me, however in the summer footwear really gets a chance to shine. With a simple outfit a cool pair of shoes can steal the show, Desi Perkins, an absolute goddess, recently spoke about how much positive attention she would receive when she wore a pair of clear boots on holiday. Great, unique shoes don’t have to be expensive and can even be customised if you’re on a budget. 

YOU

Last but not least, as long as you feel good you will look good. Style isn’t about looking like Gigi Hadid, although if I could I so would, it is about looking like yourself and even if you only wear grey dresses and men’s T shirts like me, you still have style. If I could give any advice at all it would be to buy clothes that make you feel good and put an extra wiggle in your walk. I call them my dependent clothes, when I struggle with finding something to wear, those dresses that make me smile are the ones I gravitate towards because I feel good in them. 

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this post and found some inspiration for your summer wardrobe. We haven’t got long until Autumn calls round so make the most of even the barest sliver of sunshine. Please let me know in the comments what you thought of this post and share any style tips that you love. I listened to a Vogue podcast today and Gigi shared some advice, her motto, to her interviewer which I think is beneficial to everybody: Work hard, be kind and make a friend. Words to live by, if there ever were. My links are all below. Take care.

What are your favourite summer style pieces?

Love ❤

Kiran

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