Finally the summer is upon us and it's once again time to get outdoors, remove a few layers and coax ourselves into the sunlight. If you have spent the winter swaddled in thick woollen jumpers then it is probably time to refresh your wardrobe and get ready for summer 2009. Read on for an indispensable guide to looking and feeling great this season.
The Asymmetric Angle
Gracing the catwalks from New York to Milan, one of the hottest looks this season is asymmetric cuts. One-shouldered toga-style tops and dresses popped up everywhere and look great with flat sandals for casual Greek goddess elegance. For a laid-back summer's day, try teaming a single-shouldered top with skinny cut-off trousers and ballet pumps. To keep the focus on your distinctive neckline, avoid over-accessorising but experiment with simple wooden beads in complementary colours.
Accessorise For Summer
When it comes to accessories this season, big is most certainly beautiful. From chunky beadwork to over-sized pendants, large accessories are the defining look of summer. For best results, try not to overdo it but pick one or two items and work around them. The tribal look is also back this season, making it fun to combine the two with a pair of large, brightly-coloured wooden earrings and matching bracelet teamed with a plain cotton top in natural shades.
Killer Heels
Designer footwear is focal this season and a popular trend sweeping the catwalks was the ultra-high killer heel. Heels look fabulous on all body shapes, giving extra height to those of us that need a boost, making legs look longer and slimmer and toning our calves and thighs as we walk. If you allow yourself one fashion splurge this season, a new pair of heels might just have to be it. To get the most out of your purchase, choose a pair that you can adapt to different looks. Black patent with a very slender heel is a good choice as you can team these with suits for the office, skinny jeans for a casual evening look and even with your little black dress for a more formal night on the town.
Dressing For Recession
Of course we are all feeling the pinch of the global recession, but keeping up with the latest designer trends need not cost the earth. Rather than following catwalk fashions to the letter, adopt a more subtle interpretation by choosing items that you know will weather the season. Instead of rushing out to buy a full toga, for example, opt for a more practical one-shouldered dress in a plain fabric that can be matched with a wider range of accessories for many occasions. Another great recession-beating tip is to share accessories with your girlfriends. If you make a pact to each buy one of the season's hottest designer items and then rotate them amongst yourselves, you will be able to create so many more fabulous looks at a fraction of the cost.
Trying just a few of these simple tips for saving money should allow you to treat yourself to the occasional designer item without breaking the bank. Learning to mix budget staples with exclusive items will allow you to keep abreast of the latest trends despite the economic downturn. Carefully chosen Prada clothing, for example, can work well with inexpensive costume jewellery for creating your own unique and alternative style.
www.brownbagclothing.co.uk / Images: Steven Lippman
