Making a big fashion statement is easy. The difficulty lies in the detail. Choosing the right accessories is vital to creating the right look. You can pick all the right pieces for your high summer capsule wardrobe, but team them with the wrong finishing touches and you might as well lock yourself in a wardrobe and not emerge until autumn. You don’t have to spend a huge amount on good accessories – although it often helps if you can – but you do have to spend time getting the details right. Colour is key for high summer. You might shy away from wearing a searing cerise dress or violently violet trousers, but wearing such scary colours as small but significant accent pieces is something most of us can cope with. Look for colourful belts, scarves (cool, lightweight silk, not heavyweight, winter woollies), bags, shoes, hats and jewellery. But – and this is an important but – don’t be tempted to go completely matchy-matchy. It is incredibly old fashioned (and tediously timeconsuming) to insist on matching your shoes with your bag and your belt with your bangle. Be brave with your colour choices. Be brash and dare to clash.

If Natural fabrics and materials (with more than a hint of recyclability about them) are everywhere, and with good reason. Silk and cotton allow your skin to breathe and work with your body to combat the excesses of the high summer heat. And there is something gratifyingly back-to-nature about wearing jewellery made from wood, pebbles, shells or bamboo. It might sound like wishful thinking, but you can also actually look slimmer if you choose the right accessories (yes, really). Wear loose, draping accessories – long, ethnic-style necklaces and delicate summer scarves are particularly good choices – and they will draw the eye away from what you see as your problem areas. You can also use accessories to accentuate your best bits (again drawing attention away from the lumps and bumps you are not so keen on). If you have a naturally nipped in waist, buy a thick belt. If you have great calves, get yourself some gladiator sandals. If you are particularly proud of your curvy cleavage, get yourself a plunging necklace. And if you think your arms are charming, get yourself two, three or possibly four chunky and pleasantly clunky bangles. You see, the thing with accessories is that less isn’t more. More is more. Just as you can’t be too thin or too rich, you can never have too many accessories.

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Want to look good (almost) naked this summer? Unfortunately, Gok Wan can’t go on holiday with all of us – he’d like to, but he’s got all those TV programmes to make – so we have to use our own judgement when it comes to the tricky topic of choosing a bikini. Mere mention of the dreaded b-word will probably have sent some of you fleeing in horror, but it doesn’t have to be such a trial by Lycra. There is a flattering bikini out there for everyone, you just have to know what to look for. It’s easy to get swimwear wrong, going for something with too little support, too little fabric for your figure, grabbing the wrong size in a panic or opting for colours that don’t work with your skin tone (made even worse by the sheer acreage of skin you have to flaunt). The key to getting it right is to get some advice. Most stores put their swimwear collection alongside their lingerie for a reason – you need to be measured and fitted properly for both to ensure you flatter and flaunt rather than bulge and gape. If you are in your teens or twenties, you probably have some figure hang-ups, but remember that youth is on your side. These are your bikini years, so make the most of them by going for bright colours in cuts as skimpy as you dare. Women in their thirties often start to have minor gripes about their figures, particularly if they have had a baby or two along the way. It is at this stage that pear shapes often make the mistake of opting for the cover-up capabilities of a boy-leg pant, but don’t let this blind you to the leglengthening loveliness of a high-cut bikini bottom (it really does add inches – in a good way). Post-pregnancy tums can also cause problems. But don’t panic if your tummy muscles have already gone on holiday – that’s what tankinis were invented for. They add cover and support where necessary, and can be scrunched up when you’re comfortably prone on your sunbed and ready to top up your tummy tan. When you reach your forties it’s time to reach for a little more support. Underwired or shaped cups give a lift, while flattering details and fabulous fabrics draw the eye away from any niggling figure problems. There is no rule to say you can’t wear a bikini in your forties, but if they make you feel too exposed try a one-piece with a clever cutaway design instead. Elegance is the key to looking good in swimwear once you’ve hit 50. Bold colours can still be very flattering, especially as your holiday progresses and your tan develops, but you have to start being a bit cleverer with the cut. A lot can be achieved with a Lycra-rich fabric that can pull in less than taut tummy muscles in a trice. And hidden structuring in areas that need particular support (yes, your wibbly bits) can work wonders, allowing you to give those younger poolside princesses a real run for their money. But, whatever your age, try not to get too hung-up on what you look like. Holidays are supposed to be fun, you know. So what if you don’t look like Ursula Andres? Even Ursula Andres doesn’t look like Ursula Andres anymore. Just grab yourself an ice-cold drink and a hot holiday read. It’s chill out time, so be cool.  

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The summer party season is fast approaching and you need to put your decision making hat on (no, not the fascinator with the feathers; this job needs something substantial with a bow and brim the size of a dinner table). Summer parties tend to be relatively informal, fun, outdoor events with good food, good wine and good friends. They should be a breeze to dress for, but they can prove tricky. Yes, they are informal and fun, but you still want to look stylish… but not overdressed… but not too casual either… but, well we could argue this one backwards and forwards all day. Before you get bogged down in too much detail, the first thing you have to do is buy a dress. And there’s no hiding behind muted tones this season. You have to buy a dress and it has to be colourful. The catwalks looked like an explosion in a Dulux factory, with splashes, strokes, streaks and squiggles of chaotic colour on every available surface. But you don’t have to look like a walking canvas if you don’t want to. You can go for a dress with a more subtle motif or incorporate colour through your accessories (a zingy scarf, bag and shoe combo can work wonders for an otherwise ‘safe’ outfit). When it comes to shoes, you really have to consider the heel carefully. A chunky heel gives a shoe strength. It is unlikely to snap in half when you’re trotting across the lawn to the terrace and it also gives the wearer a sense of authority. With a chunky heel, you get the height you need without the pain (they are ridiculously comfortable). But, let’s face it, sometimes you are happy to put up with a bit of pain for a pair of sky-high stilettos that slim your calves, flatter your ankles and make you feel like a million dollars. And then, of course, there are flats. Ballet pumps are still going strong and are great for warm, summer days. But be careful wearing them on warm, summer nights out because they can leave you – literally – looking a bit down at heel. Feel free to have some fun with your bag though. There are some great bold floral designs this season and fantastic geometric designs – and you don’t have to pay the earth for them. Go for something bright, eye-catching and reasonably priced for a summer party and give your discreet Chanel clutch the night off.  Give your shades the night off too. Sunglasses are great for during the day, but as dusk approaches they rapidly start to lose their style credibility. And so do you. So, now you’ve got the basics: a colourful, flattering dress; seriously stylish shoes that you can wear all night; and a bag with bags of fun. Now all you have to do is have a good time.      

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For one thing, the boat might not actually make it out of the harbour if you don’t. A cruise is more than just a holiday, so you need more than just your usual holiday clothes. Shorts, sarongs and a pile of Tshirts are fine for your average get-away, but you need a more varied capsule wardrobe for a voyage on the high seas. But the emphasis should still always be on ‘capsule’ rather than ‘wardrobe’. Even when you are going on a cruise, you still have to choose. Even though many cruise ships have loosened their dress code policies in recent years, you still need a wide range of clothes. Before you pack, it’s important to familiarise yourself with your cruise itinerary. This will give you a good general impression of what clothes, accessories and shoes to pack. In general terms, a cruise usually involves three broad style themes: formal social, smart casual and active sporty. Day wear can mean anything from swimsuits, shorts, T-shirts and jeans depending on where you are going. You’ll need little more than a sarong if you’re touring the Bahamas, but it’s wise to add a wrap or two and even a light windbreaker if you’re navigating the Med instead. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a different dress for every formal evening occasion. Learn to use your accessories wisely and you will save a lot of space. If you follow the basic principles of packing – fashion and function – you won’t go far wrong. Don’t pack anything unless it goes with at least three other items in your case. It might be your favourite designer skirt, but if it can’t be mixed and matched with three tops it shouldn’t make the cut. By packing smart, you can take away a lot of the stress associated with cruise wear. And, even better than that, you’ll have more room for all those lovely souvenirs.





 

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