No matter what the weather forecasters are saying, according to the fashion calendar it’s time to pack away the winter woollies in preparation for better weather.
Brighten up your wardrobe with the array of pastels, prints and skin-baring pieces hitting the rails.
If the vast new season influx daunts you, invest in the most versatile staples from spring’s major trends with our foolproof fashion guide.
Sweet as candy
Every season there’s one trend that eclipses all others, and for spring/summer the smart prediction is pastels. The runways were full of these candy sweet colours, showcased at Diane Von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton and Christopher Kane.
Try to mix and match pastel coloured separates. These colours are all soft enough to be worn together without looking over the top. Marks & Spencer nail the trend with their pale pink drop-waisted dress, which is guaranteed to fly out of stores.
Too saccharine for you? Ease into this pale and pretty look with accessories; it’ll be hard not to let your girly side fall for footwear in candy colours. Try Office’s pastel perfection sandals in delicate hues of pale peach and accents of lavender and gold
Midi skirt makeover
Autumn/winter saw a movement towards a lower hemline so it’s no surprise designers have continued the longer look into spring/summer. Burberry Prorsum showed a collection of elegant midi length hemlines in pretty tea dresses and sexy pencil skirts.
Take on two trends at once by making your midi skirt a lace one, as seen at Louis Vuitton. Preen have designed a lustworthy blue lace pencil skirt for spring as part of their ongoing Edition collaboration with Debenhams.
Metal meltdown
Metallics are a sure bet for the party season but don’t go packing away those gold and silver pieces just yet. There are two ways to work this trend. Firstly, metallics make the prettiest accompaniment to pastels - Topshop is worth a visit if you’re looking for inspiration.
Secondly, you could roll with a more retro theme. Accents of gold and silver made for opulent adornments at Gucci’s Twenties-inspired spring/summer show. Zoe Saldana demonstrates the look perfectly in a drop-waist Gucci dress with art deco detailing.
Floral fascination
Floral prints have come a long way since the days of bland patterns and this spring/summer sees them come into full bloom. From soft and delicate to bold and graphic, you’ll find flower power in every conceivable form, including appliquéd embellishment.
We all need a floral dress in our wardrobes. For those wishing to steer clear of the more obvious girly styles, New Look have a shift dress in a dusky palette of blues and reds.
For floral separates, blazers are the thing to invest in. Let your jazzy jacket take centre stage and make the rest of your outfit neutral, avoiding mixing with any other distracting patterns. Dorothy Perkins have a great option that won’t break the bank.
