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So we’re into June and it’s officially summer. Here are some seasonal fashion mistakes to avoid…
DON’T: Stick with floral print dresses. Not saying no to all floral dresses but a delicate ditsy floral print is young woman only (YOWO) territory and besides, we need to press refresh.
DO: The better alternative for grown ups is a botanical print (more sophisticated than the wild meadow variety) or splashy abstract florals.
Marks & Spencer’s cotton V-neck midi waisted dress, in a duck egg blue and olive botanical print (£45, marksandspencer.com) is a good example of how to grow up your floral print. Colours are important too.
As a rough rule strong colours (fuchsias and reds) or cool colours (apricot, olive and cool blue) are the ones that avoid the girlish trap.
DON’T: Assume that summer means floaty and floral. It can mean crisp, coloured tailoring, or a light background pinstripe.
DO: Wear what you look good in the rest of the year and give it a summer spin: a fresh apricot blouse and coloured, high-waisted, wide leg trousers – try Zara’s light pinstripe (£29.99, zara.com) – beats a billowing sundress that makes you feel like one of the opera chorus.
DON’T: Automatically wear short sleeves. As soon as the sun comes out we feel obliged to get our arms out; we think long sleeves are wintry, and so they are unless they are pushed up, or they finish just below or just above the elbow. (If you have toned arms, you’ll want to show them off, so skip to the next point.)
DO: Go for a three-quarter sleeve with volume which you can wear just below the elbow too (that M&S print dress, for instance). A bracelet-length sleeve, so long as it’s full and light, works well and sheerish flared sleeves are great for those of us who can’t seem to shake our bingo wings.
DON’T: Feel obliged to bare just because it’s summer. Some lower leg sure. Arms within reason (see above). I’m not crazy about seeing fiftysomethings’ legs above the knee unless it’s on holiday or on a padel court. And please no skirt splits.
DO: Accentuate your waist with a belt. Wear a maxi instead of a mini – the hot length for summer. Show off your ankles with an ankle strap cage shoe (£49.99, zara.com). Show off some chest and collarbone in a deep V top or dress (note chest not cleavage), with a camisole if you like.
DON’T: Get your feet out, unless they’re in mint condition. It’s the season of open sandals but if your feet are not in pristine condition then keep them covered.
DO: The new semi sandal caged heels are a useful compromise, open at the back but covered in front with a toe cage of slim leather straps.
M&S do a neat low kitten heel slingback with a natural woven toe (£49.50, marksandspencer.com) and Zara do several flat cage sandals including, my favourites, a gold metallic pair which look great with tailored trousers (£39.99, zara.com).
DON’T: Stock up on lots of summer black. I say that as someone who used to do just that because at the start of summer black (cheesecloth was my weakness) looks so safe and smart and likely to suit all kinds of situations.
And summer black is chic when worn with slim bare arms, bare shoulders, some on show back, a sliver of midriff. If your summer black is a covered up midi shirt dress not so much. It can look heavy.
DO: Go for a black skirt – Marks and Spencer do a good cotton A-line one (£32.50) and Cos has a smart midi with an elasticated waist (£87, cos.com) – to wear with a block coloured top, say a red silk cotton cardigan over a matching vest (£120 and £70, riseandfall.co). Alternatively, wear the black shirt dress open over a white or red vest with red accessories – shoes or bag.
DON’T: Wear anything clinging. If there is a more ageing item of clothing than a short sleeved, knee length jersey dress, I can’t think of it.
DO: Try an A-line lightweight chocolate palm print maxi dress from Hush (now £88, hush-uk.com) or their petunia loose linen blend trousers and matching shell top (now £48 and £72).
DON’T: Wear pedal pushers. Women our age seem to be drawn to them in pink or white and you may as well have a sign around your neck that reads: Pushing Sixty.
DO: Loose and wide is the elegant option (and the fashionable choice), and cropped at pedal pusher length looks good in high summer with the right shoes. Try Zara’s cropped khaki chino’s (£35.99, zara.com) with a white top and an elegant flat sandal. Alternatively, just go with a crisp white wide-leg trouser. Beats a pedal pusher every time.
