SHANE WATSON: Six basic ways to summer-up your look - and you don't have to break the bank doing it!
Here's an odd thing about summer in this country. You plan for it. You buy a few new summer clothes for when the time is right.
You're all set, counting down the days, then there's a burst of good weather, a lull, followed by another glimpse of what's coming and a stretch of cool weather when (don't tell anyone) we put the heating on... before, at last, it arrives. The Great British Summer, hard to pin down, never punctual — this year it's really kept us waiting — and still we're not quite ready for it.
We have the basics, of course, but not those crucial summer-uppers that instantly get you in the zone — the fashion equivalents of the flowers on the table that make your kitchen go from 'any day of the week' to ready for entertaining.
These summer uppers press Go on the clothes we've been waiting to wear for weeks. You don't need all of them, any one of the following will do the trick...
A summer basket
You may be bored of hearing about the joys of summer baskets but, looking at it from another point of view, nothing can drag your summer look back into the overcast months faster than an old dark leather handbag. Lightness is what you get with straw or raffia.
Try Mango for a good straw shopper (£49.99, shop.mango.com). Or, if you want something smarter, then Mango's brown leather and raffia bucket bag (£55.99) looks like something you might find in Hermes. & Other Stories' large straw tote with white leather piping (£85, stories.com) is similarly extra chic.
Elle Macpherson carries a large straw tote bag on holiday in St Tropez
Pick a pendant
If this instantly makes you think of patchouli oil and surfers, scratch that thought and think instead of a smooth silver hollow lozenge on a double leather string by Victoria Beckham for Mango (£17.99) or a silver oval pendant on a leather cord (£59.95, massimodutti.com).
Summer jewellery sounds like the crazy indulgence of a Californian fashion influencer, but it's also an excuse to wear the sort of bold, bright pieces you wouldn't wear in the duller months or to have some fun with shell motifs and faux coral (£16, riverisland.com).
Smooth silver hollow lozenge on a double leather string by Victoria Beckham for Mango (£17.99)
A totally tropical top
Jeans and a pretty top is once again officially on trend and, providing the top is very pretty and dramatically different from your normal run of tops, it's a dress code that works for smart casual summer occasions.
Dramatic cuts, including one shoulder styles are going strong right now but, for our purposes, an eye-catching print blouse, like Me+Em's paisley style with a ruffle collar and full sleeves (£165, meandem.com) will summer up your blue or white jeans, khaki pants, or denim skirt in one step.
Me+Em's paisley blouse with a ruffle collar and full sleeves (£165, meandem.com)
Influencer Olivia Palermo looks chic in a tropical print kaftan dress and summer basket bag
Stay in the shades
Are you taking your shades seriously enough? In this country we aren't used to wearing our sunglasses every day without fail, but the right sunnies upgrade your look and make everything you're wearing appear to have cost what it actually cost, plus a extra nought.
No point recommending a particular shape because one woman's Ray-Bans are another's horror story, but if you want to follow the fashion crowd, heavy frames and angular shapes are what's on trend. Massimo Dutti has a great range of chic sunglasses including an oversize cateye that's fit for Holly Golightly and a pointy-topped square style (both £69.95).
Alessandra Ambrosio in bright lime and cateye sunglasses. Massimo Dutti has a great range of chic shades
One bright thing
I find it impossible to get my head around zesty colours until the sun comes out — so this is the moment to introduce those eye watering colour pops. It might be a shocking pink kitten heel (£28, asos.com); a lemon yellow crescent bag (£81, jigsaw-online.com).
If you like a flat leather mule then Zara's square-toed bright red mules with a keyhole bow detail are delightful (£35.99, zara.com).
Metallic sandals are also an instant summer uplifter; try the silver thong flat sandals from Sienna Miller's range for M&S (£49.50, marksandspencer.com). Otherwise a shirt, or jumpsuit unbuttoned to reveal a bright orange or green or white vest (£8.50, marksandspencer.com), or a bright sweater around your neck will do the trick.
Metallic sandals are also an instant summer uplifter; try the silver thong flat sandals from Sienna Miller's range for M&S (£49.50, marksandspencer.com)
Pile on the white
White is the classic summer-upper and a light, gathered, oversize blouse (£65, hush-uk.com) will lift skirts and cargo pants. White earrings are another summer-only lightener — try laredoute.co.uk for different styles. And you can never go wrong with a white single-breasted jacket (£169, zara.com) to wear buttoned up over a light camisole with swooshy pinstripe pants.
White is the classic summer-upper and a light, gathered, oversize blouse (£65, hush-uk.com) will lift skirts and cargo pants
