Yes To Spring Cheer, No To Spring Sheer?
If this season's trends are to be believed it's a big ole thumbs up to panties as outerwear and a 'yes please' to sheer errr'thing. I've scooped up a coupla more wearable lewks for summer instead...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, maniacs, not Christmas!! We can all wait for that. I mean spring! The chance to pack away your sweats and polo-necks, your coats and scarves and look ahead to sunshinier days.
I am always beyond bored of the season by its fashionable end… By May I am desperate to wrap up in my coats, bundle up in oversized scarves and pray the South African weather cools down enough to legitimize wearing my gloves. Disclaimer: it hardly ever does, but I press on.
The reverse is true by August. I am bored beyond-beyond-beyond of being clothed and cosseted - belted into coats, cantilevered into trousers, with socks and boots and bras (god, they’re so dull). Anyone else here feel the same? I long for kaftans, summer pedicures, bare skin and ridiculous earrings. And metallics. Obvs always metallics. And neon. Also always neon. By December, my erstwhile office-mates will tell you, I give up completely and literally go into Vacay Fash Mode, even if I have deadlines that still need wrapping. It is baked into my DNA.
So, since I am an expert in such things (see above for proof), allow me to introduce you to the biggest trends (and by that I mean, best buys) of the season ahead. Here’s what you need to look out for and here’s why you should care now. Why? Because now is the one time of the season that it is worth spending $$ – you’ll have maximum cost per wear to kill it all summer long and if you get in really early on the trend – which you should – you have more than one season in you! So go forth and prosper.
TikTok would call it girl maths. I don’t care. They might even be right. For more on girl maths – it’s apparently how “us lasses” justify buying expensive things and, yes, it’s deeply patronizing but also correct if you take any of us seriously when we proclaim that we’re doing it. Which you shouldn’t. Because we do actually know better. And we can maths.
Every year I want to make just one investment in The Great Summer Dress so that I can add a new beauty to my collection. These often come in the form of kaftans – long, swirling to the floor in bold colours – but have taken on a folksier bent of late. Some of my faves are from Dollhouse by Tamryn Walker and Gold Bottom Africa - above. So, this year my Great Summer Dress is best served as a midi length, with a bit of a boho feel - check out Curators Online - below. That means it is jacquard or embroidered print or even shimmer-threaded Indian cotton with a sturdy puff of a sleeve or a fabric belt. It offers a little hit of the 70s, so you could just as easily pair it with a great pair of platform heeled sandals as you roll into a pair of Birks and be done with it!
The best version of these obvs sports pockets because pockets trump everything. Many of the ones I’ve spotted this year offer a cut-out – do not be deterred, this is often more of a fit than a giant gaping hole, but you’ll find enough version sans holes if that is not your bag. Many of them also are backless but, tbh, thanks to the sturdier fabric, those versions for me, ensure that I look like I am wearing an apron … And not in the sexy “you’re wearing nothing but an apron” kinda way, but more like a “matron, one of the patients from you asylum has escaped and you look strong enough to tackle him” kinda way. So it’s a hard pass from me on the backless dress but try it, I say! You might be rewarded for your efforts.
Next on The Summer I Turned Fashun List should be sandals… A purchase that will instantly update your wardrobe and keep you banging on about cost-per-wear all season long! The season of the ugly (or dad - you pick, Adam Sandler) sandal is still upon us, but I have made peace because sensible sandals are madly comfortable. Do not tell Manolo. The sensible sandal comes in two forms. The one is, quite obviously, a Birkenstock. I know, I know, I’m a forever convert now.
This season’s must-have Birks are the Milano – those are the ones with the back-strap, just bear with me – and the bigger buckle, so they’re part of their luxe range. And if you can get it right, I’d say go for the patent black or the butter yellow - above. Both are beyond gorgeous, bang-on-trend and also instant classics. And stupidly comfortable.
The other sandal to know that everyone has copped onto it is the more reasonably priced version of Chanel’s quilted Rockies. I don’t know what they’d be called in fashion parlance. It’s the best way to describe them. They were EVERYWHERE this summer in Europe. I spotted them all over London, on feet and in stores, and all over the gram… In shades of blushing nude or black. A winner that offers a balance in silhouette to the flimsy goings on up top. And comfortable. And stylish. And tres, tres fash.
There are, of course, Other Trends we can talk about but they’re just not something you’re going to want to attempt outside of A) the Venice Film Festival, B) pissing off your granny or C) a Zara catalogue. And they are, in no particular order, sheer clothes with racy nips on full spotlight, your panties as outerwear and pockets masquerading as skirts - Miu Miu of course.
I personally love the update on sheer as the Naked Dress has become a billowing, gossamer, flouncey romantic version of itself, which is really rather glorious. While still remaining unwearable by Normal Population. The rest, yeah, maybe judge for yourself…