THE VACATION

Vacation season is just around the corner and SS17 offers myriad opportunities to bolster your suitcase selection. From weightless layers that lend themselves well to endless days in the city sun to stylish swimwear that’s sure to cut a chic silhouette poolside, these are the pieces that promise to raise the excitement for holiday season and form the groundings of your getaway uniform. Your summer wardrobe has never looked so good.

PALM PRINT PERFECTION

Effortless summer dressing is something that the floaty maxi dress always wins at and it shows no signs of relinquishing its top spot as the summer must-have for SS17. Palm-inspired print dresses capture the essence of island life and as a result they translate particularly well to tropical destinations. This season’s muted palette evokes a certain softness that feels overtly feminine, so toughen up the overall look with gladiator black sandals and layer on statement jewellery to up the impact.

IN STRIPES

The striped shirt is always in style but white shorts bring a new purity to the look that will revive even the most classic of cuts in time for summer. Style unbuttoned at the neckline and partially tucked-in, a relaxed fit will artfully showcase the high rise of wide-leg shorts. When it comes to footwear, make gladiator-inspired sandals your calling card for city days; they’ll see you through the season and fare just as well with floor-sweeping maxi dresses as they do with mini-lengths.

UP THE GLAMOUR

Sometimes there’s a swimwear style that’s simply too chic to save just for the beach and this season’s one-piece designs come in a rich colour palette, from deep teals to warm russet tones, that gives them something of an evening-ready slant. Dress them up by draping a longline white blazer over your shoulders, then add flippy printed shorts and high heeled shoes for a grown-up take on classic summer separates styling.

ONE SHOULDER

The shoulder has become something of an emphasis of late with bardot-inspired necklines heading up many-a style edit. Here, we shift focus to the one-shoulder silhouette, a chic younger sister of the season’s hero piece and one that delivers just as much in terms of drama. Make it your go-to for sundowners by the sea and don’t eschew classic black dresses when it comes to packing for warmer climes; when cut to reveal the right amount of sun-kissed skin it slots perfectly into a tropical setting.

RUFFLES RE-WORKED

There’s something romantic about summer’s obsession with ruffled detailing on party dresses and whilst it comes in varying degrees of intricacy, it’s one-tier layering that captures the trend in the most elegant manner. Colour-pop hues are a must for summer but be sure to balance a statement shade by keeping accessories to a minimum and make-up natural.

MAKE WAVES

Blue and white is one of summer’s most classic colour combinations and when nautical stripes grace swimwear, there’s little more appealing. Bring this time-tested look firmly into the now by teaming it with dusty-pink separates and espadrilles to welcome a certain peppiness to your vacation wardrobe.

IN THE FRAME

When it comes to poolside accessories, one rule applies; the bigger the better. Cat-eye sunglasses in chunky acetate will add instant glamour to any look and beach cover-ups come in conceptual cuts designed to expertly drape the silhouette. In addition, you can forget what you think you know about knitwear on holiday. Oversized shapes in light-as air weights translate just as well to the side of the pool as they do after dark and will breathe fresh perspective into your look. Pair with a bold black top for maximum impact.