Summer Trends

Alas after a series of storms and snowy periods the sun will come out and shine upon us this year. Summer is right around the corner ladies and with various retail shops opening up their holiday shop section already its only reasonable that you take a peak and set up your suitcase so you’re prepared to jet off to whatever wonderland you’ve booked this year. But before you go pack and shove every piece of clothing you can find in your post-exam haze, let me update you with the upcoming summer trends for 2019.

Bardot/Off the shoulder

This is a classic trend for summer and will no doubt be in every store you enter. It’s a safe yet trendy style to go for, you can wear it for brunch, semi-dinner and even dinner dinner. However, do mix it up as this style can literally go on anything, yes I am talking about tops, dresses and of course jumpsuits! There is plenty room for variation don’t forget. The bardot crop tops are the most popular and give a cute vibe to your outfit. A huge plus of bardot and off the shoulder designs in Summer is that it allows for your shoulders to relax without any tight material around them but if we are going to be real, like girl-to-girl, it really does allow the pits to breathe in the scorching heat.

Animal prints, flowers and…tie dye?

Yes you read that correctly, the tie dye design is back in and flooding the fashion runways and filtering down to our most beloved shops! But before we embark on the yellow brick road back to Year 7 art class, I want to talk about the latest animal prints preying on the most fashionable of us and of course ‘flower power’ blossoming perfectly in time for your summer suitcase.

Animal prints are such a daring pattern to wear but it also shows that you are super confident in your fashion sense and in yourself. I really do applaud ladies who can pull this look off. And by animal prints I really mean snake or leopard; these are the deadliest of animals but in their own way the most beautiful and intriguing as well. Have you ever heard the phrase dressed to kill?

With snake prints, don’t just stick to the standard colours like cargo green or grey but explore electric blues, lime green, cherry reds or hot pinks. Snake prints are rarely one colour and consists of shades of one colour or are mixed with black or white. Snake prints look better on either a top or jeans or fitted trousers.

As for leopard prints, I would go for colours such as shimmery silver, white or deepened colours such as dark red or orange, all with a mixture of black. Also pay attention to the leopard spots and how they are positioned on the item of clothing, it can make all the difference between tacky and absolute slaying it. I would suggest going for medium sized to large leopard spots. Too small and it can leave the leopard spots looking too claustrophobic with no room for the background colour to come through. Also go for the spots which fit nicely together and aren’t too oddly different from each other but not too similar, instead they should complement each other. If you need any inspiration on animal prints look at the above pics!

Moving onto flowers, this is a must if you heading off to somewhere which has sand, the sea or a pool. Flowers are the epitome of summer arriving. The best item of clothing flower patterns tend to look great on is a top or a midi/maxi dress. Stick to bright colours, flowers are supposed to be colourful and that is where their true beauty comes from. If it’s the daytime go towards lighter colours but if going for the evening flower look, switch to a darker background for your floral patterns (which should still be bright and colourful).

And finally tie dye. I was just as surprised as you are with this one. But then I thought Summer is a time for colours and its time for parties and festivals. So definitely go for the standard rainbow look if you are feeling the 90s hippie vibe, an absolute classic. But also go towards more pastel colours with a hint of a darker colour. This will make it stand out even more. Don’t be afraid to go for this look as it is quite a daring one but that’s why it is even more enticing.

How short is too short?

I think by now many of you have heard of the infamous Y/Project denim panties, let me repeat that…yes denim panties. Please ladies, do not follow this trend and never aim for this length in shorts. For Summer, stick to the standard high waisted denim shorts. To go for a summery beach-like vibe, invest in some ripped denim shorts and go exploring in the sea of denim colour, from midnight black to a sandy light blue or a washed grey. If you want to follow trends, belted wide leg shorts is where it is at. If you can get your hands on a pair of paperbag shorts made from chiffon fabric, this is ideal in Summer because of the light flowy material. Although paperbag shorts does not sound appealing in the slightest, this look can leave you looking adventurous but classy…yes sophisticated shorts are a thing.

Neon

Neon has become a rising trend ever since the Kardashian and Jenner family stunned us all with their amazing neon wardrobe. I would definitely go for this in summer, especially for evenings out on a tropical island. Neon green, oranges and pinks are a good shout and will leave you glowing. I would also suggest going for a mini/midi dresses or evening top. I feel like Kylie Jenner sums up the neon vibe better than I ever could!

Well there you have it ladies, the hottest picks for Summer! All quite daring but definitely worth the try and for the Instagram likes, of course. Having said that, hope you have an insight into what to shop for when planning your Summer vaycay and Instagram pictures. Hope exams are over as soon as possible so you can enjoy the Summer!