When it comes to summer dressing, the devil really is in the detail, with accessories taking centre stage.
Since summer style tends to be much simpler than your autumn/winter wardrobe, with less layering and far fewer textures, sartorial interest comes through strategic accessorising.
The good news: this season we have bags of accessories to choose from, all of which bring a hint of chic and individuality when teamed with summer’s simplest outfits.
First up is the ‘barely-there’ sandal — a minimalist shoe if ever there was one — that is more foot than footwear (and so necessitates the most exacting of pedicures).
You have two options this summer: either the delicate strappy sandal, with spaghetti-thin ties loosely inspired by super-luxe label The Row’s iconic ‘Bare’ sandal.
Above left: Dress 107.40, karen millen.com; wedges, £35.99, zara.com; bag, £395, katespade.co.uk; bracelet, £61, heyharpershop.com. Above right: Dress, £199, hobbs.com; belt, £25, marksand spencer.com; wedges, £79.99, mango.com; bag, £45.99, zara.com; bracelet, £118, mejuri.com; ring, £85, lucyqdesigns.co.uk
I love Karen Millen’s zesty interpretation (£127.20, karenmillen.com) which snakes up the leg in the most flattering way. If sandals aren’t your thing, however, the 1990s wedge mule is back in fashion, except this time around it’s semi-transparent!
This is genius for both elongating the legs and giving summer feet maximum exposure, which, oddly enough, is rather sexy (I did warn you about the pedicure).
If bags are more your thing, however, then this summer you have a wealth of choice. There’s no one key shape — so big, boxy or a little slip of an envelope clutch . . . it all works. What you do want to think about, however, is texture.
Sequins will be a surprise hit for day, pairing beautifully with a silk dress or held against bare arms.
Though usually reserved for party season, sequins actually work better during the summer months since sunlight bounces off them, adding an almost mirrorball effect.
This watermelon sequin bag (fourth from left) by Mango (£45.99, mango.com) would be my pick, working just as well for a fancy beach club lunch as a smart dinner.
Another trend that feels distinctly dance floor but is a huge hit for daytime this summer is metallics.
Like sequins, they reflect light onto skin. The result is you look, quite literally, radiant. This Stone And Mason metallic bucket bag (£245, second left, stone-and-mason.com) is both practical and will help you shimmer in all the right places.
And frankly, who wouldn’t want that?
Above left: Dress, £55.99, zara.com; heels, £170 and bag, £255, loefflerrandall.com; bracelet, £165, giovanniraspini.com; ring, £63, heyharper shop.com. Above right: Dress, £129, ghost.co.uk; heels, £255, loefflerrandall.com; bag, £245, stone-and- mason.com; bracelet, £61, heyharpershop.com; ring, £165, lucyq designs.co.uk
Above left: Dress, £180, aspiga.com; wedges, £149, hobbs.com; bag, £49.99, mango.com; sunglasses, £197, blackeyewear.com; bracelet, £45, stone-and- mason.com; ring, £225, chlobo.co.uk. Above right: Top and trousers, both £220, katespade.co.uk; wedges, £49.50, marksandspencer.com; bag, £45.99, mango.com
Above left: Dress, £325, jigsaw-online.com; heels, £127.20, karenmillen.com; bag, £79.99, mango.com; sunglasses, £197, blackeye wear.com; bracelet, £165, giovanniraspini.com; rings, from £58, mejuri.com. Above right: Dress, £185, hillhouse home.co.uk; heels, £127.20, karenmillen.com; bag, £425, kaai.eu; bracelet, £68, mejuri.com; red ring, £64, heyharpershop.com; sun ring, £225, chlobo.co.uk