The Glass Slipper Blog

The sun is shining and the shops are full of gorgeous summer clothes… summer is here!Whether you’re a sporty type who goes for body-conscious layers in bright neons, a girlie girl who favours vintage romantic looks, or a futuristic babe in the spirit of Barbarella , you won’t be disappointed this season!Here’s what to look out for…

Trend: Hippie Chic

The folksy trend is updated this summer into a more polished and sophisticated look. Jewel-encrusted necklines have replaced sequins and embroideries to give a more refined and polished style.Flowing kaftan tops and loose tunic dresses are in bold ’70’s prints: team them with metallic sandals, chunky jewellery and tasseled leather bags. This is a great trend for fuller-figured ladies as maxi dresses hide lumps and bumps !

Trend: Barbarella

The high street gets a futuristic, metallic makeover. Heavy sequins, gold and silver leather, and burnished linens are key statements in this ’60’s inspired look.Jewellery is kept to a minimum as oversized gems embellish everything from trousers to flip flops. If you’re feeling brave, go all out in head-to-toe metallics, or play it safe with a dash of shimmering accessories.

Trend: Romance

Love is in the air as fragile layers of white chiffons, elegant floral prints and poetic ruffled blouses give the high street a vintage romantic look. This is a pretty and feminine trend that brings flowing, frill-hemmed skirts back into the spotlight and teams them with lingerie-style camis and butterfly-embossed shoes.Puffed sleeves draw attention away from upper arms and frilled blouses draw attention to busts. Look out for floral wrist and hair corsages and printed fabric bags to complete the look.

Trend: Sophisticated Sports

Throw out your tracksuit and bin your trainers, as sporty gets a sexy makeover. Hi-tech fabrics are transformed into easy, voluminous shapes for an ultra modern, casual look. Pops of bold neons are toned down with soft shades of neutral tans and grays; racer-back vests are layered up for a sexy city style, and lightweight parkas come in deluxe, glistening fabrics.This is a great, easy trend that can be worn by everyone -whatever your shape or size. The fuller-figured can layer up with lightweight jerseys, while the skinny lattes can show off curves in shorts and tanks.

Trend: Body Con

Taking its influences from the ’80’s, body con is a trend for the brave. Skin-tight lycra dresses, bondage-style, body-strapping and disappearing hemlines are the key factors in this theme.Corset details adorn dresses and shirts to create cinched-in waists and streamlined figures, while oversized zips provide a sporty embellishment on trousers and jackets.Invisible undies are a must with this trend as VPL will spoil the simple lines and create bulges in all the wrong places.A monochrome palette of black and white is punctuated with wild blasts of neon green and bubblegum pink.Okay so that’s the trends, but what about the colours and prints?

Colour

• Yellow – all the sunny shades of the spectrum from canary to custard
• Orange – look for bright, deep colours to warm up skin tones
• Neons – acid brights of pink, yellow and orange are an ’80’s throwback and best worn as highlights to an outfit and not next to the face.
• Red – true pillar box red looks fantastic with olive and darker skin tones
• Purple – bright berry colours are a fresher alternative to blues
• Monochrome – black and white provide the perfect canvas for the summers brights
• Metallics – shimmer in silver or gold, key colours, especially for accessories
• Neutrals – light tans, soft creams and nude skintones give neons and summer brights a more sophisticated look when teamed together
• White – clean, fresh and crisp

Prints

• African prints – batik-inspired prints in bright, bold colours – great for larger ladies
• Romantic florals – vintage-inspired florals on floaty fabrics
• Animal prints – oversized giraffe and monochrome zebra stripes replace last season’s leopard prints
• Tropical blooms – blown-up flowers in bright summery colours
• ’70’s retro – vintage wallpaper prints and retro paisleys are teamed with folksy florals for a fresh take on the ’70’s trend

So, now you’ve got the trends sorted and you know which colours and prints to look out for, here are the key items that every wardrobe should have this summer…Dresses – Dresses remain queen of the high street. Hippie chicks should opt for floor length, floral maxi dresses that skim over curves, while ’80’s divas can head for the tight-fitting lycra mini dresses. Tunic styles are still a key shape across all of the trends and flatter most shapes and figures.Shorts – Bermuda-style or Kate Moss’s cut off’s, shorts continue to be the hottest shape in stores. Don’t be afraid to try some on as you might be surprised by their flattering fit! If you simply cannot get with shorts, then look for some well-fitting cropped trousers with a slimmer leg.Boxy Jackets – Cropped boxy styles with ¾ length bracelet sleeves make the perfect summer cover up and team well with tunic dresses, tulip skirts and city shorts.Skirts – Slim-fitting tulip styles with volume added into hips are a hot shape for sporty city girls, and die-hard romantics will favor summer’s full shapes with layered underskirts. Both styles are flattering to fuller figures, while tulip-styles can add shape to boyish figures.Shoes – ’70’s wedges with cork soles will add extra inches and slim down calves. Flat metallic flip flops in python-style leathers are perfect with shorts and hippy-style tunics.Handbags – Oversized metallic bags in soft, buttery leathers will instantly update any outfit.Jewellery – Chunky necklaces that mix wooden pendants with gold charms, and ethnic-inspired bangles with folksy details.

Final Thought

Take time to look through stores and try on clothes before instantly latching onto or dismissing a trend – most looks will have elements that cater to your individual figure or personal style. Don’t be afraid to come out of your comfort zone – experiment with different shapes, colours and fits to find that perfect outfit!