As summer’s in full flow with foreign holidays back on the cards, garden parties and many other outdoor events, you need a few versatile outfits to ensure you feel fabulous whatever occasion you’re invited to.
ESP's resident style advisor Karen Miller has found a great selection which is a nod to many trends, however they are wearable and can be switched up with different accessories to change the look...
White Midi Dress With Embellished Detail, Zara, £59.99
Starting off with a gorgeous off-white dress from Zara. White is a summer staple and is a key trend for summer. Whether you choose to go for a mini, midi or maxi option make sure that it showcases your favourite aspects of your figure. This dress is super versatile and can be worn dressed up for a summer party or dressed down for a shopping trip. It comes with a belt that you can tie either at the front or the back, or swap it entirely for a different colour, or no belt at all.
To compliment this outfit I’ve chosen tan accessories that are a simple neutral option. The wedge sandals are very comfortable and the neutral colour ensures that your legs are elongated. The tan bag has some lovely detail that compliments the embroidery in the dress.
Floral Halterneck Dress, H&M, £39.99. Denim Jacket, H&M, £29.99.
Floral prints are always popular in summer and H&M have done some lovely prints this year that are stunning and lots of fun. This dress is one of my favourites, the beautiful halter neck makes it super flattering for people with a smaller bust line and the ‘A’ line drop of the skirt gives it a lovely comfortable feel.
The real show stopper of this dress is in the detail, the tie back is beautiful as well as practical, enabling you to adjust the fit to suit your figure.
Add a denim jacket and you’re good to go for any rain showers that we may be blessed with during our typically English summertime.
Floral Skirt, H&M, £24.99. Floral Top, H&M, £19.99
Another alternative to the dress is the co-ord, this outfit is again from H&M and would be perfect for a summer festival or tropical holiday. What I really like is that you can change it up very easily, adding a white t-shirt or shirt to wear with the skirt and a pair of shorts or mini skirt to wear with the top.
I’ve got to also give some attention to these amazing sunglasses. They’re a very similar to the beautiful Chanel sunglasses that retail for over £300, these are our wonderful model’s and she purchased them recently from www.Shein.co.uk for £7.
This skirt and open back top teamed with a denim jacket (below) is another versatile option and a lovely alternative if you don't favour larger prints.
Skirt New Look £25.99. White Top Zara, £25.99. Denim Jacket, H&M, £29.99
Always searching for the perfect jeans may take on a whole new meaning when you start looking for the perfect white jean. I’ve chosen these skinny jeans from Zara because they work best for our beautiful model’s figure, however there are many great styles, straight leg and boot cut have made a reappearance this year and in fashion terms have superseded the skinny. However, I always advise my clients to go for ‘style’ over simply following fashion.
Print Shirt, Zara, £29.99. Red Leather Belt, Zara, £19.99. White Jeans, Zara, £25.99
Therefore make sure you pick the best style for you and your shape, this way you will feel comfortable and happy in your choices. What’s important is that the fit is great and the materials are generally good quality, ensuring that you can’t see through the jeans and a pair with a decent lycra content will enable them to keep their shape.
Cameo Rose Top, New Look, £17.99. Wide Leg Trousers, Zara, £29.99
An alternative to jeans is the casual trouser, these wide leg trousers are a nice alternative and are much lighter for the summer months. I’ve paired them with a lovely white top from New Look which can either be worn on or off the shoulder.
A word of warning though, if you are going for a wide leg trouser, ensure that the top half is more streamlined and either finishes at the waist as this one does or can be tied or tucked into the waistline, this will ensure your silhouette looks balanced.
Sequin Jumpsuit, Zara, £49.99
My final pick is super glamorous, sequins are all over the high street this year, and if you like you can choose to go full on like this gorgeous sequin jumpsuit with an open back detail and tie at the front.
Wearing a jumpsuit can be much more practical than a mini skirt or dress and is equally as striking. The high street is full of sequins, I think it’s a nod to the fact we all want to go out and get dressed up again after the last couple of years staying at home. If you’re not confident with full on sparkle, choose one piece and mix it up with a plain white shirt.
So, have a wonderful summer and as always if you need some style help drop me an email at karen@in-styleconsulting.com
Karen Miller
Model: Gemma Royce
Photos: Wayne Bloye Photography for ESP Magazine
Styling: Karen Miller