Fashion: Hippie trip

Age Eyewear sunglasses, $249. Juliette Hogan dress, $469. Liz Mitchell kimono jacket, $250. Photo / Greg Bowker

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

Free spirits unite this summer as casual separates touch on the peace, love and freedom mantra of the 60s and 70s. While cleancut beatnik and mod looks have also been revisited this season, their hippie counterpart provides a less austere alternative.

It's easy to romanticise things here - think sun-kissed girls dressed in a psychedelic-print maxi-dresses straight out of the summer of love. There's an east meets west feel now, with billowing kaftan tops, oversized Japanese-style kimono jackets worn with washed-out denim for an LA/West Coast edge.

Designer Arielle Mermin, herself hailing from Marin County, California and now based in the coastal township of Okato in rural Taranaki, has drawn plenty of inspiration from her love of coastal living with languid pantsuits, breezy maxi-dresses and bohemian-inspired embroidered tops and shift dresses. The "Sweetwater" dress in violet (#4) is a signature piece from the current collection that can be worn on its own or over a pair of palazzo pants for a laid-back resort look.

Dries Van Noten's recent spring 2015 collection highlights free spirits - albeit a much more luxe interpretation, with organza silk shorts worn with transparent floral shirts. Age is no barrier here either, and along with Van Noten, designers such as Haider Ackermann and Alber Elbaz at Lanvin often draw inspiration from their sophisticated clientele who appreciate luxury, but with an equal amount of bohemian zest for life as that festival girl at Coachella.

1, 2, 3. Photos / Greg Bowker

1 Helen Cherry ruffle dress, $579, and pants, $479. Liz Mitchell obi belt, $199. Karen Walker coat, $1060. Soles slides, $160. Mooi purse, $169. Nick von K amethyst ring, $480.
2 Nyne dress, $249. Company of Strangers bomber jacket, $425. Witchery jeans, $149.90 and sandals, $149.90.
3 Workshop shirt, $189 and chinos, $249. Witchery shoes, $149.90. Brixton hat, $115, from Black Box Boutique at The Department Store.

4, 5, 6. Photos / Greg Bowker

4 Arielle Mermin kaftan, $209. Tigerlily pants, $170. Mi Piaci slides, $200. Nick von K rings, $325 each. Mooi handbag, $535.
5 Topshop quilted jacket, $170, from The Department Store. Billabong top, $85. Camilla & Marc skirt, $270. Alias Mae sandals, $159.90, from Wild Pair.
6 Juliette Hogan dress, $469. Liz Mitchell kimono jacket, $250. Witchery sandals, $149.90. Age Eyewear sunglasses, $249.

Stockists

• Age Eyewear
• Arielle Mermin
• Billabong (09) 307 3314
• Black Box (09) 489 5629
• Camilla & Marc
• Company of Strangers
• Helen Cherry
• Juliette Hogan
• Karen Walker
• Liz Mitchell (09) 360 5047
• Mi Piaci
• Mooi
• Nick von K
• Nyne
• Soles (09) 368 1981
• Tigerlily (09) 529 0172
• Wild Pair
• Witchery (09) 523 1335
• Workshop