1. THE TEA DRESS
Tea dresses might evoke genteel days of sipping Pimm's and eating cucumber sandwiches, but this season's styling on dropped waist dresses that skimmed the shins focused on a rebellious attitude. From the fluttering floral tea
frocks at Topshop Unique teamed with Debbie Harry-style make-up to the floral mid length dresses at Parisian upstarts Vetements, add a touch of 90s grunge to pretty drop waist dresses and fuzzy cardigans. It’s the perfect way to wear your tea-dress this season off kilter and with a drop of gin.
As seen at: Topshop Unique, Celine, Vetements, Alexander McQueen.
Shop right now: Delicate tea dresses with sensible hemlines at Wallace Rose, State of Grace and Kate Sylvester.
2. VICTORIANA BLOUSE
Swoony summer romance comes via the Victoriana trend soft ruffled gowns at McQueen, high collars at J.W. Anderson, delicate yoked, crocheted and lace dresses at Erdem. At Louis Vuitton, dreamy white blouses were toughened up, worn with leather vests and shorts.
As seen at: Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen.
Shop right now: Ruby's short sleeve lace top offers a wearable take on the romantic look.
3. ANYTHING WITH A PUSSY BOW
The flouncy ladylike favourite gets a whimsical makeover for summer, shrugging off the uptight subtext in light silk chiffon. Again, it's Gucci setting the agenda, with trompe-l'œil and shiny versions shown in Milan.
As seen at: Gucci.
Shop right now: Helen Cherry's pussy bow blouse dresses and tops are the perfect place to start.
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Thank Gucci's Alessandro Michele for fashion's new focus on vintage-inspired decorative touches, from beading to embroidery, sequins to trimmings sometimes together on one outfit. At Marc Jacobs, Lanvin and Dries van Noten, the embellishment referenced a sort of faded glamour, while the shattered glass detailing at Margiela and Loewe offered a clean-cut take on the more- is-more trend.
As seen at: Dries van Noten, Gucci, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs.
Shop right now: Carlson's beautifully beaded silk pencil skirt.
5. POLO SHIRT
A slow-burning trend that's been quietly developing over the past few seasons, the preppy staple is one of the easiest trends to take from the runway. Polo shirts have popped up in several street-style shots too, with insiders updating its 1970s vibes by teaming it with structured skirts or classic denim. One piece of advice for summer: do not pop that collar.
As seen at: Stella McCartney, Miu Miu.
Shop right now: The striped polo and shirt dress in Karen Walker's new Love Boat inspired resort collection.
6. THE SLIP
If not a tea dress, make it a slip. The 90s favourite continues its comeback, with delicate lace, silk and satin. Alexander Wang's final collection for Balenciaga was an all-white tribute to loungewear with updates on the slip dress, while at Celine, Phoebe Philo offered, according to Vogue, "the definitive word on wearing the 90s slip dress in pulled-together grown-up style".
As seen at: Celine, Balenciaga.
Shop right now: Kate Sylvester's sky blue slip dress with lingerie style seam detailing, Sophia Hattingh's silk bias cut slips.
7. VERY BIG EARRINGS
Two accessory trends made an impact on the runway: headpieces and earrings. If tiaras (Saint Laurent) or Sailor Moon style crowns (Louis Vuitton) are a bit too much, dangling drop earrings are an easier option. These are statement-makers, from Prada's pink circle sequinned clip-ons to Versace's Perspex hoops. Big is better!
As seen at: Prada, Gucci, Versace, Loewe, Balenciaga, Balmain.
Shop right now: Glen Prentice hand-beaded stone earrings from The Mercantile, vintage drops from online store Love and Object, Zelda Murray handmade porcelain earrings.
