Mother Nature is a woman with a seasonal sense of style. And she looks set to be right on trend this autumn, resplendent in her sunset oranges and pinks, earthy browns and yellows, berrylicious plums and rosehips, and hardy evergreens. There is something very comforting in this season’s choice of grounded, natural shades. They feel warm and welcoming, like freshly-made bread toasting on an open fire. You might still be parading around in your summer best – in fact you could well be reading this in your bikini for all I know – but if you have your finger on the fashion pulse (you know you have, you stylish devil), your thoughts are undoubtedly already on your autumn wardrobe. Getting your colours right this season couldn’t be easier – you just have to look out of the window. Or rather, you have to imagine it’s already the middle of autumn and look out of your imaginary window. Think about the glorious golds, chocolatey browns and rich russets of the trees; the luscious ripeness of purple and wine-coloured autumnal berries and fruits; the deep oranges and warm pinks of a sunset; and the mossy greens and mustardy yellows of shady forest glades. And if you’re still unsure and need inspiration, don’t just trail round the high street, hoping inspiration will strike. Take a stroll in the country instead and let Mother Nature be your style guide for the upcoming season.

Down to earth

Yorkshire-based ethical fashion label The Earth Collection has been awarded the EU Flower for its commitment to the environment. The company, which has its headquarters in Liversedge and 30 stories across the country, limits its use of harmful substances in its cotton production and ensures low levels of water and air pollution. The EU Flower provides a simple, green buying guide in 23 product categories from detergents to camp sites to clothes. All goods bearing the flower logo have been independently tested and comply with strict ecological and performance criteria. Jens-Peter Jensen, founder of The Earth Collection, said: ‘Consumers today are more sensitive to the protection of the environment with four out of five Europeans saying they would like to buy more environmentally friendly products. ‘When customers choose eco-labelled products, they have a direct impact on supply and demand in the marketplace. This then guides the market towards greater environmental awareness and encourages a corporate commitment to continuous environmental improvement.’

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Guests are often in the best position to really enjoy a wedding. The bride and groom are too nervous to enjoy themselves; the mums are too worried about their hats to really get into the swing; the bridesmaids are too busy bickering; and the best man is so hungover he doesn’t know what day it is. But the guests have no worries and no responsibilities. They can just sit back and enjoy the ride. The duties of a guest are very simple – turn up on time with a present, enjoy yourself and go home. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have carte blanche to do whatever the heck you like. It’s still bad form to let your children run wild during the ceremony and heckling the father-of-the-bride during his speech just isn’t on (even if your heckle is a darn sight funnier than any of his stories). But apart from being on your best behaviour, you have very little else to worry about. Except – you just knew there had to be a catch somewhere, didn’t you? – you have to decide what to wear. And it’s not just about buying a drop-dead-gorgeous dress; it’s about buying a drop-dead-gorgeous dress that makes you look fabulous but doesn’t outshine the bride. First of all, try to relax and focus on the overall look you want to achieve. Do you want to be coolly chic or dazzlingly done-up to the nines? Hat or no hat? And are you going for eye-popping colour combinations or laid-back neutral simplicity? Trends have changed dramatically in the last 20 years or so, making occasionwear much less formal and much more wearable. Stylish dresses and contrasting jackets are still extremely popular as they give you the opportunity to dress up or down as the weather (and your mood) dictates on the day. How bold you go in terms of colour is up to you, but when it comes to fabric its best to opt for something soft and pliable, like a linen-silk mix, a satin crepe or a floaty chiffon, that’s going to move with you rather than fight against you. Trousers are no longer seen as a fashion faux pas (in fact male guests are strongly advised to wear them!). But try not to equate trousers with sloppy, unstructured style. You still need to think carefully about the fit and the fabric, even if it’s just so people know you haven’t just popped out of the office during your tea-break for the ceremony. And finally, try to remember that wedding days are often long days, especially if you are invited to everything from the bride’s tearful entry to the church on her father’s arm to the groom’s drunken exit from the evening reception over his best man’s shoulder. Comfort is key if you are going to be one of the best dressed guests on the day, so choose shoes that are flattering rather than ankle-breaking and make sure you can sit down in your fitted dress without it cutting off the circulation to your legs. After all, some might suspect you are trying to steal the bride’s thunder if you tumble dramatically down the aisle on your skyscraping heels or keel over at the reception through lack of oxygen and fall face first into the wedding cake. Apparently, that sort of behaviour is quite often frowned upon.    

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Fussing over your wedding is only natural – in fact, a bit of fussing is half the fun. But a fussy wedding dress is not what a welldressed modern bride should be about. There are now a wide variety of seriously stylish and fabulously flattering gowns to choose from, so there really is no excuse anymore for looking like an over-whipped meringue. From classical A-lines and structured fishtails to stunning bias cuts and gorgeous full skirts, all bridal life is here. You just have to find the right style for you, and that means doing your homework. Start on the internet and progress to cutting out styles that take your fancy from the numerous magazines on offer (including this one!) and make up an image board. You can then take this with you to your chosen bridal shop or to your designer to give them an accurate picture of the colours, cuts and concepts that really excite you. Make sure the colour of your dress compliments the colours you have chosen to theme the rest of the wedding, unless of course you actually want to clash with your own napkins at the reception. And you might want to shift your thoughts away from white, which leaves paler skin tones looking rather washed out, and opt for a more flattering ivory instead. Your choice of venue could also have an impact on the dress you choose. If you are getting married on a beach in the height of summer, wearing a full skirt and fitted bodice might not be the most practical choice. Equally, if you’re getting hitched in a draughty old castle, you might want to rethink that strapless tea dress you’ve had your eye on. It’s also important not to get too stuck in a rut when it comes to choosing your dress. You might have had your heart set on a strapless fitted gown since you were 12, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the dress for you. Try on as many different styles as possible before making your final decision. And if that means trying on every dress in the shop, so be it. Limiting your choice of dress by imposing your own preconceptions about what you should wear and what suits you could stop you achieving that all-important wow-factor that you truly deserve on your special day, so try to keep an open mind. And you never know, you might be pleasantly surprised. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, use the knowledge of the sales assistant or designer to your advantage. They don’t have an agenda and can give you an honest opinion of what actually suits you. They do this every day and you, hopefully, will only do it once in a lifetime, so let them lead the way.

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Making a big fashion statement is easy. The difficulty lies in the detail. Choosing the right accessories is vital to creating the right look. You can pick all the right pieces for your high summer capsule wardrobe, but team them with the wrong finishing touches and you might as well lock yourself in a wardrobe and not emerge until autumn. You don’t have to spend a huge amount on good accessories – although it often helps if you can – but you do have to spend time getting the details right. Colour is key for high summer. You might shy away from wearing a searing cerise dress or violently violet trousers, but wearing such scary colours as small but significant accent pieces is something most of us can cope with. Look for colourful belts, scarves (cool, lightweight silk, not heavyweight, winter woollies), bags, shoes, hats and jewellery. But – and this is an important but – don’t be tempted to go completely matchy-matchy. It is incredibly old fashioned (and tediously timeconsuming) to insist on matching your shoes with your bag and your belt with your bangle. Be brave with your colour choices. Be brash and dare to clash.

If Natural fabrics and materials (with more than a hint of recyclability about them) are everywhere, and with good reason. Silk and cotton allow your skin to breathe and work with your body to combat the excesses of the high summer heat. And there is something gratifyingly back-to-nature about wearing jewellery made from wood, pebbles, shells or bamboo. It might sound like wishful thinking, but you can also actually look slimmer if you choose the right accessories (yes, really). Wear loose, draping accessories – long, ethnic-style necklaces and delicate summer scarves are particularly good choices – and they will draw the eye away from what you see as your problem areas. You can also use accessories to accentuate your best bits (again drawing attention away from the lumps and bumps you are not so keen on). If you have a naturally nipped in waist, buy a thick belt. If you have great calves, get yourself some gladiator sandals. If you are particularly proud of your curvy cleavage, get yourself a plunging necklace. And if you think your arms are charming, get yourself two, three or possibly four chunky and pleasantly clunky bangles. You see, the thing with accessories is that less isn’t more. More is more. Just as you can’t be too thin or too rich, you can never have too many accessories.

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Want to look good (almost) naked this summer? Unfortunately, Gok Wan can’t go on holiday with all of us – he’d like to, but he’s got all those TV programmes to make – so we have to use our own judgement when it comes to the tricky topic of choosing a bikini. Mere mention of the dreaded b-word will probably have sent some of you fleeing in horror, but it doesn’t have to be such a trial by Lycra. There is a flattering bikini out there for everyone, you just have to know what to look for. It’s easy to get swimwear wrong, going for something with too little support, too little fabric for your figure, grabbing the wrong size in a panic or opting for colours that don’t work with your skin tone (made even worse by the sheer acreage of skin you have to flaunt). The key to getting it right is to get some advice. Most stores put their swimwear collection alongside their lingerie for a reason – you need to be measured and fitted properly for both to ensure you flatter and flaunt rather than bulge and gape. If you are in your teens or twenties, you probably have some figure hang-ups, but remember that youth is on your side. These are your bikini years, so make the most of them by going for bright colours in cuts as skimpy as you dare. Women in their thirties often start to have minor gripes about their figures, particularly if they have had a baby or two along the way. It is at this stage that pear shapes often make the mistake of opting for the cover-up capabilities of a boy-leg pant, but don’t let this blind you to the leglengthening loveliness of a high-cut bikini bottom (it really does add inches – in a good way). Post-pregnancy tums can also cause problems. But don’t panic if your tummy muscles have already gone on holiday – that’s what tankinis were invented for. They add cover and support where necessary, and can be scrunched up when you’re comfortably prone on your sunbed and ready to top up your tummy tan. When you reach your forties it’s time to reach for a little more support. Underwired or shaped cups give a lift, while flattering details and fabulous fabrics draw the eye away from any niggling figure problems. There is no rule to say you can’t wear a bikini in your forties, but if they make you feel too exposed try a one-piece with a clever cutaway design instead. Elegance is the key to looking good in swimwear once you’ve hit 50. Bold colours can still be very flattering, especially as your holiday progresses and your tan develops, but you have to start being a bit cleverer with the cut. A lot can be achieved with a Lycra-rich fabric that can pull in less than taut tummy muscles in a trice. And hidden structuring in areas that need particular support (yes, your wibbly bits) can work wonders, allowing you to give those younger poolside princesses a real run for their money. But, whatever your age, try not to get too hung-up on what you look like. Holidays are supposed to be fun, you know. So what if you don’t look like Ursula Andres? Even Ursula Andres doesn’t look like Ursula Andres anymore. Just grab yourself an ice-cold drink and a hot holiday read. It’s chill out time, so be cool.  

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The summer party season is fast approaching and you need to put your decision making hat on (no, not the fascinator with the feathers; this job needs something substantial with a bow and brim the size of a dinner table). Summer parties tend to be relatively informal, fun, outdoor events with good food, good wine and good friends. They should be a breeze to dress for, but they can prove tricky. Yes, they are informal and fun, but you still want to look stylish… but not overdressed… but not too casual either… but, well we could argue this one backwards and forwards all day. Before you get bogged down in too much detail, the first thing you have to do is buy a dress. And there’s no hiding behind muted tones this season. You have to buy a dress and it has to be colourful. The catwalks looked like an explosion in a Dulux factory, with splashes, strokes, streaks and squiggles of chaotic colour on every available surface. But you don’t have to look like a walking canvas if you don’t want to. You can go for a dress with a more subtle motif or incorporate colour through your accessories (a zingy scarf, bag and shoe combo can work wonders for an otherwise ‘safe’ outfit). When it comes to shoes, you really have to consider the heel carefully. A chunky heel gives a shoe strength. It is unlikely to snap in half when you’re trotting across the lawn to the terrace and it also gives the wearer a sense of authority. With a chunky heel, you get the height you need without the pain (they are ridiculously comfortable). But, let’s face it, sometimes you are happy to put up with a bit of pain for a pair of sky-high stilettos that slim your calves, flatter your ankles and make you feel like a million dollars. And then, of course, there are flats. Ballet pumps are still going strong and are great for warm, summer days. But be careful wearing them on warm, summer nights out because they can leave you – literally – looking a bit down at heel. Feel free to have some fun with your bag though. There are some great bold floral designs this season and fantastic geometric designs – and you don’t have to pay the earth for them. Go for something bright, eye-catching and reasonably priced for a summer party and give your discreet Chanel clutch the night off.  Give your shades the night off too. Sunglasses are great for during the day, but as dusk approaches they rapidly start to lose their style credibility. And so do you. So, now you’ve got the basics: a colourful, flattering dress; seriously stylish shoes that you can wear all night; and a bag with bags of fun. Now all you have to do is have a good time.      

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For one thing, the boat might not actually make it out of the harbour if you don’t. A cruise is more than just a holiday, so you need more than just your usual holiday clothes. Shorts, sarongs and a pile of Tshirts are fine for your average get-away, but you need a more varied capsule wardrobe for a voyage on the high seas. But the emphasis should still always be on ‘capsule’ rather than ‘wardrobe’. Even when you are going on a cruise, you still have to choose. Even though many cruise ships have loosened their dress code policies in recent years, you still need a wide range of clothes. Before you pack, it’s important to familiarise yourself with your cruise itinerary. This will give you a good general impression of what clothes, accessories and shoes to pack. In general terms, a cruise usually involves three broad style themes: formal social, smart casual and active sporty. Day wear can mean anything from swimsuits, shorts, T-shirts and jeans depending on where you are going. You’ll need little more than a sarong if you’re touring the Bahamas, but it’s wise to add a wrap or two and even a light windbreaker if you’re navigating the Med instead. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a different dress for every formal evening occasion. Learn to use your accessories wisely and you will save a lot of space. If you follow the basic principles of packing – fashion and function – you won’t go far wrong. Don’t pack anything unless it goes with at least three other items in your case. It might be your favourite designer skirt, but if it can’t be mixed and matched with three tops it shouldn’t make the cut. By packing smart, you can take away a lot of the stress associated with cruise wear. And, even better than that, you’ll have more room for all those lovely souvenirs.





 

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