Stripe hype
There are more stripes in my house than I’ve had hot dinners. I kit the whole family out in them!
But even if you’re a bit daunted by them, this season there’s a stripe revolution, and I promise there’s a style out there for you. Big deckchair stripes, bold multicoloured ones, different width bands… anything goes.
Opt for big stripes if you are small-busted – the wider the stripe, the better for creating the illusion of bigger boobs. Mixing widths of stripes also tricks the eye into giving you shape – choose a dark stripe around the waist to nip you in nicely. It’s a cinch!
1 Vest, £17.99, Mango
2 Trousers, £30, River Island
3 Dress, £30, Vestry
4 Shorts, £20, River Island
The wanted…
Bikini
I don’t care that I’m a mum of two – I still want to wear a bikini, and this is The One for summer 2012. Now where did I leave my ab cruncher?
Top, £9.99, Bottoms, £7.99, both H&M
How to wear
Mirror prints
Bodycon just got a whole lot more interesting. Stick a geometric mirror print on the front of a spray-on dress and ta-da… ’80s bodycon gets a style-over. Mirror prints are massive this season and are emblazoned across the front of everything from button-through skirts to summer frocks and pencil skirts. They work best on structured pieces that let you see the graphic print’s sharp edges and clean lines. Accessories should be equally spiky – sharp ankle boots and a single killer piece of jewellery are all you need.
Ruby, 21, model, wears: dress, £39, Miss Selfridge; bangle, £10, Freedom at Topshop; boots, £110, River Island Bikini top, £9.99, bottoms, £7.99, both H&M
*20-somethings
Bodycon will look fab on you! Team spray-on mirror-print leggings with a plain tee or a skin-tight dress and add killer heels.
*30-somethings
A mirror-print shirt tucked into a matching pencil skirt will add a new dimension to your working wardrobe.
*40-somethings
Simple printed shirt dresses with no-fuss lines will look cool and contemporary.
*50-60-somethings
A graphic printed summer coat worn over a shift dress will be pitch perfect.
Tweet treat! I’m now on Twitter – get in touch @Trayfabmag
Photography: Jonas O’Sullivan, Imaxtree, Pixeleyesphotography.co.uk Hair: James McMahon at Naked Artists Make-up: Aimee Adams using Shu Uemura
Stockists: Freedom at Topshop (01277 844476), H&M (Hm.com), Mango (0845 082 2448), Miss Selfridge (0845 121 4517), River Island (0844 576 6444), Vestry (Vestryonline.com)
