Everyone has a style uniform, your safe place that you know works come sartorial rain or shine - I most certainly do. If in doubt I go super-skinny/thigh-hugging black jeans, a long-line blouse, tailored jacket and chunky heeled boots. But when does my 'cool'(ish) uniform become a safe-style cul-de-sac? It's tricky, you have a signature look and then realise you've worn a variation of it every day, day and night, since mid-February.
Usually the start of spring/summer demands and new uniform, however 2012 is the year that sunshine and blue skies forgot (so far anyway.) So clouds aside people, it's time. It's time for me to step forward out of my beloved Joseph leather trousers (damn they've worked hard,) kick off my chunky boots and embrace the box fresh trends that are folded in my wardrobe. Before I launch into the new season I want to clearly set out my style direction, basically what's on my want-to-buy wish-list.
Below is my new season style testament where bright colours, snake print and peplum shapes replace the old testament of leather, shearling and chunky knits.
The palette
Feisty colours from bright orange to cobalt blue and candy pink to pistachio green are reigning on this season and I love them. I just love them. In fact, colour is fierce across the high street and high end spectrum from citrus orange tailoring at Sandro(total left-bank swoon) to Marant-style pink denim at Zara and streamline shapes in cobalt blue at Topshop. Further on the colour theme, clash your palettes and don't be shy to excite your soft/muted colours with a flash of neon or sex up your everyday skinny jeans with brilliantly bright separates.
The vertiginous summer shoe
I need and love killer heel/platform/wedge/chunky heels in the warmer climes when I am finding my new season feet (no pun intended.) When the weather demands bare legs, we need the height and leg-lengthening power of a heel and there are currently some lust-have/lust-worthy (too much?) pieces tempting me at the moment. For all footwear I am devoted to the three high street mega brands - Topshop, River Island and Zara. Topshop is the hot spot for catwalk inspired footwear, I currently covet these suede and raffia stacks which do wonders for the pins. River Island is my favourite for summer sandals; with their snake print finish and gold hardwear these have a high-end Chloe feel. And then Zara, oh Zara, where would we be without you? My wardrobe would be a lot less colourful without my new neon finish T-Bar heels, je t'aime,
The animal prints
It started with wild leopard print, the perennial trend which has been a fashion favourite since Italian power house Dolce & Gabbana made it their signature print (think Monica Belluci in lace up corsetry, think sexy.) From shoes to manicures and skinny jeans we have romanced leopard print since the eighties, until that is, we had a dalliance with snake skin. My snake obsession started with my beloved Equipment blouse, via a pencil skirt and then sheer trousers from Zara. Whether you work leopard in with your basics or go snake on snake (a current favourite of mine) - get primitive.
Right, the sun is flirting and it's time to get fashion frisky. I'm ready.