Now that the sun has broken through (but will it stay?) I'm in a much brighter/summery state of
mind. In between this week's work, press days and filming I went for a pizza lunch at the *Serpentine Bar and Kitchen (*delicious) in London's Hyde Park, one of the most beautiful spots to sit and people watch. As I studied the bright printed dresses preferred by the work force, cool kids in slim fit chinos and then the younger girls in flipsy flirty dresses, I spotted them. Them being those who really fall at the sartorial hurdle of summer fashion, they are the young and old both British and tourists who just don't get summer dressing right.
For me the main offender is flashing too much flesh. I understand when it's a hot day the last thing you want to do is wear body-covering clothes, but there are some style offences that are just socially unacceptable. Topless on the high street, sheer leggings and unkempt toenails are just the beginning and what follows next, on my list of summer fashion fails.
Tops off?
Let's start with the boys/men. I may be way off the mark here (but, I don't think I am) - is it appropriate to take your top off in the city (thus showing off bad tats and untoned torsos)? Whilst running late and sprinting (very slowly) for the 207 bus yesterday, I collided with the hot underarms and hairy chest of a topless man, an incident that I still haven't recovered from. There are of course places where it is totally acceptable to go native and topless such as your own living room/garden space/girlfriends bedroom, park and beach - but in communal and busy areas in a city, keep your tops on. (Ryan Gosling, this need not apply to you and your airbrushed physique.)
Low-slung
I sound quite old fashioned here, but summer really brings the boys underwear up and out of their waistband. How it looks and style aside (I'm more Hedi Slimane than 50 Cent) my main issue here is when the jeans are so low slung that you can see all of their, ahem, 'pouch' (or penis) area, it's not good. I don't think you have to be extreme and take to the high-waisted trouser like Simon Cowell but know your limits boys, it makes me blush. Also:
- Don't wear flip flops
- Definitely never wear Crocs/Birkenstocks (bin, immediately)
- 'Wife-beaters'/vests are touch and go
- **And very importantly, do give your feet some attention, at the very least cut and clean your toenails**
Leggings and short tees
The legging vs. tee debate is not just a problem in the summer months; it's a four seasons' fashion issue. Why do girls insist on wearing leggings (I used to live in but now loathe leggings - except leather) with a short tee/vest, thus exposing their bottoms and potentially, a camel toe? This is one of my biggest bugbears, so when wearing skinny fit trousers or leggings I always keep my top half long, loose and layered to make sure it keeps me covered. Or just don't wear leggings in summer.
Summer underwear situation
Every summer white is a key colour staple and this summer the shapes and cuts are cool, clean and contemporary (think Jil Sander and Helmut Lang.) Although wearing white underwear seems like the obvious choice (no one wants black knickers or god forbid a neon thong on show) it isn't. If anything, white underwear when worn with white will really catch the eye, so instead go for nudes and leave it all to the imagination. And of course, don't let VPL ever be a problem, think of what you are wearing and make sure you are not spilling/muffin-topping or exposing anything you don't want to.
So they are my current bugbears that I have seen recently, the not-so-good, the bad and the ugly, but I am sure there will be a part II of what I see next.
Have you spotted any really good summer fashion failings recently?
@AntoniaOBrien