Could it be? Could it really be?
Without wishing to jinx it, it seems the mercury has finally risen, and – whisper people, whisper – summer might just actually, finally be here.
As we put our winter coats into storage and, tentatively, stash away our umbrellas, we begin to think about summery ensembles and those last minute purchases we might want to make to bolster our holiday wardrobes.
But the sales are upon us, and picking the treasure from the trash can be more than a little tricky.
Fear not friends, for below is your complete guide to the summer season's enduring trends (hello, eighties) and new-fangled fashions (neoprene surf suits, anyone?).
Do not go shopping without it.
From the pale olivey green polo necks at Jil Sander to the pistachio frou-frou dresses and wrap coats at Marc Jacobs and the seafoam tulle seen at Molly Goddard, shades of sage were all over the spring/summer 2019 runways. Whether you prefer mossy or mintier hues, this subtle shade is one to buy into stat.
Boilersuits were the stealth fashion favourite for autumn, and they’re only getting better as the weather gets warmer. At Hermès they came in vibrant pops of colour, while at Armani, Alexa Chung, Stella McCartney and Giambattista Valli, utilitarian vibes prevailed with muted hues of white, grey and black. An all-in-one wardrobe solution with a little inbuilt protection from the elements? Never has British summertime dressing been simpler.
With fashion’s eighties love-in enduring, it was only a matter of time before the era’s dominant denim hue crept back onto the catwalks. First seen at Proenza Schouler and Alexander Wang in New York, then at Isabel Marant, Off-White, Celine and Balmain, acid wash is set to be the surprise jean genie for girls in the know.
Thought bows were prissy and girlish? Think again. This season they came big, bad and bouncing, exploding from the busts of taffeta gowns and trailing dramatically from shoulders. Roksanda Ilincic adorned jewel-coloured dresses with mustard yellow velvet bows, while at Emilia Wickstead they were tied supersized - almost angel wing-like - adorning the backs of dresses. Erdem’s show, inspired by two 19th century cross-dressers, was festooned with bows which appeared at the shoulders, down the spine and around the neck while at Miu Miu black satin bows took on a punky edge on the shoulders of denim dresses. The mantra? Keep your eyes on the ties.
Brace yourselves folks, cos this one’s really happening. No longer the preserve of surf bums and ageing hippies, tie dye was seen on the backs of the savviest street style stars at the end of 2018, and if the spring/summer 2019 catwalks have anything to do with it, the psychedelic swirls are going from far out to totally in this summer. Dior proved tie dye could be black tie with embellished mini dresses, while Stella McCartney gave badass boilersuits a trippy spin. The trick to nailing the trend? Keep your hippie haute with tie dye tailoring (as seen at R13) or luxey fabrics and embellishments.
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From crochet to fringing, applique and tassels, a crafty aesthetic swept through the spring collections. Brands link Carolina Herrera, Altazurra and Chloé made seventies-era crochet cool, while at JW Anderson and Ports 1961, fisherman weaves gave a lift to luxe basics. After all the high gloss of last year’s athleisure and neon, go homespun for a home run.
Cycling shorts were one of the standout street style trends of last year. Those that loved them will be pleased to know the trend is set to pedal harder into 2019, with everyone from Jacquemus to Roberto Cavalli and Fendi loving on the Lycra. For those that thought they were the worst thing ever, fear not, for this summer all sorts of shorts are coming to the fore. From the slouchy green Bermudas seen at Rejina Pyo to the tailored knee-length duchess satin numbers at Prada, the days of the slip skirt are getting shorter.
Will the ‘80s obsession ever end? Winter saw us partying in white heels and puffball dresses accessorised with diamante drop earrings and padded Alice bands, and the spring collections plundered the decade once again. From the oversized lapels and power shoulders that dominated tailoring at Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton, to the belted fuchsia and yellow power suits seen at Escada, Princess Diana remains a poster girl for 2019.
Haven’t donned neoprene since you hauled on that soggy wetsuit to go bodyboarding when you were 13? Well, that could all be about to change for the spring runways were awash with surfer girl-inflected styles. Up-and-coming designer Marine Serre’s show broke the swell with a couture-like collection majoring in neoprene. Calvin Klein and Etro also showed scuba-inspired ensembles (which at Etro were even accessorised with surfboards – rad), while Hermès caught an altogether luxier wave, layering a neoprene swimsuit under a work-appropriate leather skirt. However you ride the wave, Kate Bosworth in Blue Crush is your new (eternal?) style icon.
From veils and beekeepers to caps and visors, bucket and boaters, to pillboxes and pin cushions, hats and headgear of all shapes and sizes were all over the spring/summer 2019 runways. Emporio Armani’s embellished baseball caps were an easy entry point, while braver folk might wish to tackle the transparent skull caps seen at Maison Margiela. Don’t be shy now, get your head in the game.