It’s time to dress fancy

Second semester is flying by and Easter is fast approaching — meaning summer balls and graduation are peeking over the horizon. Fashion follows a peculiarly old fashioned time scale, perhaps a sensible one, that is, shops will start to stock the majority of there spring/summer occasion wear from late March in preparation for summer balls, weddings, race days, graduations, christenings, etc, etc. So, if you’re fashion savvy, now is a good time to start looking, plus in the midst of deadlines — procrastination gold.

Let one shopping lover give a few tips to help you through the trials and tribulations of choosing your perfect outfit.

Notice — outfit. Not dress. One of the perks of 2017 is that it is widely accepted that you can wear whatever the hell you like, a spring wedding no longer dictates a floral dress. Midi skirts and wide legged pants are both fabulous options if you’re after an outfit with more wearability, team with a crop top, bodysuit or to really fashion any outfit up a plain white shirt. It may sound simple but with the array of ginghams and flowers it’ll be a powerful move. Suits are having a high fashion moment still, the high street has a range of styles available whether you want to channel Cher Horowitz or Yves Saint Laurent, you’ll be able to find something for under £100.

Much as I may mock florals, they come around every year, as Miranda Priestly told us all, and every year we lap them up. This season however, ditsy, delicate florals take centre stage. Ruffles and cold-shoulder details give a romantic feel, while fluted sleeves can leave you singing the age of aquarius all night long as you live your boho hippy dream.

If you’re thinking of colour blocking this summer there are two options I would suggest (not at the same time though) pink or yellow. Both were the defining colours of the SS17 runway shows, fashion bloggers and influencers alike have embraced fuchsia, blush, canary yellow, lemon, and mustard. This years Golden Globes offered a schooling in how everyone suits a shade of yellow. You may not believe it but it’s true.

Accessories wise, this is the year of the earring. Big, bold, statement earrings, the kind that have an eighties Dynasty feel to them are all the rage. Graduation caps do limit hairstyle possibilities, so statement earrings may give your outfit the lift it needs. Whether they are bejewelled or minimalist, the aim is to elongate the neck and probably start a conversation, mainly about how heavy they are I imagine.

The big fear for occasion wear is how to survive a day in heels when it’s warm and your feet invariably swell. Fortunately, for the more sensible among us, the fashion lords have been kind to you this year because kitten heels are in fashion. These are not awful, mother of the bride monstrosities, no no, this year fashions number one shoe is undeniably Dior’s J’adior kitten heel. If Dior says its okay, we know its okay.

Just remember, the biggest problem with these kind of occasion wear occasions is that you will be photographed. In the social media age the camera is unavoidable, so if 17 people are going to upload a picture in the same outfit onto the internet, I hope my tips help you to find a good one.