Slip Dresses for Summer

The slinky slip dress has become a style staple this season. The feminine frock is perfect for a Summer holiday, wedding or day at the shops. Embrace the trend with a maxi, midi or knee length version and either team with a blazer for a formal touch or add a tee (underneath) for the ultimate 90's look. Layering can create interest and style to a simple outfit.

Experiment with colour, texture and print or simply wear a subtle shade to remain sophisticated, demure and elegant. The slip dress is really that versatile and can be worn by a variety of ages and styles. Take a look at the range we have selected below to discover how slip dresses can be your go to piece this Summer.

All White for Summer

A vision of Summer is upon us as though a white coat of emulsion has painted the stores. The fresh, pure shade is injecting the high street and following into our wardrobes. Although the colour is classic and can be teamed with a variety of existing shades, it is a very difficult colour to wear against the face.

In fact, our stylists advise to steer away from white as the colour can be draining when worn in block colour. It is wise to choose a variation of the shade and absorb a cream or ivory depending on your hair colour, skin tone and eye colour. The colour white that is usually in the stores will probably be a variation of the shade rather than an unflattering strark white. Stick to a more warmer version to enhance your natural skin tone.

Remember if your prefer to not wear white in block colour use the shade as an accent with accessories such as jewellery, bags or scarves. Alternatively, incorporate the colour into a print as the trend will be evident in your wardrobe in a subtle way. For a more daring approach wear a dress or jumpsuit in the colour in question.

If you would like to be informed about the neutrals that suit your complexion book in with one of our stylists today.

Invest in a Pair of Summer Sandals

It is worthwhile investing in a pair of Summer sandals that last rather than repeatedly purchasing shoes that keep breaking at the worst possible time (we have all been there). A slightly more expensive pair will mould to your feet and provide comfort in a stylish way.

Our feet and shoes take a huge amount of pressure daily and easily are worn down. A high quality pair will last significantly longer and eventually become less expensive in the long run. It is vital to remain stylish, which is why we have picked out some Summer shoes that are functional yet desirable.

Which ones will you be rushing to buy?

The Friday Girl's Picks: Topshop Midi Skirts

Midi skirts are still kicking about and are looking as fresh as ever before. This week I've picked three Topshop numbers that I really like at the moment. The denim one is so pretty and would look lovely with a stripy top or a lacy white camisole and sandals. The tropical floral number in the middle is part of an amazing two piece but can of course be worn on it's own. This would look fab dressed up or down. Finally, the taffeta picnic blanket multi-coloured beauty of the last one is limited edition and the most expensive of the three is such a statement piece. 

What do you think about this statement midi skirt trend?

The Swimwear Series: The Apple Shape

Last but not least in our swimwear series we're talking about the Apple shaped ladies. If you are Apple shaped, you're heavier up top (which means you usually have fab legs!) with broader shoulders, a bigger bust, narrower hips and a less defined waist. Therefore, with swimwear there are a few things that you need to focus on and we've picked out three swimsuits that will look great on Apple shaped ladies. 

- Thicker straps or halter necks for more support and to make your shoulders appear narrower.

- Underwired cups to also provided more support.

- Stomach control if you need it.

- Plain design on the top & patterned bottom if possible

- Dark, solid colours to create a lean silhouette

F&F Tummy Control Swimsuit - £15

Marks & Spencer Tummy Control Halterneck - £39.50

Marks & Spencer Tummy Control Navy Swimsuit - £29.50

What Sunglasses Do You Wear?

As we are tapping away at the keyboard there are droplets of rain running down the window pane. However, despite the gloomy threatening storms that await our stylists have been scouting out sunnies for those glorious sunshine days!! 

Now sunglasses are a stylish essential that are must each season. Luckily, shapes do not alter drastically each season allowing for you to pick a timeless, investment pair that will last the duration of each Summer. Alternatively, indulge in a few different pairs for a variety of looks for the sunglass fanatics. You can alternate your stash to ensure each style is justified!

Various shapes and styles suit each individual depending on your face shape, hair colour and skin tone. Also take into consideration your personal style and the overall look you wish to achieve -is it sophisticated, glamorous or quirky?

Try on a varied selection in front of a mirror or with a friend to discover the pair, which is perfect for you. We have gathered a range that are currently available on the high street - take a look at which pair appeal. 

Of course, if you would like help to discover the style that compliments your face shape please get in touch. 

Menswear Wednesday: Printed Trousers, are you brave enough?

Printed trousers are going to be a huge trend for menswear this spring/summer but it's definitely not a trend for the faint hearted. This trend was seen all over the catwalk from designers such as Gucci and Dries Van Noten. They're great as an alternative to jeans and look amazing in the summertime but you definitely have to have a level of confidence to pull these off. There's some shorts in there too just in case the full on trousers is too much! Here's a few great picks from the high street and some style inspiration from some very fashionable gents. 

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Dockers Leaf Print Shorts

Zara Floral Print

ASOS Flag Print

What do you think? Is this a look that you'd like to wear yourself or see men wearing? Let us know, tweet us at @Theimageconsco on Twitter! https://twitter.com/TheimageConsCo

The Swimwear Series: Pear Shapes

The summer can be a minefield for us ladies and our swimwear. We have to decide what to wear for the occasion, the location, the trends and not to mention our body shapes as well! So we've come up with a helpful guide, over a few weeks that will give you a helping hand in finding the perfect swimwear for you. You may think that your options are limited, but our job is to show you loads of things that will look fabulous on you that you never thought you could wear! First up in the series is the pear shape. You're a pear shape if you're heavier on the bottom than the top. This simply means that your legs and bum are wider than your top half and you've probably got smaller boobs in comparison to your legs and you're not totally in proportion. 

A fab celeb example of pear shape and swimwear comes in the lovely package of Beyonce. 

Beyonce was seen a month or so ago on holiday with her family wearing a lovely selection of high waisted bikinis. She's rocking a fab pink mix and match bikini below but she was also seen in a more tribal print rainbow number. These are great for pear shaped girls who feel that they need to cover their hips. Embrace your larger bottom half and wear a stripe or a bright bottom half like Beyonce! This creates a focal point and you'll shine with confidence. Get the look with this fab tropical print bikini from Topshop for only £34. 

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If you'd rather draw the attention to your top half, make sure that you have a more demure bottom half maybe in nude, black or tan and then chuck on a bright bikini top to draw the eye up. Don't be scared of mixing and matching bikini tops and bottoms. Make sure that you wear full coverage bikini bottoms such as high waisted or boy-shorts to make you feel more comfortable.

If you want to rock a one-piece, make sure that there is some detailing on the bust to again draw the eye towards the area that you want more attention. Try this black and cream retro style swimsuit which is also from Topshop. It's great because of the little scallop detailing on the bust and the fact that the bottom half is a dark colour! Another amazing swimsuit for pear shaped ladies is this Ted Baker striped number, it has clever vertical stripes over your heavier area and widening horizontal stripes over your smaller area so it should balance you out perfectly. It also comes with detachable straps so it can be bandeau or halter. Nifty. 

Accessories are also a great distraction away from your bottom half so why not try a hat, hair accessory or jewellery to create some interest?

The Friday Girl's Picks: Fruity Fashion Good Enough to Eat

The sun is most definitely out and it's time to have some fun with fashion! Below are some of my favourite picks of the novelty fruity trend. From pineapple print jeans from Topshop to a few lovely bits from ASOS including the cute watch, spotty dress and strawberry t-shirt! I especially love the two bits from New Look, the orange slice clutch and the watermelon print high waisted bikini bottoms which are fab for if you want to hide your middle area but still want to rock a bikini. 

What do you think of this trend? Will you be rocking anything fruity this summer? I've definitely just picked up the orange slice clutch for a splash of fruitiness into my wardrobe! It was only £9.99, which is a fab affordable price for a little trend injection. 

Find of The Day: The Investment Skirt

If you're on of the ladies who doesn't shop a lot but when you do, you really invest in something, be it a statement piece or a classic staple, we salute you! This is a great habit to be in, shop less but wear more, it's the whole Gok Wan mentality and it really works! Today we wanted to share with you this fabulous floral skater skirt from Marco Bologna, at £280.36 it's not cheap but it's incredibly flattering for so many body types and would suit a whole range of ages!

The large floral print would be really flattering for top heavy women as it would draw the eye away from the larger area of your body. The skater shape is fabulous on loads of women, especially straight up and down girls to give them some shape and pear shaped girls to skim over hips. The length is also really flattering at just above the knee and the fabric is fantastic quality. Pair with plain court shoes and a sweet white t-shirt for the perfect relaxed but chic look. 

The Friday Girl's Picks: Summer Raincoats!

This might not be what you want to hear, but today, it's raining. We all know that in Britain, good old Blighty, we get a bit of rain every now and again! So, to keep all our lovely clothes dry and stop us getting soggy, occasionally we'll need a coat! I've trawled the net and found a lovely little selection of raincoats perfect for the summer months and great if you're heading off to any festivals too! 

1. ASOS Henna Print

2. Next Floral Print

3. George at Asda Animal Print

4. Topshop Clear

5. Le Petit Bateau Yellow Fisherman 

Summer Style: How to Wear Prints (Whatever your Age/Shape/Size!)

Prints are always huge for Spring/Summer and for some, it can be a tricky one to tackle! The Autumn/Winter can be a safety net for style in terms of cosy knits, simple dark colours and it's totally OK to just wear black skinny jeans and a cute jumper all the time, because, it's cold isn't it? We're all guilty of this sometimes, just wearing what we're used to, especially in the colder months. 

But, the sun's on it's way and hopefully we'll get some lovely weather so it's time to ditch the cardigans and failsafe colours and inject some prints into our lives! This post will show you how to wear prints whatever your occasion, shape, age or size! If you have any questions or we've not answered something that you think we may need to cover, send us an email or Tweet us for a super speedy response to @Theimageconsco. 

Do you need a summertime event outfit?

If you're looking for something for a summertime wedding or garden party and you feel like you'd need an injection of print and colour try one of the dresses below. If you're a lady with a bigger bust then the strapless one could be perfect for you, enhancing an hourglass silhouette. The green floral Reiss number is fab for slightly pear shaped ladies as the flared out skirt will skim over the bits that you don't want to cling to! The higher neck also looks better on a smaller bust. 

Does your office wear need brightening up?

You can still bring the prints to the office, but perhaps just one statement piece is more business like! Try a printed blazer like this one from Warehouse or a floral skirt like this J. Crew one to bring the work day alive. 

Scared of wearing prints day to day? 

For a less formal occasion but you still feel like bringing out the printed big guns why not try a trouser or a jumpsuit in a printed fabric. Primark have some amazing printed jumpsuits at the moment, so if you feel like you might want to give it a go but don't want to invest too much money into the look as you're unsure, try Primark out for size before you jump in feet first! 

Try wearing a printed bottom if you're larger on the top and vice versa, it will balance you out and draw the eye away from the larger area that you don't want as your focal point. Pair them with a plain tee like we have below with these fab Topshop trousers and choose a modern accessory like these monochrome flats for a fashion (but comfy) edge!

Jumpsuits and prints don't always have to mean crazy colours, this Maison Scotch Khaki printed jumpsuit is a lovely flattering colour for most skin tones and can be jazzed up with accessories. Why not try the tribal/ethnic vibe with this look? 

Straight up & down gals, whatever your age can get away with the printed top as there's no bust to get in the way! Printed tops are also great on pear-shapes as it draws the eye away from the bottom half. If you're 20s-30s the crop-top is still in range, just as long as you style it how you're comfortable. Pair with high-waisted skirts and trousers if you're not keen on having your mid-riff out. 

Hopefully this helped you if you're struggling with how to wear prints in the up and coming warmer months! Let us know if you have any questions. 

The Friday Girl's Picks: How to Style The Midi Skirt Trend

The midi skirt is a huge trend this Spring/Summer14. We've seen them before, but this time round, there's less body con and a few more swishy and pretty shapes about. The midi skirt is rests in-between your ankle and your knee, it's really flattering and looks the best with heels. A midi skirt with flats can make you look shorter than you are, so keep the heels on!

Circle

The full circle skirt can look really 50s and swishy, pretty and girly but can also look really modern. This vinyl Topshop number is definitely a modern take on the retro classic. £55

A-Line

This incredible ASOS Scuba material skirt is a modern take on the classic A-Line shape. I LOVE it. £30. This looks perfect with the white shirt it's styled with and would look amazing paired with some monochrome animal print too. 

Pencil

This beauty from Zara, for only £35 is a great summer shade and would work really well with so many colours. Best for top heavy ladies to make the most of your great legs. 

See how these lovely ladies style their midi skirts:

Menswear Wednesday: The Short List

It’s getting to that time of year. The sun is getting warmer, you can almost hear the sound of bottles being cracked open and the smell of sausages sizzling is in the air. When it’s time to ditch the work wear and to enjoy the sun you want to make sure that you’re doing so in style. Wearing shorts is not an excuse to take short cuts with your wardrobe.

I’ve compiled a short list of 5 ways to put a spring in your step this year and to make sure you don’t come up short when it comes to shorts. From budget to bold there is a style here to suit everyone.

ASOS Chino Shorts in Longer Length

The ASOS brand is the perfect starting point for shorts on a budget. With tons of styles you really can’t go wrong. Just caught the weather forecast and tomorrow looks like a heat wave? With ASOS Premier you can also get free next day delivery for a year. Perfect! The lightweight chino material will balance out the darker colour choice making this a cool choice this summer.

ASOS Denim Shorts in Mid Length

Not ready to ditch the jeans just yet? Go for a light blue pair of denim shorts giving off a relaxed, summer vibe. These shorts will look awesome paired will a plain white crew neck tee and a nice pair of vans.

Converse Patch Sweat Shorts

If you’re the kind of guy that cares about his appearance whilst at the gym then these Converse shorts are for you. As well as being the perfect gym shorts in cotton sweat material these shorts will also look perfect teamed with a pair of fresh Havaianas for a laid back afternoon in the garden. 

Son of Wild Akeem Shorts in Tribal Print

If you’re the sort of guy that likes to make a statement and is dreaming of hotter climates then these Son of Wild shorts inspired by Middle Eastern patterns are just the ticket.

Polo Ralph Lauren Embroided Bird Shorts

If you’re a label lover and like classic brands with modern twists you really can’t beat Ralph Lauren. These outstanding bird print shorts in a soft pink really give off a confident vibe and will have the ladies cooing over you this summer.

All photos are sourced from www.asos.com

The Friday Girl's Picks: Fearne Cotton for Very

Fearne Cotton is one of my favourite celeb ladies, a major hair crush and I also think she seems so lovely and normal, she has lovely style and I love her Radio 1 show! So, all round love for this lady. She's just released her new Very.co.uk collection, (which is actually her 10th collection for them!) and I just wanted to share the love a little bit and have a look at some of my favourite pieces. What do you think of this collection? Let us know on Twitter! @Theimageconscohttps://twitter.com/TheimageConsCo

Fearne says: "... The collection is about - quirky, trend-led pieces that you can wear anywhere and on the go..."

I love this leather biker & snake print dress.

This floral smock dress is my favourite! 

These yellow heels are my ultimate favourite from the collection!

Menswear Wednesday: 3 Takes On the Perfect Spring Jacket

 Spring is finally upon us. People are once again enjoying a drink or two outside, the trees are starting to fill out, the clocks have gone back and the thoughts of where we are off to on our summer holidays are becoming more and more important as each day passes.

With all of these exciting things in mind you’d maybe expect to be forgiven for making the odd wardrobe mishap at this time of year. Well, I’m sorry guys but no can do. In this spring to summer transition and the ever present ‘April showers’ raining down on us it’s more important than ever to ensure we are prepared for all the weather has to throw at us.

A key component of your outfits throughout spring should be a light jacket that can be thrown on and taken off as needed. I know the sun is shining but don’t be fooled, it’s still pretty cold outside and getting caught out in a five minute shower and spending an hour or two drying off is never cool but these three jackets definitely are.

1. For my first pick I went with this uber cool Rains Long Jacket in green. The colour and cut provide a nod towards the traditional Mod parka with the benefit of being lightweight and water resistant. It is an item that is fairly versatile and can be worn casually during the day but wouldn’t look a miss teamed with some smarter jeans and a nice pair of brogues in the evening.

2. This gorgeous Mac by New Look is a snip at £49.99 and is the perfect investment for the style savvy gent looking to add a traditional edge to his outfits. It is extremely wearable in the fresh stone colour and thrown on with a pair of light blue jeans and a fresh pair of white vans, you’ll definitely be looking cool and dry.

3. If the recent street style bug has caught you then I have a feeling I may have just found the perfect spring jacket. This Nike Heritage Windrunner is a classic amongst street wear items and the light blue tones paired with the vivid yellow Nike logo make this jacket pop. Teamed with a pair of Nike Air Max and a pin rolled denim jean and you’ve got the perfect 90s inspired street style going on.

 

So there we have it. Three very different takes on the perfect spring jacket. Hopefully this article has inspired you to have a think about your wardrobe throughout the transitions and not just the seasons. I would love to hear about how you guys handle this hot and cold weather over on Twitter @lukesvarc.