Summer Fashion

We’re all in agreement that H&M is having a particularly strong year when it comes to hero buys. It’s part of our job as editors to keep tabs on all the new-in sections, and with H&M you can barely blink before their best items are sold out right now. The latest summer drop is full to the brim of classics like easy, pretty dresses, relaxed linens and elevated basics that promise to see us through everything the upcoming season has to throw at us. From far-off holidays and heatwaves in the office, to laid back weekends at home as well as the entire summer events calendar.  Below, I’ve done the hard part for you— scrolled through the entire new-in collection to pull out the six strongest categories on H&M’s website right now and the thirty most expensive-looking buys. F...

I am so excited about 2022’s summer trends. The overarching mood was one of real optimism, but where the previous season perhaps went into overdrive with the desire (desperation?) to get dressed up for even the most low-key of weekly grocery shops, the outlook for summer is that there is a time and place to be extra fabulous but still a strong demand and a necessity for easy, simple, luxurious, gorgeous clothes and outfits you can fling on in a hurry. There are places to go, people to see and the many ensembles to suit. So while on the one hand there’s a very clear shift towards revealing, ultra-sassy, cut-to-here-and-slashed-to-there kind of dressing, there’s also a very chic, understated antithesis at play. It speaks to a modern shopper’s whims ...

It doesn’t seem like two minutes since the last bank holiday (not that we’re complaining), but the dilemma lands at which outfits to wear. Celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee is a royal affair, but if your plans involve chilling in the sun (fingers crossed) at a picnic, heading for an al fresco dinner or you’re making the most of the additional days off by going for a city escape, we’ve got you covered. Some of our fashionable friends have already been wearing summer looks that’ll work for every weekend plan. This is why we’ve picked a few of our favourite looks on Instagram that are super easy to copy. So now all you have to worry about is getting the novelty flags to go with.  Keep scrolling to shop the 6 outfit equations to try out for the...

So what do I consider Zara’s most expensive-looking items? It differs with each drop. Now, I find myself drawn to its palette of neutrals—beiges, bright whites, earthy hues, and of course, the most expensive-looking shade of them all: black. Fabrications are also a key component in Zara’s more premium aesthetic. I think it creates the strongest broderie pieces—an embroidery technique that always looks high-end and a bit French—on the high street. You’ll notice that my edit is almost entirely devoid of prints. Although this wasn’t deliberate, I don’t think Zara’s 2022 print offering looks the most expensive. (Although it does make a statement.) So instead, I’ve embraced crochet and different weave techniques, which break up the streak of block colours below but don’t take away from the whol...

Next to dresses, the maxi co-ord has to be one of the most hardworking pieces in a wardrobe. It’s practical, low-maintenance, interchangeable and suitable for a whole host of occasions, from family gatherings and holidays to relaxed workwear. Maxis and co-ords dominated the S/S 22 runways, and we continued to see this style at Australia Fashion Week this May. There’s an understated charm to the two-piece maxi co-ord. Fabric-heavy styles can be broken up with cropped tops, as seen with most styles this spring. They can also be perfect for more formal dress codes too, as long as the material is opaque enough. There are lots of beautiful saturated colours and prints around this summer. Although, it has to be said that co-ords shine most through pared-back classic cuts with intricate...

If you asked any fashion person what designer they’d choose if they could only wear one brand all summer, I think I know what they’d say. And no, it’s not someone flashy like Valentino or Chanel (although I wouldn’t say no to a pair of those new chunky flip flops)— I’m thinking the answer would be a little more low-key. After all, Matteau is the independent Australian brand so many editors, influencers and celebrities are straight-up obsessed with right now. So much so that it’s difficult to scroll through my fashionable Insta feed at any given time without coming across the brand’s signature pieces. Not that you’d even realise— Matteau’s appeal is in its understated luxury. Starting off as a minimalist swimwear brand known for simple square necklines and strappy bikini...

If I had to sum up my ideal approach to fashion in one phrase, it would have to be ‘minimal effort, maximum impact’. I love outfits that can be thrown on and styled in no more than five minutes flat, but when you walk out the door you could fool people into thinking you spent hours putting it together. While for some people, clothes are just something you put on in the morning, I have found that clothes can really have a transformative effect on my mood. I really need to feel comfy but also polished to be the most relaxed and confident version of myself. Thankfully, summer is a season that lends itself to the low-maintenance approach to dressing, as you can stick to simple and time-tested combinations. Just think of the power of a colourful mi...

Although our love for all things fashion is a common thread running through the Who What Wear UK team, I’d be lying if I said we always agreed on the trends we love and the ones we wouldn’t be caught dead in. It’s true that some items unite us (like that Loewe tank or this COS dress we’ve all just gone and bought)— but mostly we each have our own personal style that works for our respective body shapes and different tastes.  Sometimes our differences will ignite great debate in the office and provide inspiration for an article just like this one. Recently, when we were all discussing the summer trends we couldn’t wait to wear, as well as the ones we’d like to leave (in Y2K, mostly), there were cries of agreement as well as outrage. So we thought it would be fun to ...

We’re all searching for that elusive outfit combination that ticks off comfortable and polished, aren’t we? I think ideally we’d all like to feel like we were wearing a tracksuit most of the time, while looking like we didn’t even know what one was. And in summer it becomes even harder to achieve both comfort and polish at once since the heat often has other ideas.  This year, though, I’ve been determined to crack the code, experimenting with various outfit formulas and taking mental notes every time I see my fellow editors looking effortlessly chic on summer days. From my research, I’ve come to the conclusion that there seems to be one common denominator across all my favourite warm-weather outfits right now— and that’s drawstring wide-leg trousers. I’m guessing you’re probably alrea...

As the ugly-sandal reign continues for yet another season, fisherman styles are proving more popular than ever. And I’m going to put it out there: While they’re a Marmite microtrend, I’m 95% sold. Considering the Velcro Teva pairs from previous seasons and chunky dad sandals from the likes of Prada and Chanel, I have a habit of not liking these “ugly” pairs until they’ve been around for a few months. And fisherman sandals have been a slow burner for me, with my biggest question being, Would I wear them? How would I actually style them? The thing is, though, they surprisingly go with quite a few key summer looks. Their caged fit can be similar to loafers in the way that they work well with tailoring, loose-fit jeans and some skirt...

A special top can pull looks together and elevate a pair of jeans to new heights. When I envisage nice tops, my mind goes straight to contemporary designer Christopher Esber. His sophisticated designs have taken the fashion world by storm. I’m in awe of his recently released cropped shirt with an interlocked-hoop detail. The combination of resin with tailoring is the very definition of a “nice top.” White tops with embroidered detailing look amazing with denim, particularly in the summer months when the airy voiles complement deep-indigo denim. Likewise, evenings are an opportunity to wear lighter textiles and silks that are soft to the touch. This season’s crochet knitwear also pairs well with denim, and I’m loving longer sleeves, which balance the effec...