I don’t think I’ll be banishing the winter woollies to the back of my wardrobe just quite yet, however the sales have been browsed to death and new season stock is starting to pop up all around us like snowdrops, which means it’s time to talk about the trends we will be falling in love with for spring/summer ’19…
Brown was a major trend this winter and that looks set to continue but at the paler end of the spectrum. Cream, beige and camel are THE shades to be seen in this spring and will look on point as we transition through the seasons. This cream blouse from Massimo Dutti (£64.95) is so elegant and versatile. Dress it up with a black leather pencil skirt or red trousers for the office, or keep it casual with jeans or smart joggers and trainers.
Pleated skirts have been popular for a while and show absolutely no signs of disappearing any time soon. This style from Mango (£59.99) is perfect with boots and cashmere for now and the colour is spot-on to take you into spring. We’re still going wild about animal print too. Check out these beauties from the new collections at Whistles and Zara…
If you missed all the excitement over Holly Willoughby’s wardrobe (and specifically her footwear) on I’m A Celebrity pre-Christmas, you must have been living in the jungle! She wore a variety of hiking-style boots from Grenson to Maje and her styling with bare legs and short skirts has shown us that these boots will work just as well for spring as winter. From Grenson, I love the Emmaline style. On colder spells I’d wear them with cords and a big cosy jumper but stepping into spring I’d team them with really pale-wash jeans and a black lace T-shirt to contrast with the edgy boot.
The man in your life can get in on the Grenson action too. The men’s styles are so classic, and definitely worth the investment. I like Fred, he’s classic, but with a rebellious side! Grenson are priced at the higher end, so try Office if you want to dabble without spending too much.
If you thought that the time to sparkle is only in December, think again! I adore the style of Erica Davies and Fran Bacon (look them up!) and they are both great advocates of not keeping things for ‘good’ and wearing sequins on a Wednesday afternoon! Fran is particularly partial to sequins with grey marl sweaters and trainers – it just looks so cool and nonchalant. With that in mind, try and pick up a piece like this jacket from Monsoon, and then throw it on with jeans, trainers and a vest top in spring.
The term boliersuit scares a lot of people over the age of 40, but stay with me… they are surprisingly flattering. We’re not talking about jumpsuits (which are a staple) it’s a more utilitarian style you’re looking for. This style from Monki is great, wear it now with boots and a bright skinny polo neck, and then in warmer weather with trainers or sandals. If you like a bit more shape it looks amazing styled with a belt too.
Regardless of new trends, if you are lucky enough to spot your size at the end of season sales one of the best things to pick up is cashmere – always. Cashmere is a fabric that works all year round but it’s so expensive that a saving is always welcome. Look out for classic colours like beige, or at the other end of the spectrum ‘tutti-frutti’, colours such as lemon, strawberry or lime. A simple cashmere top in any of these colours teamed with jeans, black tailored joggers, or a sequin skirt, will see you right through spring. There are many beautiful cashmere designers around but for basics, and the best range of colours, you can’t beat high street hero Marks & Spencer.
Cathy x
Cathy Owen is a freelance creative with experience in PR, fashion show production, model agency manager and casting agent. Her greatest achievement to date is managing to style a shoot with kids, animals and a hot air balloon!