Aislinn Coffey offers her tips and tricks on how to wear and incorporate the new season trends
Main Image; Jacquemas
1. BARE SHOULDERS
Asymmetric tops and necklines look best when tucked in or belted and worn with hair up. To ensure a streamlined look, wear with a Skims Fits Everybody bandeau bra. This year’s iteration of the trend is less Flashdance casual and much more elevated, though don’t be afraid to add 1980s-style jewellery. Image; Chanel.
2. DISCO BAGS
Fendi, Valentino and Jil Sander all mixed up evening and daywear with one impactful accessory: sequined bags. Girly with a bit of an edge, these fun bags go with almost any outfit. They dress up a pair of jeans, and look particularly good when worn with white. Image; Lilac sequined bag, JW Anderson, €250, at Brown Thomas.
3. LOW-KEY BELTS
This is spring, belts are worn over blazers – from tweed to twill – or with a pair of wide-leg trousers, jeans or chinos. Minimally minded brands like Khaite, Aeyde and By Malene Birger offer beautifully crafted leather belts that will take outfits up a notch. Image; Black leather belt, €69; www.arket.com.
4. CORSAGE COMEBACK
This floral fixture has lost its former prissy connotations. The essential difference is size. Wear as big as possible or in clusters; channel SATC’s Carrie Bradshaw pinning them to coats, white vests and asymmetric mini dresses. Image; Prada.
5. WHITE SHOES
Bottega Veneta’s SS23 show demonstrated the potential of white shoes, worn with everything from classic denim to dresses and skirts. Invest in a pair with wave-edged heels. Image; Bottega Venetta.
6. STATEMENT CUFFS
They may not be practical (especially when typing) but chunky bangles (as seen at Givenchy) are one of this season’s most impactful statements. Wear Wonder Woman-style on each wrist or over a long-sleeved dress. Image; 18ct gold Coco Crush cuff, Chanel at Brown Thomas.
7. SUMMER GLOVES
No longer reserved for debutante balls, sleeveless taffeta gowns or winter, opera-length gloves, in mesh, lace or organza, are worn this season with pretty dresses in matching colours. That’s according to Victoria Beckham, Erdem and Deveaux. Image; Victoria Beckham.
Blush tulle opera gloves, €168.95; www.corneliajames.com.
8. SHOULDER SKIMMING EARRINGS
Chandelier earrings flatter jawlines and add sparkle to eyes. Don’t save for red carpet appearances, or conceal behind hair. Wear with confidence and with practically anything. Image; Louis Vuitton.
9. CAPRI PANTS
Less breezy Nantucket, more Portofino elegant, this season’s capri pants (in denim, not gingham) are dressed up with pretty kitten heels to elongate legs. Find a pair that ends at the slimmest part of your legs, making them look longer. Avoid wearing cuffed styles if you are short and pair with plain T-shirts or classic blazers. Image; Jacquemas.
10. SLOUCHY LAYERS
Follow Rejina Pyo’s lead by wearing a slip dress over slouchy tailoring for a cool-girl twist. Image; Rejina Pyo.
11. LUMBERJACK SHIRTS
Dig out that 1990s grunge-era lumberjack shirt! Wear open over a tank top with a pair of baggy jeans. Note: the scruffier the shirt, the smarter the denim needs to be. Or elevate with black leather trousers, black boots and bling. Technically, it’s menswear but this is a unisex trend. Image; Bottega Veneta.
Black and white check cotton shirt, €39.99, at H&M.
12. FANCIFUL FEATHERS
Feathers have migrated from fascinators and maribou robes, adding some playful texture (along with tassels and fringes) to cuffs and trousers. Invest in detachable versions (on Etsy) to elevate sharp suits for evening and store with care. Image; Valentino.
14. CARGO PANTS
For casual days, wear cargo pants with a tank top and sneakers. For office days, look for tailored cargo pants and pair with blazers and heels. For evening, try metallic cargo pants, an ab-fab micro top and stilettos to show off the results of your Pilates classes. Image; Khaki Ethan satin wideleg cargo pants, €223; www.thereformation.com.
15. SUNGLASSES
For SS23, Valentino accessorised LBDs with black cat-eye sunglasses with gold detailing. Green frames, racer styles and 1970s-style tinted frames are also trending for daywear. Image; Valentino.
16. HOSIERY
For models like Kendall Jenner, 20 denier tights, worn with a black body or belted blazer, are the new trousers. More wearable are sheer or fishnets tights worn under trousers with ballet flats or sandals, as seen at Dior, Versace and Tove. Image; Tove.
17. HAIR CLIPS
Taking inspiration from Alessandra Rich’s princess-style clips, we’re trialling a side parting and wearing with a simple white shirt and denims. Image; Alessandra Rich.
18. STRIPED SHIRTS
An oversized blue and white striped shirt is a seasonless staple. We love Loewe’s version with detachable collar and cuffs. Wear with tailored trousers or Zadig & Voltaire’s Pomy pantsuit at Samui; www.samuicork.com.
19. SILVER
Metallics prevail this season. The rule: wear one shiny item at a time (whether footwear or jeans) and keep the rest of your look classic, if not preppy. Silver looks particularly good paired with a white shirt or grey cashmere. Image; Courreges.
20. IT BAGS
Minimalist tote bags are part of the Y2K revival. Worth the investment are Saint Laurent’s Icare and Chloé’s Marcie totes. Both practical and polished, they will impress from desk to dinner. Image; Tan leathertrimmed suede tote, Chloé, €1,690, at Brown Thomas.
