Vacay or staycay this summer?
| 17th July 2020
Sure, this must be the strangest summer ever but that doesn’t mean we should let it pass us by sartorially.
Admittedly, most of us are likely to be taking a break in Blackpool rather than Barbados but it’ll still be a holiday and whether you’re on vacation or staycation, you need a few new pieces this summer to pep up your wardrobe.
Even if you’re staying home you can dress as if you’re on holiday for a back garden picnic or drinks on the balcony and when the sun shines, you can top up your tan in sexy swimwear.
Swimwear
Even if you’re not on the Amalfi coast this summer, you can still rock the look. Metallic bikinis and one shoulder swimwear works on so many levels. Sure it’s for the beach but it looks just as good poolside and if you slip a floaty chiffon skirt, or pair of loose pants over the top you could also get away with wearing this for a cool pool party at someone’s house.
Bikini top £22 and bottoms £18, and swimsuit, £38, riverisland.com
The dress
Opt for crease-resistant if you can as you’ll just be able to drag it out of your suitcase and pop it on, as soon as you arrive at your destination and choose something slinky but loose, so you can keep cool. The ideal holiday dress is one that you can smarten up for night with heels and ethnic/shell jewellery and dress down with flat sandals or sneakers for day – or pop down the supermarket in! I think this one from Zara fits the bill perfectly.
Dress, £25.99, zara.com
Cover ups
You can’t have too many of these and you don’t have to wear them over swimwear, they can look great over a vest. They’re brilliant for shrouding your bingo wings in floaty mystery.
Bikini top, £22.50 and bottoms, £14, Kaftan, £28, bag, £19.50, shoe, £19.50, marksandspencer.com. Lead featured image: White kaftan, £45, sosandar.com
Get ahead, get a hat
So finally you’ve been able to get to the hairdresser ! The last thing you want is for the colour to fade in the sun. Or maybe you just can’t be bothered to give yourself a blowdry just to go out for a pint of milk? Then a hat is the answer. It has so many uses, not least that the right one looks so chic, plus headwear is completely on trend right now.
Hat, £45, cosstores.com
Get shorty
When I watch afternoon telly and see middle aged women plus on programmes like A Place in the Sun, they are often wearing shorts. Why? They look awful on most over 40s, highlighting wrinkly knees and big hips. Sorry! And I don’t think older men look so great in them either but in the back garden and beach they are just about acceptable and they are also on trend, so I have included this pair which you could wear with a t-shirt and jacket for days out.
Shorts, £39.95, joules.com
Sandals
I take all kinds of sandals on holiday. A pair of wedges, flat ones, sliders and heels and I end up usually wearing one pair of flats but if you’re having a holiday at home then a pair of sexy impractical mules are were to go. And that place is the back garden!
Mules, £85, dunelondon.com