PRIMARY BLOCK
Forget pastels, “brave, bold, and obvious” is the colour motto this summer season. From Karen Walker to Prada, Joe & Paul and Jil Sander hot pink, vibrant teal, canary yellow and rich purple dominate, but don’t distress, with a little confidence block colour can be a surprisingly easy trend to wear.
There’s really only one golden rule: when your colour palette is bright keep the cut classic and simple. Try a basic tunic with a structured neckline or a monotone Tee paired with Beach Boys button-fronts or clam diggers. If you’re still feeling colour shy take Karen Walker’s lead and embrace bold colour with an accessory, such as her ruffled clutches made from parka nylon, in lawn green, raincoat yellow, and construction-site orange.
ESPADRILLES!
Once considered footwear worn by peasants in the Pyrenees, espadrilles are now favoured by women the world over, from chic Argentines to Melbourne fashion mavens. Made from simple canvas and a woven natural jute sole and worn with everything from shorts to cotton dresses they are ideal for the summer season.
Our picks are MYMU’s light and lovely two-toned flat espadrilles (available at Paloma Bleu in Melbourne) and Toms’ espadrille wedges. Coming in preppy stripes or in Toms’ signature worn canvas the heels are comfy yet chic. What’s more, for every shoe you buy Toms will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need. Philanthropy with your fashion fix, what more can one desire? toms.com
CLASSIC MCQUEEN
Made famous onscreen and off by the legendary actor Steve McQueen,
Persol 714 sunglasses are the ideal accessory for summer. The Italian
frame-makers went to painstaking lengths to reproduce the original ‘60s
design, complete with three point hinges that fold the single-piece
acetate frame into an oh-so-convenient pocket-sized shape. The 714 might
have been popularised by McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair, but with
this summer’s re-release they are set to become part of the classic
design club outright.
PRETTY PRADA
Amid the bustle of India’s modern-day manufacturing industry a handful
of artisans continue to produce fine embroidery and weaving learned from
generations past.
Chikan embroidery, notable for its elaborate floral
motifs, is a feature in Prada’s new ‘Made in India’ collection, which
includes delicately woven hand-dyed leather bags, multicoloured
ballerina flats and cotton summer frocks. Launched by Miuccia Prada to
embrace the master craftsmanship still practiced by artisans world-wide,
the range is a tribute to the designer’s grandfather, Mario Prada, who
traveled the globe in search of fashion inspiration.
“This spirit of the
curious connoisseur remains at the heart of Prada, especially in the
age of globalisation, where geographic and cultural borders disappear,”
Prada says.
