spring dresses .. Your spring shopping list

spring dresses .. Your spring shopping list

By Karen Wheeler
The sales may not yet be over, but fashionistas are already thinking about what they’ll be wearing in spring. Surprisingly, several of last ­summer’s trends — maxi-dresses, wedge heels and colourful prints — have returned with renewed vigour, along with maxi skirts, stack heels, halternecks and floppy hats.
Yes, you’ve guessed it — the ­Seventies are (again) the over-riding influence of the season. There are some horrors ahead, chief of which is the trouser-jean — a flared, high-waisted hybrid of denim jeans and trousers that flatters almost no one.
But on the bright side, this is going to be a summer of colour, print and ­fabulous sandals. To give you a head start, here are the key trends and hottest buys for the six months ahead.

FLOUNCES/RUFFLES:    Gypsy-style flounces are big this season — on tunics, maxi dresses and cocktail frocks.  This silk crimson dress, £280, by Jaeger, can be worn over trousers (0845 0510063, jaeger.co.uk).                                   In stores March

ELECTRIC COLOUR: Inspired by the colour combinations at Gucci, blocks of colour within the same outfit are hot for spring. Cobalt blue, meadow green and violet are the colours to wear -at least two of them clashing, as with this blue top, £29.99, and violet pants from River Island. In stores April

FLORAL: It's going to be a hothouse season for floral prints - be they small sprigs or giant blooms. Those on Chanel's catwalk were prettiest, but they’ll be popping up on the High Street. Fifties style dress, £149 by Helene Berman at Fenwick, 020 7629 9161. In stores now

CROPPED FLARED JEANS: The scary, high-waisted trouser-jean is set to grab the headlines, but, according to Lesley Torson,  co-owner of Trilogy denim boutiques, the cropped flare will be more popular. The J Brand Gigi, £185, comes in white, Mediterranean blue and jeep (trilogy.co.uk). In stores now

WIDE LEG TROUSERS: High-waisted, wide leg trousers are one of the most difficult looks for the coming season, but patterned ones, such as these quirky apple print trousers, £20 from Matalan, are far more forgiving than plain fabrics    (0845 330 3330).                             In stores now

DRESSES OVER TROUSERS:   Pack away the footless tights and leggings, now, it's all about a tunic dress worn over narrow trousers, as shown by Giorgio Armani and Phoebe Philo at Celine.                                        Toast's cotton churidar trousers, £42 (toast.co.uk).
In stores February 7

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GLITTER EYE MAKE-UP: Shimmery eye shadow is the makeup must-have this season and the palette to go for is Chanel's Ombres Perlees, £39. In stores January 28

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BANGLES:                       Get ready to jangle your bangles — a key accessory this season. 'Marrakech' agate cuff, £16, accessorize.com.  In stores tomorrow                 

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THE SUMMER SCARF: Each season sparks a rush for the latest leopard print scarf from Louis Vuitton, £285, 020 7399 4050, louisvuitton.com.             In stores January

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THE MAXI SKIRT: Last summer was all about the maxi dress; this year it’s the maxi skirt. This printed design by Mint Velvet, £79, is perfect. (mintvelvet.co.uk).           In stores February

 

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FLOPPY HAT: A Seventies accessory we'll all want this spring is a floppy, hippy-style hat. This woven design with a wide brim and flower ­corsage (£45, Marks & Spencer) makes all the right fashion references. In stores March

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SEVENTIES SUNGLASSES: Huge, transparent and rectangular frames are this summer's hot look. This Seventies-inspired style, £267, by Tod’s, reflects the look perfectly. Expect to see many more affordable designs on the High Street. In stores Feb

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THE SATCHEL BAG: Just about every label is doing one, but the most wanted is likely to be the Tillie from Mulberry which comes with a detachable strap. It costs £795 or £1,750 for the uberluxe version (020 7491 3900, mulberry.com). In stores Jan 14

WHITE: No wardrobe should be
without a diaphanous white tunic this season. One with a hint of transparency is the Vintage tunic,
£252, from Handwritten, the new label by Tanya Sarne Handwritten. co.uk, 020 8962 9601). In stores February

BOLD STRIPES: Forget the Breton shirt, the new stripes (as seen at
Prada) are as big and bold as a pedestrian crossing. This Elodie
blanket cardigan, £185, is the
trend in a wearable way
(toast.co.uk).                                     In stores February 7

EVENING JUMPSUIT: You probably hoped it would go away but it just keeps coming back. This might be the year when we finally fall in love with the jumpsuit. This slinky halterneck version, £39.50, is by Marks & Spencer.                           In stores June

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LEFT: STACK HEELS The wedge is still a big story, but the stack heel is fresher and has a slimming effect on the ankles. Most desirable is Christian Louboutin’s tan and white sandal, £695, but expect High Street versions,
including Marks & Spencer's metallic stack heels, £29.50. In stores soon

RIGHT: JESUS SANDAL Summer's most wearable footwear style is the jazzed-up Jesus sandal. Stella McCartney and Chloe are among the many labels to offer luxe versions, while this two-strap sandal in crocodile leather, £265, by Tod’s will look great with wide trousers or a maxi (Stockists: 020 7493 2237). In stores Feb

spring dresses .. Your spring shopping list