1/ Florals

Floral prints are in still going strong this summer, so if you need an excuse to pull out that sunflower dress or ditzy print skirt, you’ll be in good company. Available in everything from delicate springtime blossoms to bold statement prints, such as the Marimekko design from Finland, if not worn in scale with your body shape and height, they can swamp you and make you look larger than you are. Always take the size of the print into consideration to make this look work, says Rachel.

How to wear:

• Make sure that 70% of the background colour of your print is in your most flattering colour.
• Petites should go for a small to medium-sized print as this will look in harmony with your size and height, and team with delicate necklaces.
• If you’re tall with a larger frame, you can carry off bold, large scale prints with style with bold statement necklaces.
• Fancy florals but not as a complete look? Use them in accessories – tie a scarf around your handbag, or wear in shoes, glasses, earrings or necklaces. 

2/ Ballet pumps

French chic! Ballet flats are a timeless classic for any wardrobe. Think Audrey Hepburn’s Funny Face where the iconic actress proved you can wear flats with everything – from shirt-waister dresses and pedal pushers to high waisted trousers and pencil skirts. Despite the lack of heel, they still make you look elegant and pulled together. Even if ballet flats hadn’t been a thing for 2024, then they should be, says Rachel.

How to wear:

• Shoes with a rounded toe make feet appear smaller, so if you’re on the larger side, ballet flats will be your friends.
• If you have to choose one colour, go for black, navy or nude as they combine well with everything else in your wardrobe. 
• Wear with A-line skirts and cropped trousers to show off your ankles.
• Mix it up with leather, floral, prints, latticed, satin, velvet or jewel-encrusted, and if you’re wearing all day, go for good cushioning on the sole.

3/ Stripes

Stripes are big and bold this season, and whether you wear them horizontally, vertically or as a chevron; wide, narrow or pinstripe, always let stripes be the star of the show, by keeping to the rule of three: a stripe shirt, paired with a T- shirt and a pair of trousers in a neutral colour will help keep your look unfussy and help build a timeless, capsule wardrobe. Just add a tan tote bag and shoes to create a classic look.

How to wear:

• Make sure your stripes don’t wear you! Check the negative space between the stripes works for your body shape. If spaces are too wide apart, they make you appear wider and less well proportioned.
• Vertical stripes are the most flattering, as they draw the eye up and down the body.
• But – much maligned horizontal stripes can look stunning if worn the right way: ensuring the dark stripes touch on areas like the waistline, bust and arms helps minimise and flatter these areas. 
• If you are petite choose a medium stripe. If you are taller, you can carry off a bolder stripe.
• If your whole outfit is stripes, make sure one part of the clothing fits to give you structure and shape. A dress will be more flattering if fitted at the bust and waist.
• Make sure a stripe shirt is in your best, and most dominant colour. Put the shirt around your face, to check the base colour works for your skin, hair and eyes. 

4/ Leather jacket

Regardless of trends, a leather jacket is another timeless must-have – a piece of clothing that looks good worn by any age group, from twenty-somethings to gorgeous grannies. According to Rachel, the key with an investment piece, is to get the colour bang-on. You might think black is the safe choice, but go carefully – while younger complexions can get away with it, black can look hard against more mature skin types, accentuating any shadows and wrinkles, so another shade might have longer staying power in your wardrobe. 

How to wear:

• If your hair is blonde, ash-blonde or silver, choose softer shades, such as ivory, cream, rose or a dove-grey. 
• For darker hair, colours such as navy, teal, forest green, chocolate or aubergine are more flattering.
• Wear your jacket over dresses, jeans, knitwear, both for daytime and for going out.
• It doesn’t have to be real leather – the vegan and synthetic options are really good these days.

5/ Peach

Everything is just peachy for Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2024 – PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz. It’s a colour that’s associated with nurturing, connection and closeness, and is generally thought of as warm and flattering. That said, it predominantly suits a warm (Autumn) skin tone. That includes those with eyes which are hazel, brown or amber, and hair colour from strawberry blonde shades to dark. 

How to wear:

• Peach combines safely with similar tones and neutral shades, but also pairs up with blue, as it’s on the opposite side of the colour wheel. 
• For a more striking look, contrast with chocolate, navy and black.
• If peach doesn’t work with your natural colouring (or you don’t like it), look to close alternatives, such as apricot, soft orange, mango or coral. 
• Determined to go for peach? Wear it further away from your face, in trousers or in outerwear, making sure the item closest to your face is in your most flattering colour.

6/ Wide leg trousers

There are a few trends for trousers this summer, including pinstripes, the elevated cargo pant, horseshoe jeans and cords, but one of the more tricky to wear is the wide leg trouser shape. The key with this trouser shape, and dressing as a whole, is about creating balance to your body shape and outfit. Wide leg suits the pear shape, hourglass, or rectangle as it highlights the waist, and flows away gently from the hip area. 

How to wear:

• Choose a neutral colour such as stone or beige, so it can be worn with multiple items in your wardrobe.
• Throw on a jacket for balance and pick a bouclé, bomber or a blazer in either the same tonal colour, or in red or navy to add colour and interest.
• Partner with cardigans, or shaped knitwear, and add shape to your silhouette by showing a hint of waistline by adding a slimline belt and tucking in your top at the front.
• Create height by teaming with wedges or nude block heels, or white trainers for a fresh look.
• Avoid too much pleating, as it can make the tummy area look bulky.

Want help with that wardrobe upgrade?

Book yourself in for a one-to-one with personal stylist and colour consultant Rachel Moss, online or in-person (within 30 miles of Okehampton). Alternatively, you can meet Rachel (with a glass of fizz and canapé in your hand) at the Lexus-Muddy Ladies‘ Night in Exeter on Thursday April 2024. See you there!