Yahoo Sports Summer's hero pieces – and how to wear them
Summer creeps up on you, doesn’t it?
Suddenly, it’s too warm for our winter armour, and it can feel like the only alternative is to expose all the unexfoliated, unmoisturised parts of our bodies that have been swaddled in knits for months.
The most fundamental parts of our wardrobes at this time of year are those that allow us to take baby steps into summer dressing.
Pieces that offer coverage, but keep us cool. So if you are to buy one hero piece, make it a skirt or dress of the floaty variety.
This is fashion that doesn’t care about what size you wear, or the state of your legs. In the stuffiest humidity, it makes you feel cool. Sexy, even. It’s Marilyn Monroe-over-a-subway-grate stuff.
The floaty dress has long been a summer staple – it’s easy, breezy and an outfit in itself – but it’s been a while since the skirt has had such a moment. They do require a bit more styling skill, but once you have a couple of go-to formulas, they become gloriously versatile.
We all have different bodies, so it makes sense that the way you wear either item will depend on your shape – and its shape.
From left to right: Patchwork, £399, Zara Atelier; Tiered dress, £189, Whistles; Viscose crepe, £145, Lily & Lionel; Silk dress, £225, & Other Stories; Midi flared skirt, £155, Rouje
Those who find flowy dresses too billowy might want to add a belt. With a skirt, a knotted shirt creates a flattering silhouette, as does a slightly cropped, boxy tee if the skirt is high-waisted.
Slip dresses suit all body types, if you know how to wear them. With a T-shirt underneath or an oversized shirt worn as a jacket, they look more daywear, less underwear.
Slip skirts work with close-fitting ribbed tees or a cotton knit. When it comes to shoes, think about the demands of the occasion, and how you might balance your look.
A full skirt or dress could be teamed with ballerina flats or kitten heels; slip styles would work better with chunky Birkenstocks. It’s all trial and error, so experiment and find the formulas that work for you.
From left to right: Slip skirt, £69, Ghost; Dip dye silk skirt, £345, Toast; Pleated skirt, £75, hush; Ecovero printed skirt, £119.90, Thinking Mu; Romantic dress, £199, Massimo Dutti
Shopping by Sophie Tobin
