Sharp styles for the summer

With the month of January finally over, the change of seasons is fast approaching.  With the change of season in mind, Style editors Stephanie Waring and  Sara AlHumiri run us through their best outfits for the summer.

Sara AlHumiri

During the golden hour, coloured shades are one of the best accessories a girl can own. This light linen top was perfect for hotter weather, the fabric and cut of the top preventing sweat, but still would’ve looked fine with a cardigan incase of any semi-cold winds. The colourful florals are also a nice addition to the top, giving it a bolder and brighter look. The sunnies from this photo are definitely a favourite of mine and can also be sported in Leeds on brighter mornings.

As a general rule, a black-on-black outfit is not always the best thing to wear during warm weather. But for comfort reasons, it can work. This outfit is a more casual summer ensemble that consists of sweats and a crop top, for those ‘I don’t have anything to wear’ days. The Topshop sweats are an old time favourite; the black-red-white mixture being easy to style and wear day to day. The pearl studded sandles complete the summery look. 

Inspired by Missguided’s new tab-addition ‘jeans & a nice top’, this summer outfit can be worn both in sunnier climates and in Leeds (with a puffer). The flesh-coloured off the shoulder Missguided bodysuit can be found online and is perfect if you want to wear a thin long-sleeve top in hotter climates without the hassle. Jeans are also a staple anywhere in whatever weather, and always pair well with bodysuits.

This summer outfit is another version of the third outfit, with a similar jeans/bodysuit combo. Either outfit can be worn in the summer or winter and can be easily dressed up or down. The off-the-shoulder element of both bodysuits and nude colours give the outfit its spring/summer-vibes, and the staple black jeans would be great to wear in Leeds to keep you warm. As for the nude Adidas NMD’s, they’re additionally both winter & summer-friendly; but would obviously have to be kept clean in rainy conditions

Last but not least, another off-the-shoulder look with sandals is a classic outfit choice in hotter weather. This summer outfit is a favourite of mine as the linen white blouse with artwork on the front (H&M) gives the outfit some sophistication. The flowy black harem pants (Topshop) also give the outfit comfort and would be well suited to wear to lectures or on a day to day basis. The slippers of this summer outfit lean more towards the summer-side and can be seen as a statement piece with the blue fur. This pop of colour is also a nice touch to the rest of the monochrome outfit.

Stephanie Waring

Here I’m wearing a dress from Accessorize and sunglasses from Ray Ban; usually I wear this dress as beach or pool cover up as its slightly see through, but if worn with a skin colored slip underneath, the dress also doubles up as a good option for a casual summer dinner by the beach. Ray bans are my favorite sunglasses brand and I usually go for the aviator style. The tanted blue of the glasses also helps coordinate the outfit. To make any outfit more exciting, colored sunglasses are definitely the way to go and with so many different styles and ranges on the market, what’s not to love?

I love to wear nautical styled outfits and the thing stripe print on this Zara dress is a perfect example. Caps are also essential in my wardrobe when the sun is out; not only do they help block the sun but are also a simple yet effective accessory. The dress comes with a detachable belt so can be made more sophisticated or casual, depending on the occassion: from the beach to work or to dinner, it’s so versatile and comfortable. The slits in the front of the dress add interest to the dress and also help keep cool in the hotter weather.

This paisley maxi dress is actually from a second hand charity shop in Bermuda that my mum spotted. I love the combination of the flowy romantic material with the rose pink paisley pattern. Maxi dresses are also a useful addition to the wardrobe because they can be worn out during the day with flip flops or sandals, but also double up as a dinner outfit, paired with a nice pair of heels. 

Although this isn’t a full outfit, I decided to include this photo in our summer edit because who doesn’t love a good bikini? This bikini is from Victoria’s Secret and the button down cover up I’m wearing is from H&M. Stripes definitely reoccur throughout my summer wardrobe and this button down cover-up is both comfy and chic. I like to wear it tied at the waist in a knot if I’m out and about or loose and unbuttoned when at the beach or pool.

Sara AlHumiri and Stephanie Waring

Images: Sara AlHumiri and Stephanie Waring