While the fashion pages are full of guides to the latest spring looks and trends - pastels, neutrals, metallics, sportswear, leather and underwear as outerwear; any foray into the high street is dominated by just one overriding theme….
Stripes, stripes and yet more stripes, in navy and white with accents of red and a sprinkling of gold buttons, hang from numerous rails to outfit enough sailors to fill every sailboat from here to the other side of the Atlantic. There is every variation of the Breton top, jaunty navy and cream striped cropped cardigans with little gilt buttons and chains, stripes with polka dots, stripes with pearls, thin stripes and wide stripes in white, blue and red, navy and ecru and crisp whites and navy.
Topshop have one of the cutest navy and cream striped cotton boleros featuring cream epaulette detailing and gold buttons, as well as a more structured red and cream summer tweedy cropped jacket, also with gold buttons, and a smart navy cardigan with little gold chains on the pockets and very shiny yellowy gold buttons. They also have a navy and cream loose sleeveless cotton sailor top and Chanel inspired little quilted handbags with chain shoulder straps in navy and white polka dots.
River Island has a long loose cream casual cardigan with thin navy lines and a cute mini gold anchor hanging from one of the pockets (I overheard someone says she was buying it just for that) and a short sleeve sweater sporting oversized black and white polka dots with little red bows at the neck, while Oasis has several navy and white striped t-shirts and t-shirt dresses with white ‘drawn on’ collars and pockets. They also have nautical rope necklaces and chunky silver chains with big navy and white beads and baubles.
Other stores such as Zara are showing navy and white striped spring cotton sweaters with Michael Jackson inspired decorative shoulder pads made up of clusters of delicate silver chains. Primark has gotten in on the sailor style with a short V-necked navy and white striped cotton t-shirt dress featuring ruched three quarter length sleeves and teeny gold buttons adorning the shoulders as well as large imitation patent quilted totes with gold chains in black, navy and red. Other nautical bags hanging around the high street include a smallish bowling bag style from Next in navy and off white striped canvas with red leather handles and embellishments including red rosettes and anchors decorating the pockets.
Once you’ve stocked up on enough nautical pieces to cut a stylish stripey figure on the Côte d’Azur, you may want to hunt out other hot themes for spring such as military and safari looks, with muted animal prints and a subdued colour palette. Meanwhile, the tracksuit trouser has made it out the gym and onto the catwalk’s pride of place, though the powers that be dictate they should be fashioned from silk or jersey, feature a drawstring waist and cuffed ankles in a muted colour and should only be worn with heels. If paying more than £50 for sweatpants that are unlikely to see beyond the confines of your couch once the season ends, the new simplicity and luxe sportswear look can also be achieved with perforated leather, mesh inserts, biker jackets, gilets and waistcoats.
Happy spring shopping…
