The only way is accessories
Whether you favour colourful print or minimalist white, give your outfit a kiss of life with the hippest new finishing touches from the high street
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The most daring of all the accessory trends, transparent doesn't keep your secrets. Those who suffer from sweaty feet should steer clear of plastic stilettos, no one needs to witness clammy feet that squelch as you walk. A simple belt or see-through acetate framed sunglasses should be your accompaniment of choice. When it comes to bags, go for the smaller box or clutch as your shopping list should be kept hidden. Head to House of Fraser and Zara for brilliant versions of these bags.
Pink heels, £34.99, New Look, newlook.co.uk
Braverman sunglasses, £281, Oliver Peoples, Mallon & Taub, 020-7935 8200
Resin yellow clutch, £115, Pied a Terre, houseoffraser.co.uk
Neon pink box clutch, £19.99, Zara, zara.com
Minimal
Some find minimalism difficult, but remember the sentiment of less is more and you can't go wrong. Clean lines are as important as a neutral colour palette and don't even mention embellishment. The Nineties revival is picking up pace so try to channel Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein and keep things beautifully low-key. Cos is your go-to store and Kurt Geiger has a range of white footwear that fits the minimalist mould.
Bracelet, £19, Cos, cos-stores.com
Belt, £60, Jaeger, jaeger.co.uk
Sandals, £95, Kurt Geiger, kurtgeiger.com
Sunglasses, £16, Urban Outfitters, urbanoutfitters.co.uk
No summer is devoid of prints. It's a time of year when our inhibitions are lowered and we dress in more frivolous clothes. This season, you don't just need to wear prints, but your accessories need to be printed too, and if they clash, then that's even better. There are no rules to this trend, a pair of printed glasses will work surprisingly well with a pair of contrasting printed shoes. If you think it doesn't go, still wear it, that's the fun.
Tropical scarf, £25, Accessorize, accessorize.co.uk
Zip-top clutch bag, £35, Asos, asos.com
Two-tone sunglasses, £6.99, H&M, hm.com
Paula patterned wedges, £139, 1979 Reiss, reiss.com
Monochrome
Monochrome doesn't have to be boring. Just ask designer heavyweights Marc Jacobs, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who have all experimented with black and white this season. So take their lead and don't hold back when it comes to contrasting. Stripes work well, especially when given a Sixties tip. Pair flat pointed shoes and bangles with a shift dress to give an outfit that desired retro twist. This is a trend to have some fun with and a handbag is the perfect way to do that. The rucksack by Henry Holland's line for Debenhams mixes stripes and monochrome, yet could also pass for sophisticated thanks to the sensible colour palette.
Model: Sunglasses, £12; Dress, £65; Bag, £55; Sandals, £40; all by River Island, riverisland.com
Striped bag, £40, H by Henry Holland, debenhams.co.uk
Weave belt, £60, Jigsaw, jigsaw-online.com
Bangles, £8.99, Mango, mango.com
Mick loafers, £60, Office, office.co.uk
Metallic
Maybe it was the Olympics that put gold, silver and bronze in the limelight, but there is no mistaking that metallic hues are here to stay for a season or two yet. With the instant boost given to any outfit where they are given a chance to shine, they're an inexpensive way to make a bold statement.
The trend works best for shoes. Whistles have a great pair of bronzed pointed courts which are just waiting to be worn with some bright summer prints. Asos too have silver wedge shoes which will be a modern update to a little black dress. If that's too much, you'll be surprised how much a metallic belt can lift an outfit.
Silver wedges, £45, Asos, asos.com
Neon and silver clutch, £89, Mary Portas, houseoffraser.co.uk
Silver belt, £15, Oasis, oasis-stores.com
Gold shoes, £125, Whistles, whistles.co.uk
Snake
We don't adhere to using real snake skins, but we do like to replicate its slithering pattern on our dress and accessories. Snake print is featured by Preen and Gucci among others this spring and with no sign of its popularity fading, it's set to stay for autumn, too. Coloured snake print works brilliantly when it comes to accessories but it doesn't have to be as in-your-face as you would imagine. A simple pair of ballet pumps, sandals or a small shoulder bag could just be the key to transforming an average outfit into a stylishly sassy one.
Snake shoulder bag, £18, AWear, awear.com
Pumps, £69, Jigsaw, jigsaw-online.com
Sandals, £49, Littlewoods, littlewoods.com
Sunglasses, £16, Topshop, topshop.co.uk
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