This summer seems a long time in coming with all the lockdowns, restrictions and travel disruptions; I think we have all run the gamut of upheavals to our lifestyle.

Tired of the ultra-casual stay-at-home look, many of us cannot wait to get dressed up, enjoy being able to go out to mix with friends and family, and have a good ‘stylish’ time.

Leisure wear is on the back burner for now; the shops are full of stylish clothes to make us all feel a little special, even if worn in our own gardens for a little while longer.

Gingham
This is a hugely popular look for summer. Forget table-cloths – gingham clothing is back in fashion. 2021 gingham is different in so many ways, from fabric to size of the checks, and super colours – there is a gingham for everyone, even in men’s shirts.

Monsoon have a really versatile green and cream gingham mid-length dress, and the sleeves come just above the elbow – a very flattering length with cute ties. This item could easily be dressed up for a wedding with heels, or equally it would be perfect for a BBQ or garden party. For £60 you will certainly get a lot of wear – and compliments!

Not to be outdone, Next offer a chocolate gingham mutton sleeve dress at £45. If you like puffy sleeves, they also have a pretty navy gingham cami for £25, which you can wear alone or pop under a jacket.

You will see lots of emphasis on sleeves in various shapes and sizes this summer – great if you are self-conscious of your upper arms. Zara has a Chanel-style fringed jacket in gorgeous pink and white check with gold buttons that looks a lot more than £49! Match with pale jeans for a casual look.

Polka Dots
If gingham is not for you, how about spots? There are so many new varieties of spots in wonderful shapes and colour configurations. Marks & Spencer’s new Ghost range has a dreamy mid-length ivory spotted dress with super floaty sleeves at £69. This dress will take you to so many occasions and will last for many seasons to come – a true classic. As before, dress up or down to your preference.

Supermarkets
Surprisingly, supermarkets now offer some very stylish clothes at extraordinary value. These giant stores copy upmarket designs without the killer price tags. Asda has a very pretty ruffle sleeve wrap dress for only £18. Tesco’s F&F range has a wonderful leopard blouse (never out of fashion) made from 100% cotton for just £16. There is also a denim midi tiered ruffle dress for £25, which would be great for summer and long into the autumn.

It’s nice to think we can get our weekly groceries in and indulge in some pretty great fashion without breaking the bank! Enjoy dressing up again.