Okay hear us out. When you think of crochet, the image that springs to mind might be of a holey, ill fitting piece that your grandma proudly created but has been sat at the back of your wardrobe for 3 plus years, but it doesn’t have to be this way! The warm weather is now upon us and with that comes fun and fresh trends that may feel a little ‘out there’, but crochet is here to stay for summer ’21 and we’re here to tell you it’s worth your time…

Festivals and travel might be off the cards or still feel totally foreign this year, but nothing screams Coachella more than a crochet co-ord, and regardless of our attendance to said coveted festival you best believe our summer outfits will be on par with the Extraness of the stateside event. 

Crochet is far from dowdy, and the likes of Kylie Jenner are proving so, recently seen rocking a Natalia Fedner knit dress on a tropical getaway that screamed effortless sex appeal and va va voom. The boho style is perfect teamed with messy, undone hair, oversized earrings and paired back accessories, letting your outfit do all the talking at whichever social occasions you’re flitting between during this season of fun, fun, fun. 

Sweater vests took Instagram by storm over the winter and crochet feels like the warm weather extension of this, allowing you to layer thin knits and playful designs for some extra warmth and style points whilst looking trés cool doing so.

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Let’s be real, Cottagecore never really left the special place it found in our heart’s back in 2020, but the trend really does show no signs of slowing does as whimsical puff sleeves are IN right now. Whilst last summer you were wafting around the house twiddling your thumbs and wondering how many takeaways was too many takeaways, this time around you can waft OUTSIDE, with friends, and look fabulous doing so! 

Dreamy pastels are normally never far away when it comes to puff sleeves, as their romantic, feminine feel is a match made in heaven with the likes of an Easter egg colour palette- add in some gingham and you’re really onto a winner! Having said that, brands such as Rixo who favour a more statement colour wheel also nail puff sleeve drama too, proving the trend need not be exclusively for those who drool at the sight of pastel pink everything upon entering the shops. 

Serving peak bottomless brunch realness, keep scrolling for the creme de la creme of puff sleeve offerings!

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Dream wardrobe incoming: one scroll of the & Other Stories website and boom, your basket is full, you have 5 packages en route and your bank manager is on the phone wondering what the f*ck is going on. Their irresistible combination of design influences from Paris, L.A and Stockholm means they nail new-in, on-trend yet classic styles every time, and you can shop safe in the knowledge that you can’t go far wrong where & Other Stories is concerned. 

This week the team are running you through their favourite ‘add to basket’ picks as the dreaminess of June 21st approaches and hugs, kisses, parties and picnics become the new, ‘new normal’. Insert all the heart eye emojis.

Charlotte

& Other Stories isn’t usually my go-to shopping destination (as much as I would love it to be, alas the price point says otherwise) but their site is a dream to browse and the Scandi ‘fits make my heart skip a beat. I love the simplicity of their clothes and how effortless they feel, which is one thing that drew me to these linen shorts which I think are such a summer essential. I’m a sucker for all things pink, hence my other two picks which are tres beautiful. I’m gearing up for beach season and a solid bikini you can rely on and hair clip to shove up your sun cream filled strands is must, and the colour of this one is so lovely.

*And Other Stories, Cropped Knit Top, £45

*And Other Stories, Glossy Mini Hair Grip, £8

*And Other Stories, Drawstring Shorts, £45

*And Other Stories, Fitted Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, £55

*And Other Stories, Seersucker Bandeau Bikini Top, £27

Danielle

& Other Stories isn’t the most size inclusive brand but what they lack in that department they make up for with very well made accessories and beauty products. I always feel like getting their products is a bit of a treat and you get what you pay for as it certainly lasts longer than most high-street brands. I’ve chosen some fun summer accessories, the perfect beach tote with a scarf to tie on for a bit of spice, cool cat-eye sunnies, a pretty shell bracelet, lush heeled sandals to dress up a casual beach dress and I’d love to give this face and body highlighter a go for evenings on holiday.

*And Other Stories, Large Woven Straw Tote, £55

*And Other Stories, Angular Cat Eye Sunglasses, £23

*And Other Stories, Heeled Leather Square Toe Sandal, £85

*And Other Stories, Seashell Pendant Chain Bracelet, £13

*And Other Stories, Colour Block Printed Satin Scarf, £29

*And Other Stories, Face And Body Dew, £27

Darcey

And Other Stories aren’t the most inclusive brand and so I struggle to buy anything from the waist down from there a lot, but they have a lot of very cute tops and being a C cup means I get to enjoy these ha! I’m obsessed with cropped shirts at the moment and they have a lovely wrap around one. Also, they are so good for accessories and especially handbags! I am loving these orange squared sunglasses, they are perfect for Summer.

*And Other Stories, Boxy Knit Tank Top, £45

*And Other Stories, Buttoned Tie Detail Crop Top, £55

*And Other Stories, One Shoulder Top, £35

*And Other Stories, Croc Embossed Leather Shoulder Bag, £120

*And Other Stories, Rectangular Frame Sunglasses, £27

Holly

There are so many pieces I love on & Other Stories at the moment. The clothes don’t tend to go up to my size but I have chosen this dress which I absolutely love and it’s flow so I think I could get away with it. The accessories are where my heart lies though, so many beautiful pieces and the best quality.

*And Other Stories, Curved Open Hoop Earrings, £17

*And Other Stories, Puff Sleeve Jacquard Mini Dress, £95

*And Other Stories, Square Neck Technical Bodysuit, £29

*And Other Stories, Linen Hair Scrunchie, £8

*And Other Stories, Short Leather Crossbody Bag, £165

Lareese

If there’s one thing Stories does well, it’s wardrobe staples and accessories so I’ve loaded up on all my summer essentials from padded duvet sandals to linen sets. I’m a big fan of their beauty range too – the whole collection smells insane, it’s a pretty good price point and the branding is gorg. I haven’t tried the face and body dew yet so that’s going straight in my basket because ya girl is 30 now and she needs all the help she can get in the glow department.

*And Other Stories, Padded Strap Leather Flip Flops, £85

*And Other Stories, Linen Drawstring Shorts, £45

*And Other Stories, Short Sleeve Shirt, £55

*And Other Stories, Floral Embroidery Underwire Bra, £29

*And Other Stories, Gingham Seersucker Swimsuit, £55

*And Other Stories, Sicilian Sunrise Eau de Toilette, £28

*And Other Stories, Face And Body Dew, £27

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The summer months bring colour and freshness to your evening dinner plate, and the same can be said for your wardrobe too! As the weather warms up (please universe) and fake tan gets topped up with a real one, the urge to embrace bold, primary colours increases along with the fun and flirty vision that’s forced into hiding during the season of jumpers and boots. And what screams Italian vineyard or English orchard during a heatwave more than the humble fruit print?! Appearing in bold and statement prints or smaller micro nods to the trend, the variety of ways to rock fruit print mean the possibilities for summer outfits are truly endless. 

Which pieces are going straight into your basket?

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Although jeans and a nice top is a pretty fail-safe go-to, sometimes finding the perfect outfit combination requires a little too much concentration when you’re running out the door and an espresso martini is calling your name. Enter: the humble co-ord. A perfect two piece, a pre mixed cocktail if you will, the one you can always rely on when time is short and the style stakes are high. Whether it’s a trip to big Tesco (a 10/10 day out) or a bottomless brunch with the girls, there are co-ords from dressed down to dazzling that fit every occasion. 

Which two piece do you have your eye on?

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Did someone say Marmite fashion coming through? Ohh yes they did! You either love it or you hate it when it comes to some fashion trends (cycling shorts and low rise jeans we’re looking at you) but Dad sandals ain’t budging for the summer season ahead and this week’s edit has the best of the bunch …

Chanel offers the creme de la creme of chunky sandals, but if you don’t want to be stuck eating beans on toast for the rest of eternity then keep scrolling for the best high street dupes …

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The ’90s called and they want their sh*t back…

You’re wearing low rise jeans, Britney is blasting through the radio and everything you’re seeking in a relationship is inspired by the iconic Posh and Becks- yep, you’ve woken up in the ’90s. More simplistic and toned down than its ’80s sister, the ’90s exudes cool girl, supermodel chic, with fun accessories in the form of mini bags, scrunchies and jelly shoes. If you’re a fan of playful, youthful style, this one’s for you…

If you’re new to the trend but wanna get in on this one quickly, here’s what you need to know, stat: slip dresses, low rise everything, light wash denim, capri pants, crop tops, halter necks, LBDs, mini skirts, chokers, cycling shorts, tie-dye and spaghetti straps galore. As this era was all about celebrity street and red carpet style, it’s always wise we look to the queens of this era when nailing a ’90s inspired look. We’re talking The Spice Girls, Kate Moss, Princess Di (yes we’re still not over her cycling shorts/athleisure looks), Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry and Clare Danes- they are simply chefs kiss and you won’t go far wrong by following in their footsteps.

Some say to avoid the low rise fits and kitten heels, but we’re of the school of thought that there is no such thing as too Extra when it comes to this golden era of fashion. You heard it here first people…

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Who run the world? GIRLS. If it wasn’t already obvious, we’re pretty into celebrating, uplifting and championing women in all that we do, so it probably comes as no surprise that we’re head over heels for the female form interiors trend that has taken Pinterest by storm in the past 12 months. From peachy booty vases and ceramics to abstract line silhouettes, you can say goodbye to bare walls and lacklustre shelves as these celebrations of the female body add a fun and flirty twist to any space.

Alexa: play Girls by The 1975.

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It really is as simple as that! Jeans that hug you perfectly, classic tops that can be layered or worn alone all year round, timeless outerwear in the form of a trench or leather jacket, white shirts that can be dressed up or down, ankle boots, trainers and heels you know you won’t need to buy Compeed for, and you’re well on your way to capsule wardrobe perfection!

Blazers

White Shirt

Neutral Trousers

Coats

Jeans

Layering Tops

Shoes

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Between Bridgerton, The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit, it’s clear that the escapism we seek from an evening of Netflix has transcended beyond simply a different reality, but to a different time period altogether. Let us introduce: ‘Regencycore’. Similarly to Cottagecore in its TikTok and Instagram origins, the phrase was coined following the influence of Netflix’s latest hit Bridgerton, which has seen the appetite for period drama inspired fashion skyrocket. 

According to fashion intelligence outlet Lyst, searches for Regencycore fashion have gone wild following the Internet’s Jane Austen worthy love affair with Bridgerton, as searches for corsets were up 123%, pearl and feather headbands up 49%, long gloves up 23% and empire line dresses up a whole 93%. It’s clear that it’s not just the Duke and his spoon that have made a lasting impression on viewers.

Regencycore is reigning over the fashion world in 2021, and if it means an excuse to rewatch Bridgerton for the second (read: fifth) time running then so be it…

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