The Style Files : My pick of the summer trends to watch... 

Even though summer isn’t really a season here, for fashion it is and I’m excited and optimistic about the ultra feminine, ultra cool and very wearable style season upon us. A few of my favourite trends are:

Mixed Pastels

Layer lace in soft toned hues for ethereal yet grown up summer style. For S/S 2015, models didn’t walk so much as flutter down the catwalk at Valentino, Chloe and Erdem in white and pastel hued lace and soft billowing fabrics. Punctuate the look with tan, or wooden accessories to give it a modern update.

Sporty Brights

Experiment with colour for outfits that pop whether its day or night. Not sold on head-to-toe colour? Mix athletic stripes with crisp whites as seen on the Topshop unique catwalk or dip a toe i with sportswear details - a zipped neckline, an elasticated cuff or rubber soled shoe.

Bohemian Prints

Play with embroidery and beading to give attitude to your off-duty wardrobe. Take your cue from Isabel Marant and clash prints and textures for a look thats two parts French insouciance and one part Bohemian cool. Stick to a tonal colour palette for simple mix and matching. Think less hippie caftans and tunics, croped fringe tops and Coachella - esque wear and more pairing bold, eclectic prints with classic silhouettes and giving structured pieces touches of exotic flair with feather, beaded and dangling embellishments. A look that conveys bohemian sensibilities, but doesn’t have to be restricted to just a vacation wardrobe.

Boyish Stripes

Give androgynous stripes a feminine slant with draped tailoring and curved lines. at 3.1 Phillip Lim, boxy, tailored stripes were nipped in at the waist with rope belts. Undo a few and wear yours with worn in blue denim (an absolute summer staple) and a pair of chunky mules.

By Minoli Ratnayake