The New Season From A-Z


A is for... Ankle adornment
Lanvin did a cuff, Balmain did studs and Jonathan Saunders tied bows. Don't take it as far as Lindsay Lohan, whose anklet is courtesy of the LA Sheriff's Office. From top: Emporio Armani, Lanvin, Altuzarra and Balmain.
Acne can do no wrong. The Swedish brand's collection is sporty, vibrant and super-sexy.


B is for... Bananas
Miuccia Prada has given her fans something to smile about with this season's monkey motifs and fruitbowl chic. Go bananas… literally. Banana-print shirt, £450, banana earrings, £140, bag, £940, Prada.


C is for... Colour
Colour is the big news this season - never before has there been such a vibrant palette. A bag is an easy way to make an outfit pop, whether paired with other brights or added to black. Pink, £240, Kate Spade; turquoise clutch, £1,070, Tod's; yellow, £170, Furla; green, £650, Miu Miu ; blue, £1,016, Mulberry .
Club Monaco The super-chic and affordable American label owned by Ralph Lauren has landed on our shores with a pop-up boutique in Browns. Make it your brand before everyone else discovers it, too. Prices start at £50 for a top, as worn by Lou Doillon, pictured here.
Move over Houlihans - the chino is set to become the new downtime staple. Try Gap, or Current/Elliott's 'Captain' pants, which come in a range of pastel colours - don't forget to roll up the hems. (From left) Kajsa wears T-shirt, £16.50, Petit Bateau; orange chino, £35.95, Gap; belt, £30, Tommy Hilfiger ; loafers, £200, Repetto . Erika wears T-shirt, £38, Sunspel; pistachio chino, £165, Current/Elliott ; belt, £19.95, Gap ; buckled shoe, £145, Russell & Bromley .


D is for... Denim
Denim gets a makeover. Stella McCartney , Derek Lam and even Chloé reinvigorated the age-old staple with sleek, grown-up versions. Goodbye to skinny cuts, dropped crotches and distressed fabrics. These have been replaced by 1970s-feel denim trousers - high waisted, elegant and flared. Silk shirt, £35, Marks & Spencer ; flared jeans, £400, Derek Lam ; block heel, £190, Kurt Geiger.


E is for... earrings
Isabel Marant is still the go-to label for hipsters, but her unique style of laid-back luxe doesn't come cheap. Look the part for less with her more affordable Etoile range, starting at £100 for a top.
Earrings are your new jewellery focus - choose gold hoops, flowing strands or even pompoms. Black tassel earrings, £350, Louis Vuitton ; black flower in macramé lace, £227, Dolce & Gabbana; pompoms, £100, Henry Holland; Swarovski crystal ear cuffs, £315 each, Erickson Beamon for Richard Nicoll.


F is for... flats and fluid
Shoe designers have added a touch of flair to functional flats. The best include suede, £280, Tod's ; beaded, £75, Carvela; nude, £895, Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière. The fluid drape of this year's maxis will keep your look light and easy. Take a tip from Givenchy and add a sleeveless jacket to keep them up to date.


G is for... granny chic
Twinsets and box pleats: inspired by Princess Margaret, Christopher Kane's neon leather added youthful flair to granny chic. Crown the look with a blue rinse if you dare - silvery grey is the hair colour of the moment. Skirt, £1,640, jacket, £2,760, Argyle cashmere tank, £496, Christopher Kane by Johnstons of Elgin.


H is for... hemlines and handcrafted
Hemlines continue to yo-yo - this time resting at maxi and mid-calf for both trousers and skirts. Calf-length pink skirt, £95, Whistles; silk shirt, £209, Equipment ; wedges, £190, Kurt Geiger ; white maxi skirt, £39.95, Gap; polo shirt, £70, Sunspel; raffia wedges, £235, Pedro García. Fashion is having a handcrafted moment, with crochet clutches at Dolce & Gabbana , macramé necklaces at Chanel and appliqué dresses at Ferretti - no sticky-backed plastic in sight. Miss Sicily handbag, £1,636, Dolce & Gabbana ; necklace, £1,500, Chanel ; Nero Silver Filigrane necklace, £4,170, earrings, £690, both Bottega Veneta.


I is for... Iron Lady
Margaret Thatcher seems an unlikely fashion icon for spring, but the new fleet of bags could easily perch on the Iron Lady's knee. Silvana, £1,170, Fendi .


J is for... Jewel-tones and JW Anderson
Gucci took a different route across the spectrum with jewel-toned silks in emerald, sapphire and amethyst. JW Anderson After establishing himself as a menswear designer to watch, JW Anderson has moved his poetic gaze to womenswear, with Moroccan prints and macramé T-shirts straight from the hippy trail. Multi-coloured tier skirt, £475, tulle top, £150, antique festival bodice, £390, all JW Anderson.


K is for... Knit
For urban cool, pair a holey knit with chinos and a belt. White knit, £45, Topshop ; skirt, £49.99, Mango ; cropped knit, £14.99, belt, £99, both Jaeger ; chinos, £35.95, Gap.


L is for... Lace
Virginal Spanish dresses at Dolce & Gabbana , flirty red numbers at Erdem (pictured), laser-cut leather at Christopher Kane - lace doesn't have to be polite. Go for clashing pastels and lots of froth.


M is for... Moths
You probably protect beloved garments from moths, but Karl Lagerfeld appears to have given them free rein. Chanel's boxy jackets were riddled with holes, providing a perfectly distressed lace look.


N is for... Navajo
Mix in Navajo pattern for an eclectic moment. Denim shirt, £80, belt, £55, both Wrangler; waistcoat, £89, Toast ; skirt, £49.99, New Look ; bangle, £360, Erickson Beamon ; friendship bracelet, £115, Links of London , buckle bracelet, £170, JW Anderson for Swarovski; ring, £120, Pebble London.


O is for... Orange and Oriental
Orange is the colour: clutch, £250, Cacharel ; Agatha, £820, Smythson ; Bucket Bag, £355, MaxMara . For a taste of the Orient add a kimono jacket, mandarin collar, obi belt, or, like Louis Vuitton , a fan.


P is for... Ponytail and Punk
Perfect your ponytail; wear it high on the crown, sleek and shiny for an all-American feel. Punk Studded, and zipped - even a punky leather trench - Burberry's biker girls have gone bad. jacket, £2500.


Q is for... Queen Kate
Queen Kate A little presumptuous we know, but… we have caught full-on wedding fever and are stocking up on Issa, Emilia Wickstead and Reiss.


R is for... Ruffles
It's time to indulge your inner gipsy with ruffles - YSL did it best, with peasant tops and flamenco skirts.


S is for... Shorts Suit
If you have the legs, team shorts with a must-have blouse and matching jacket for chic office wear. Jacket, £50, shorts, £40, both Asos Africa; silk shirt, £29.90, Mango.


T is for... Turbans
For a bad hair day, think Moncler's turbans (pictured) and perfect your scarf-tying skills before flying to sunnier shores.


U is for... Unisex
Perhaps it's the arrival of Mr Porter , or maybe it's the unisex appeal of JW Anderson, Paul Smith and the Kooples, but menswear is not just for the boys. This season we will be scouring both sides of the stores; apart from the Whistles shirt, all these clothes are menswear. Kajsa (left) wears sleeveless jacket, £360, Rag & Bone ; silk shirt, £115, the Kooples ; chinos, £135, YMC. Erika wears silk shirt, £95, Whistles ; blazer, £445, Paul Smith Black Labe l; spot trousers, £195, Paul Smith; sunglasses, £144, Ray-Ban.


V is for... Van der Ham
Another season, another triumph for Michael Van der Ham , using collage to great effect: devoré top, £639, crêpe and devoré skirt, £639.


W is for... White
Averse to colour? White needs no adornment this summer. Far left, broderie anglaise dress, £233.92, Etoile by Isabel Marant; left, V-neck broderie anglaise dress, £189, Hobbs.


X is for... XXL
Dries Van Noten became larger than life with floor-skimming trousers and oversized jackets that are a welcome respite from fashion's on-going love affair with all things skinny. Shop around for a jacket with a slouchy shoulder line and an unstructured drape.


Y is for... Yohji Yamamoto
The V&A plays host to a retrospective of the Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto (until 10 July). Exclusive products at the shop include these bags made from fabric from his current men's collection, inspired by the museum's textiles (£85). At the Wapping Project Bankside 'Yohji's Women' shows.


Z is for... Zip
Four new versions of Van Cleef & Arpels' 1950s white gold and diamond zip necklace clash functionality with French fancy. Zip them all the way and they become bracelets. Made to order.

(Daily Telegraph U.K.)

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