Summer has officially landed, by way of long, hot days, World Cup fever, and margaritas on rooftop bars. While we're enjoying every minute of summer in the city, we're certainly not the only ones to have our holiday departure dates circled in red on the calendar.
Whether you're headed to Marbella or Madrid, Egypt or Essaouira, a summer holiday calls for a special kind of wardrobe, one laced with freedom and fun. Lucky, then, that both the SS18 and Resort 19 offerings have been so fantastic.
From rattan bags to textured sandals, rainbow-striped dresses to oversized sun hats, this summer's aesthetic is shaping up to be joyful, playful and brimming with colour.
Click ahead to find the best statement pieces we're wearing from the beach to the bar and beyond.
Our penchant for a basket bag – in straw, wicker, bamboo or rattan to be precise – has been going strong for several summers now. Cult Gaia's structured Ark bag has become a permanent fixture on our Instagram timelines, while brands like Nannacay and BomBom Morocco are serving up rainbow-bright, pompom-adorned bags perfect for a week in the sun.
Zara Straw Bag With Rounded Handles, £29.99, available at Zara
Cult Gaia Ark Large Bamboo Clutch, £155, available at Net-A-Porter
AAKS Hana, £150, available at Gather & See
Nannacay Baby Maldives Raffia Tote, £96, available at Net-A-Porter
Warehouse Straw Circle Shopper, £26, available at Warehouse
BomBom Morocco Baby Emerald Jungle Basket, £80, available at BomBom Morocco
Striped dresses in a plethora of colours have been seen throughout the SS18 and Resort 2019 collections. Vertical, horizontal or diagonal; in rainbow brights and dreamy pastels; bold as a zebra crossing or delicately pinstriped – there's a host to choose from this season. We're layering Mira Mikati's rainbow delight over swimwear on the beach, and wearing J.Crew's ruffled blue and white number while exploring new cities.
Zara Long Striped Dress, £25.99, available at Zara
Mira Mikati Striped Crocheted Cotton Dress, £205, available at Net-A-Porter
Mango Metallic Cotton Dress, £29.99, available at Mango
Warehouse Vertical Stripe Dress , £79, available at Warehouse
J.Crew Ruffled Striped Cotton-Poplin Maxi Dress, £157, available at Net-A-Porter
Bershka Midi Dress With Straps, £12.99, available at Bershka
Ever since we put comfort over aesthetics and practical brands like Teva and Birkenstock became the summer footwear du jour, the chunky sandal has been in the spotlight. Think thick straps and clunky fastenings, bouncy soles and – thankfully – not a blister in sight. Fila and Charles & Keith's pairs are at the more extreme end of dad-cool, while H&M and Monki's offerings add a dose of pretty via high-shine metallics and crossover straps.
Off-White Black Industrial Belt Leather Sandals, £455, available at Browns
H&M Slides, £19.99, available at H&M
FILA Disruptor White Sandals, £65, available at Urban Outfitters
Monki Sporty Cross-Strap Sandals, £25, available at Monki
Dr. Martens Vegan Blaire Sandals, £100, available at Dr. Martens
Charles & Keith Laced Up Rope Sandals, £49, available at Charles & Keith
Swimwear always proves tricky. The high street's love of neon and metallic, high-cut and cut-out pieces can make shopping a difficult task. That's not to say there aren't some stellar swimsuits and bikinis out there, though. & Other Stories and Topshop have some gorgeous graphic pieces, while Onia's kitsch number calls for a lemonade by the pool.
Topshop Multi Striped Bikini Set, £29, available at Topshop
Monki Ribbed Swimsuit, £30, available at Monki
& Other Stories Colour Wave Halter Swimsuit, £45, available at & Other Stories
Three Graces Bridget Ruched Bikini, £245, available at Net-A-Porter
Onia Estelle One Piece Swimsuit, £147, available at Onia
Mara Hoffman Emma Cross-Back Swimsuit, £258, available at Matches Fashion
The jumpsuit should be a staple of your summer wardrobe. Whether you're strolling around a small European town or in need of something to throw on over your swimwear for a day at the beach, a one-piece is the no-faff solution to holiday dressing. Whistles and Finery have some beautiful botanical pieces, while we're wearing Norma Kamali's palm-print offering with gold earrings and a slick of red lipstick for a sunset dinner.
Whistles Aina Silk Jumpsuit, £299, available at Whistles
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Warehouse Cross Back Jumpsuit, £42, available at Warehouse
Finery Maria Wild Flora Jumpsuit, £169, available at Finery
Norma Kamali Printed Stretch-Jersey Jumpsuit, £175, available at Net-A-Porter
COS Wide-Leg Jumpsuit with V-Neck, £89, available at COS
H&M Halterneck Jumpsuit, £39.99, available at H&M
What's summer without sunglasses? Sure, Matrix -esque micro shades are reigning supreme right now (Adam Selman x Le Specs are the best around), but there's a wealth of statement-making specs that aren't super small. Vow London has an incredible Kurt Cobain-style pair in red leopard print, while Gucci's pearl-embellished sunnies will have you seeing stars.
Le Specs + Adam Selman The Last Lolita Sunglasses, £75, available at Net-A-Porter
Vow London Selena Red Leopard Sunglasses, £90, available at Vow London
Chloé Romie Sunglasses, £265, available at Chloé
Topshop Cat Eye Sunglasses, £16, available at Topshop
Gucci Pearl Square Sunglasses, £621, available at Coggles
Saint Laurent Loulou Acetate Sunglasses, £265, available at Matches Fashion
Ah, the sun dress. A staple of any summer wardrobe, there are so many to choose from each season. Florals, of course, are in abundance – Ganni's asymmetric ruffle number and Rouje's oh-so-French button-down are our favourites – but there's so much more besides. Georgia Hardinge and & Other Stories have great white dresses (if you can avoid spilled sangria), and Staud is making some of the best vintage-inspired styles out there.
& Other Stories Ribbon Lace Empire Dress, £89, available at & Other Stories
Ganni Roseburg Crepe Maxi Dress, £133, available at Ganni
Staud Veronica Stretch Cotton-Poplin Dress, £255, available at Net-A-Porter
Rouje Gina Dress, £149, available at Rouje
Georgia Hardinge Primrose Dress, £290, available at Georgia Hardinge
Topshop Shoulder Step Hem Dress by Boutique, £69, available at Topshop
You'll have seen Jacquemus' totally extra wide-brimmed sun hat on Instagram (both style and sun protection, if you ask us), which has inspired a host of look-at-me high street copies – perfect for a dramatic poolside entrance. Missoni's is romantic and would look excellent with a matching black one-piece, while Sensi's Panama brings a little structure to your summer attire.
Sensi Studio Panama Hat, £135, available at 24 Sevres
Missoni Extra-Wide Brim Straw Hat, £228, available at Matches Fashion
Lack of Color Ultra Wide Spencer Hat, £160, available at Selfridges
Eugenia Kim Mirabel Straw Hat, £470, available at Net-A-Porter
& Other Stories Woven Straw Sun Hat, £29, available at & Other Stories
As with interiors and bags, textures have made their way into our footwear. Stella McCartney's take on the classic espadrille is top of our list, and Finery and Topshop's woven courts are perfect to wear with a cotton dress while sipping on a sundowner.
Urban Outfitters Sara Woven Flat Slides, £12, available at Urban Outfitters
Stella McCartney Woven-Wicker Espadrille Sandals, £283, available at Net-A-Porter
Finery Creswick Court, £62, available at Finery
Topshop Joice Woven Mid Heel Court Shoes, £46, available at Topshop
Proenza Schouler Woven-Raffia and Leather Slides, £285, available at Matches Fashion
St. Agni Paris Woven Leather Slippers, £225, available at Net-A-Porter
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