Do you hear that? It’s the sound of millions of dads making their way to the supermarket to get the makings of a BBQ. Burgers? In the basket. Aperol? On the way. Because, after weeks of wildly wet weather and depressing dreariness, a heatwave is finally hitting the UK – and our collective mood is set to soar alongside the mid-30s temperatures. Thank you kindly, Vitamin D.
It could, of course, be winter again within a week. So, when it comes to summer style, it’s important to strike while the forecast is hot. And thanks to fun footwear, cool colour-blocking and the ever-enduring crochet trend, it’s never been easier to elevate your bland basics into an outfit the queen of high fashion holidays herself, Dua Lipa, would be proud of.
So what’s hot this summer? After a few long years of Nineties nostalgia and the “clean girl aesthetic” dominating street style, fashion is finally fun again. Get on board with rich textures, flouncy frills and jaunty accessories as we ditch minimalism for a dopamine-boosting dress code.
Here are five easy ways to joymaxx your outfits now:
1. Crochet caps
Nothing says the party’s here like a fun little hat, and from the fields of Coachella to the streets of Copenhagen Fashion Week, crochet caps have arrived to spice even the most minimalist of outfits up.
It might not add much by way of sun protection, but a disco cap is guaranteed to liven up a little white dress or complement some Seventies shades this summer. We love the Mila sequin disco cap from Free People, which comes in ivory (best for brunettes) and bronze (best for blondes).
Honourable mention also goes to silk scarf bandanas, which will also do plenty of heavy lifting in the style set’s wardrobes this season.
2. Off-kilter colour combinations
Whether baby pink and fuchsia, red and lilac, Tiffany blue and silver, or green and grey, nothing screams summer like loud, slightly jarring shade pairings. Nobody does colour blocking better than Simone Ashley, who wore a custom Prada lime green gown and silver shoes to The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere in New York last month.
Elsewhere, Kendall Jenner mimicked Prada’s Spring 2026 collection when she stepped out in a slinky lavender top and lime skirt in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a wedding this April. Now that the weather’s playing ball, it’s time to bring the trend across the Atlantic.
3. Added texture
Whether on a white linen blouse or an evening gown, boho ruffles have been revived as a summer staple by the likes of Chloé’s Chemena Kamali. Meanwhile, Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut provided fabulous explosions of texture with his now-famous “piña colada” skirt as seen on Awar Odhiang with a silk T-shirt on the runway.
It doesn’t matter if it’s silk, frills, or feather flowers — the most important takeaway here is texture and the high street’s Mango has already got the memo, with their off-white fringe midi skirt that offers a much-needed alternative take on the done-to-death white silk slip.
4. Standout shoes
Celebrate the return of warmer weather with floral-appliqué footwear that mirrors the recent Chelsea Flower Show’s blooms. Nobody does it like Jimmy Choo, whose £725 Skye Corsage mules would make Carrie Bradshaw break out in a cold sweat.
But if Jimmy isn’t in your price range, Marks and Spencer do a great dupe pair of corsage mules in chocolate brown satin, that’ll add an elegant flourish to a white silk maxi skirt or linen blend trousers.
5. Put a bow on it
After Saint Laurent’s larger-than-life spring/summer pussy-bow-blouses took over the fashion crowd’s feeds, the unapologetically dramatic style popped up everywhere. Sézane’s collaboration with Antoinette Poisson nails this trend, adding balloon sleeves and double denim into the mix.
Dress down with a pair of jeans and loafers for a more demure daily look, or up the ante with some statement earrings and a metallic pencil skirt to joymaxx to the extreme. Now, try frowning in that.
