Pretty in pink – statement shoes and accessories for summer dressing

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As summer takes hold and the UK braces for an impending heatwave, my attention has turned to refreshing my Spring/Summer wardrobe and preparing outfits for the growing number of wedding and garden party invitations we’ve been lucky to receive.

When it comes to summer dressing, I always feel I can be a bit more creative and playful with my outfits.  In A/W, I stick mostly to neutral tones, but I find that the S/S season inspires me to add more colour and pattern to my wardrobe.  Pink is a key trend for SS23 (I can’t help but imagine this is somewhat influenced by the Barbie movie release in July!) – and a range of pinks was spotted on catwalks, from pale pinks, pastel pinks to the Pantone colour of the year – magenta – and I can’t wait to embrace that trend and add lots of pops of colour to this season’s outfits.

If you’re not wanting to go ‘full Barbie’, then I think pink accessories are a great way to embrace the trend in a more subtle way – incorporating a vibrant and playful touch to your outfits.  Personally, I love wearing a neutral outfit (a black dress will always be in style), coupled with pink shoes, a pink bag or even statement jewellery.

black dress very pink bag

This black midi dress (Very, £22*) adds a hint of drama with the puff sleeves, and I’ve added my trusty pink Birkenstocks as well as this gorgeous mini bag from Mango (£20.50*) to add colour and brightness to the outfit (and a pink lip, of course!)

I also love experimenting with colour combinations – when choosing clashing colours, consider the colour wheel and opt for complementary or contrasting hues. However, don’t be afraid to mix and match different colours in your outfit, allowing your pink accessories to tie the overall look together.  I love the mix of this peach-y orange dress from River Island against the baby pink of this rattan bag from Dune.

river island orange peach dress

I also love experimenting with patterns and prints in the summer – this River Island Shirt Dress can be dressed up or down (think platform sandals for a casual brunch, or wedge sandals for a garden party or evening drinks).  Adding pink accessories to patterns and prints can inject a playful and feminine touch into your outfit – you can use pink accessories to introduce a contrasting color that breaks the pattern and adds visual interest to the ensemble.  Here, these gorgeous block heeled sandals elevate the outfit from casual to chic.

All of these pink accessories have certainly brightened my mood and got me excited for summer dressing – I’m off to grab my shades, channel that playful energy and dream of cruising off into the sunshine in a pink Jeep!

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