I’ve already talked about The Basket Bag trend but for me the straw hat has become my new summer essential (at my age I have to start proactively protecting my face from any further sun damage; even after faithfully using sunscreen for years). I got this one from Asos which still has a wide variety of options here. What I love about this particular accessory is how versatile it is, literally a quick trip to Veritas and a couple of different coloured ribbons later and I’m all set for any outfit.
THE BLACK RIBBON
This black ribbon is the one that came with the hat, so it doesn’t have the same satin finish as all the other ribbons from Veritas, hence why it has no “shine” in the photos. But I paired this ribbon with a very casual outfit, my throw-over-a-bikini “tanning dress” (by which I mean I use this particular dress to cover myself from the hotel room to the pool and don’t mind having sunscreen all over the inside of it afterwards), I’ve had this dress for years and is an H&M basic (similar here). I literally only tan on our family summer holidays (two weeks out of the whole year) and always properly covered in sunscreen so don’t worry I’m not a tanning bed aficionado (don’t want skin cancer thank you!).
THE WHITE RIBBON
I paired the white ribbon with another summer essential; the white linen dress. I got this one last year, again from H&M, but don’t worry they brought it out again this summer here and in a few different patterns including an amazing lemon print that I just had to pick up too!
These cute daisy earrings (similar on eBay here) are yet again making an appearance (can you tell I really love them?). Since you can see my nails here, I’m wearing Essie’s Fiji (the much lighter European one not the baby pink US one) with all these outfits, the perfect summer neutral colour (not quite as stark as white but just as fresh)!
THE LIGHT BLUE RIBBON
I couldn’t not include gingham, it’s a quintessential summer print after all (and might appear again below), it paired beautifully with this light/baby blue ribbon. The shirt was from Monki on Asos years ago but the latter still offers loads in a light blue gingham print like these two dresses here and here or this cute top here.
Since this outfit had such picnic vibes I just had to add these adorable strawberry clip earrings (similar in this set here) because of which I then had to wear my Sephora‘s Cream Lip Stain in 03 Strawberry Kissed of course!
THE MINT RIBBON
You’ve seen this outfit before as it appeared in my Spring Floral Earrings post minus the matching mint ribboned hat. The polka dot dress (another one of my favourite prints and may or may not make a reappearance below too) was from Apricot, again years ago, but I have seen it floating around on eBay here.
Another sneaky repeat offender from that earrings post, you can find a similar pair of mint floral earrings in this set here. On my lips I’m wearing an M&S Collection satin lipstick in Chiffon. They sadly stopped making their own branded lipsticks (which I loved) and as of my recent online search don’t seem to even have a Beauty section anymore…sniff.
THE LIGHT PINK RIBBON
Told you gingham was going to make a reappearance! This pink number to match the ribbon is in fact a dress even if it looks like just a shirt in the photos. I got it from Joanie and although they no longer have it, Asos (coming in strong for all my dupes) has a very similar one here. Mine has more of a fit and flare aspect to it but you could duplicate that by just adding a belt to that Asos one.
THE CHERRY RED RIBBON
This red ribbon has more of a pink tone to it compared to the proper red ribbon which is next. So, I just had to pair it with my cherry pieces. The dress I found on eBay (very much a spring/summer print so best to look for it then). But Asos haven’t let me down and have two different dress styles in a similar but bigger cherry print here and here.
These fun cherry earrings you might have already spotted in my Zoella’s Fruits Collection post, were bought in Bijou Brigitte last year during our family holiday to Italy and are still available here. Although the pinker hue of the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 03 Strawberry Kissed would have gone well with this outfit, I switched it up to the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red because I thought it suited the brighter pop of red of the earrings better.
THE RED RIBBON
This red dress to go with the true red ribbon is a stunner from Collectif, they still carry two very similar styles here and here. I just had to pair this dress with the cute strawberry earrings again (similar here) and the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red of course!
THE RUST RIBBON
Finally, for my last ribbon matching outfit, I went with a rust colour (which can vary between dark oranges to browns to dusky reds). New Look have a nice wrap dress style in this rust colour with white polka dots here as well as a cute top here. Asos also have a rust coloured dress but with black polka dots here.
On my lips I’m wearing a new addition to my liquid lipstick collection the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 118 Wilde Side. On my ears I’m wearing a pair of sparkly starfish (similar here) but come to think of it a classic pair of pearl earrings would have suited this look better. What can I say; “Do as I say, not as I do!” ;)
There you have it a rather photo heavy blog post, but I enjoyed styling all these outfits to match my ribbon extravaganza!
Which was your favourite outfit?
Any new summer essentials making their way into your wardrobe this season?
What’s your favourite summer print? Gingham or polka dots? Or something else entirely?
xxxemma