1. T H E S H I R T
Just like jeans, the fashion
mileage yet to run on the
humble (or, with the right
designer, not-so-humble)
white shirt seems in no
danger of nearing its
end. Summer or winter,
business or pleasure, dress-
up or day off … the white
shirt’s range is as broad
as fashion week is long, as
shown by the new season’s
cornucopia of choices. Just
when we thought there
were surely no new ways
to reinterpret this staple,
SS15 showed us this well
is far from dry. Masculine
options, such as this Donna
Karan design worn by
Helena Christensen or the
offerings of J. Crew, Saint
Laurent, Juliette Hogan
and Equipment, retain
the white shirt’s versatility
and timelessness while,
conversely, keeping it
unambiguously feminine.
KEY TRENDS
k n it w e a r
Has any other fashion
category undergone the
ugly duckling-to-swan
crossover to quite the same
extent as knitwear? Its
rebirth continues apace as
designers take it further
from the clichés of clumsy
cold-climate swaddling or
ill-chosen gift, and elevate
it to the realms of stylish,
luxurious, cool, dressy and
even – who knew? – sexy.
Materials, too, have come
a long way since the term
“knit” recalled those harsh,
rash-inducing fleeces, and
now include unexpected
fabrications and all-year
seasonality: cotton, linen,
cashmere, leather and even
neoprene. Labels to look to
include Equipment (worn
here by Christensen),
Isabel Marant, Sabatini,
Standard Issue and Sills.
let there
be whiteThe style rules have been rewritten and
it’s time to reinvest in your wardrobe.
Meet the gamechangers of the season.
Words danielle seitz
Photography carlotta manaigo

2. T H E d ress
Move over LBD: there’s a
new kid on the go-to
occasion dress block and
it’s just as deft at holding its
own for a hot date, dinner
party, or anything else that
calls for a cocktail of
no‑nonsense sex appeal
and fierce individuality.
The stunning Cushnie et
Ochs off-shoulder number,
paired with Gianvito Rossi
heeled courts, seen here on
Christensen doesn’t so
much whisper “So which
yacht is yours?” as announce
“We’ll take my helicopter”.
A similar not-to-be-messed-
with (unless invited) spirit
can be found in new-season
little white dresses from
Camilla and Marc, Thierry
Mugler, TK, Trelise Cooper,
Carlson and Zac Posen.
o n e - pie c e
Fashion is about, if nothing
else, versatility. (Don’t let
the price of that beautifully
inaccessible one-use haute
couture masterpiece tell
you otherwise.) So what’s
not to love about the idea
of repurposing swimwear
for dry-land use? A classic-
style white one-piece
swimsuit, such as the
Tomas Maier piece worn
here by Christensen, or
options from the likes of
Eres, Camilla and Marc
and Zimmermann, belongs
just as easily in the pool as
it does reimagined as a chic
basque. Just team with
cargo pants, chunky
bangles and achingly cool
sunglasses for a quick
beach-to-bar update.
key trends

3. the trouser
Boyish trousers have been
the first port of call for
stylish girls since Katharine
Hepburn made them her
trademark in the ’40s. While
designers have worked
every interpretation of the
staple in the intervening
decades, white is probably
the least-seen hue for
trousers. But new offerings,
such as the Adam Lippes
chinos Christensen wears
here, Christian Dior’s
loose-waisted cigarettes, or
Ralph Lauren’s satin jeans,
give white pants a new
lease on life. Add loafers, a
wide-brimmed hat and
a smart nautical watch for
the ideal boating ensemble.
Shirt optional.
the sandal
Sun, surf, sand … and
sandals. Does anything say
summer more than shoes
you can kick off and carry
on one finger while you stroll
the surf’s edge, or slip on
to sip a daiquiri somewhere
expensive enough to issue its
own postcards? Birkenstocks,
seen here on Christensen,
might be the Mercedes-Benz
of sandals (reliable, well-
designed and falling just
short of being “fashionable”),
but Givenchy, Céline and
Ziera have given the same
idea a Porsche-with-the-top-
down update. All you need is
a bright varnish for your toes
and a cocktail menu.
key trends
read our exclusive
story on model/
photographer helena
christensen at
mindfoodstyle.com.
CARLOTTAMANAIGO/TRUnKARCHIVE/SNAPPERMEDIA.