So what are this summers essential pieces?

[GDG]

I'd like them under categories:

Tops
Bottoms
Footwear
Accessories

TIA

i hate per una
all frilsl and crap

has lost its way BIG time
limited collec VERY ncie imo

Tops - as everyone agrees, longer t-shirts with sripes/spots and also lttle blouses with frills/ruffles :) Brodrais Anglais too.

Bottoms - pencil skirts, or a line skirts with pattern. City shorts, long jeans shorts (Not really cropped jeans, but more just below knee shorts - wide leg. Skinny jeans (but tbh they are almost OVER!)

Footwear - Wedges, heels, ballet pumps. Still like last years beaded slippers so I will be wearing them

Accessories - WIDEE belts, they don't make you look PG, I love them, high waits are back in, so are belts on teh waist.

Yes I know I should wear what suits me, BUT I like changing my clothes and I won't wear things that are in fashion but look bad on me (eg skinny jeans/leggings).

I still need the long jeans shorts thing, and a few T-shirts otherwise I am sorted with shirt dress x 2 one white brodrais anglais (ASDA) one black pencil - Oasis. 2 lovely prs Monsoon jeans, Monsoon ruffle shirt, various t-sirts etc. I think I might splash out on a John Smedley black cotton cardigan this year I wear cardis to death and think they would last and last

Agree with Cod - Per Una is vile but love Limited Collection. Am going shopping tomorrow and intend to try most of the range on!

you cant do wide l belts on wasit if oyu haev norks imo

crunchie have three piars of long knee shorts
white denim - nest
blue dnim - gap int he states
black cotton stretch river island

couldn't agree more re per una being utter garbage - layered 'dusky pink' (euw) skirts and tops with lacy bits on - not not good.

but i got \link{http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=6017&Product_Id=2005121\this top} (which they have not made look good on this pic - looks much funkier in rl) and a pair of cropped jeans that aren't on their website.

ah yes top was reccyd in thet Times fasfion yesterday too i read

think is it hc or malory ahs those cropped trews too

the cropped jeans weren't exactly what i was looking for - quite high waisted. but i am waiting on a pair of citizens cropped jeans from ebay that are low cut, so these will eb an alternative pair. high waist actually good with the top below as the top clings a bit so you need a flat tum underneath - low rise band would interfere with line of top iyswim.

so where can I find flattering cropped trousers/shorts? I am 5'9 with short legs? shorts and cropped trousers just make my legs look even shorter and dumpier.

Also, what shoes do you all wear with cropped trousers or shorts? (daytime, not evening...).

hmmmm, not sure the truly short of leg should go for cropped trews. i suppose though that white ones (v trendy at the mo) would be better - less of a visual cut-your-legs-in-half thing.

ballet pump type shoes look good with them imo - nicer to dress the outfit up a bit. birkies risk one looking like a scruffy beach type.

If you are 5'9 you might have short legs, but not that short IYKWIM. Personally I would not do the ballet pump thing though, go for heels with your dhorts, lengthens the leg. You could do wedges if heels aren't comfy, BUT NOT those that tie around ankle with shorts.

I wouldn't do cropped trs, I would do long shorts - knee length to lengthen leg too.

I think the only things I'm going to be able to bear to wear are

wide leg trousers
pumps
polka dots but only in a top
wedges
a pencil skirt

cannot abide the thought of
shorts
chiffon
white in almost anything other than a crisp cotton shirt

notanotter - think that top is in Next. I'll stick with my linen trousers this summer. As I do every suumer

"Crap", "Vile" "Utter garbage"...have I started a Per Una flame war?? Those virtual rotton tomatoes sure hurt - I didn't say they were exclusively good, just that they did have some nice pieces. I agree that some of it wouldn't look out of place at a professional line dancer's convention but not all of it. Hmmm, and I agree with you wholeheartedly, Sue W, that the fact this thread should attract so many responses is quite funny. If only we could apply the same passion to other areas this country would perhaps rock again! ((()))I've been waiting for more than one very cursory answer (albeit helpful) to a serious post about weaning for the last four days - LOL

cropped jeans
red ballet pumps
short dresses over the top

top shop have a good pair of cropped jeans