Some fashion seasons are all about a certain mood, less about specific, trendy items. Others lack a coherent theme, but flood the stores with of-the-moment pieces that are impossible to avoid. They don’t always date well and may feel ridiculous in a year (not always, though – generally speaking, trends are sticking around for longer these days). Smart people tend to steer clear of these very obviously trendy things, but sometimes you just want something that will update your outfit and signal to the world that you are conscious of what’s going on. At least I do. I therefore present a list of things you could use for such purpose at the moment.

1. Tie-dye. As often happens to me, I manage to resist the trends that aren’t obviously ‘me’ for a couple of months and then fall for them anyway. Sometimes I think it really would be easier if I just gave up right away, then I would at least manage to be ahead of the curve. Tie-dye was already big for spring, but it’s huge for summer and in my view, just much easier to wear in properly warm weather. Note that this iteration of tie-dye is less about 60s counterculture and more about 80s California. As with most pieces here, I would go for the High Street interpretations, although if I had the money, I would buy half of The Elder Statesman’s summer collection.

2. Pastels. Pastels, for summer? Groundbreaking, I know. I have also possibly made that joke several times already. The reason I mention pastels at all is to note that this summer, pastels have a bleached vibe. Pale banana yellow, very light lilac and faded mint would be my preferred options. If you really want to ram it home, combine pastels with tie-dye. (Some people are still favouring neons over pastels, but to me, neon has started to look a bit wrong by now. But you do you.)

3.Scrunchies. Probably the easiest way to update your style, scrunchies are back with a vengeance. I suspect they look vaguely ridiculous on me, but they hold my short-ish hair together better than anything else and add some excitement to an otherwise basic do. Don’t spend stupid amounts on them: I bought several velvet ones from Claire’s and I’m very happy, the colours in particular are great. You can also get tie-dye scrunchies. I got one from &Other Stories and I have no regrets.

4. Denim jackets. Pretty much any denim jacket would do, but for maximum trend points, you could go for a cropped pastel one. Or, obviously, tie die. Although blazers, especially linen ones, are very much still in the picture, I predict that we’ve reached peak blazer. Denim jacket is a fresh, versatile alternative.

5. Barely there sandals. I referred to them as the nineties sandals in my Spring trends post and they are still very much nineties-inspired. The range has expanded, though, encompassing everything from flats to kitten heels to high strappy versions. By Far is probably the brand that captures the essence of the trend better than any other, but there are many, may High Street versions around. I still haven’t decided which ones to buy; I generally approve of the trend because it adds some elegance to all that eighties denim and big sleeves, of which more in a second.

6. Puff sleeves. Puffy, voluminous sleeves are one of the most ubiquitous trends for summer (I already mentioned them among Spring trends, but just cannot leave them out) and I’m a bit surprised I like them as much as I do. My shoulders are rather wide to begin with, so I thought I would look perverse in anything with big shoulders. And maybe I do, but big shoulders also make the rest of me look more slender, so I quite like the overall silhouette (as demonstrated on pictures here). Big sleeves are often accompanied by details like shirring and square necklines, two proper trends in their own right – look for example to Reformation for many an example.

7. Bucket hats. I think one reason why this Summer doesn’t have one very clear overarching mood is that the fashion cannot quite decide between the eighties and the nineties. Bucket hats add another point to the 90s score and while it’s not something I’m personally very drawn to, it is definitely on trend and it will definitely signal loud and clear that you are aware of the fact.

8. Fringe. The cowboy fringe has been transforming into something more rustic, with the covetable Jaquemus tote as the prime example. I’d say any type of fringing is still good for the purposes of this post. And if that’s not glamorous enough for you, go for feathers.

9. Tiny bags. Nothing says fashion as loudly as things that are deeply impractical. Enter very, very small bags. I don’t mean clutches or small evening bags, but minuscule versions of day bags – often in materials like fake crock and colours like cognac. In the end, most people would probably wear them for a night out, or for an event where one doesn’t need much beyond cash, mobile and a lipstick (NB! Some of the micro bags don’t even fit that much). Generally I think it’s a trend that works better on Instagram than in real life, but I cannot deny that the proportions it produces are very now.

10. Eyelet. If all these trends make you groan in desperation, I do have one nice, friendly, pretty trend to offer. A white dress is a summer classic and if the puff-sleeved milkmaid version is not for you, go for eyelet. It is lovely and wearable and I have seen it at many usual suspects, both in dress and top format.

What do you want to wear right now? I still haven’t bought many summer clothes, so recommendation are welcome.

Dress and earrings by Zara, sunglasses by Celine, sneakers by Nike. Photo by J.