Fashion: Summer Top 10

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It's time to sizzle at the barbecue, on the beach and at outdoor parties - and we're not talking sausages or sunburn - we're talking casual chic, fabulous frocks, footwear and accessories that have "beach bum" comfort - body skimming garments, but with summer pizzazz.

There are 10 essential elements for achieving this, all of which can be mixed and matched - sunhat, sunglasses, slouchy top to be worn with shorts or Capri pants, maxi dress, something floral, footwear, swimwear, accessories and a fabulous beach bag.

Getting sorted for summer doesn't have to be a bank-breaking affair. High Street and department stores including Farmers, The Warehouse and Kmart are filled with well-priced goods in cutting-edge styles. Christmas is only a few weeks away, so nudge a loved one with your wish list. You'll be doing them a favour. Failing that, gift to thyself - it's worth the investment.

It's your opportunity to take some control of those holiday snaps, especially now that there's Facebook and your photographs are likely to go viral on the internet.

Adopting good holiday habits are vital to looking your best. Celebrities who get snapped on vacation looking fabulous don't achieve that by accident.

Hollywood celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe goes plural with her holiday wardrobe when it comes to "bikinis". In her fashion handbook Style A to Zoe (Grand Central Publishing) her list of what to pack includes "bikinis, cute bras and boy shorts to wear under sheer dresses [and that can double as swimwear if the moment arises], tunics, kaftans, and sundresses that can serve as dresses or tops.

"A fabulous belt can turn a sarong into a dress, so pack one that sits on the waist, in leather or raffia, or a coloured woven or gold chain," Zoe says.

Flip-flops and a sandal of any kind are also a Zoe requisite, and "clothes might be minimal, but not accessories. Stockpile hoops, anything ethnic and bangles".

British stylist Gok Wan is also a fan of accessories, in particular, tan leather accessories and wooden jewellery, which are "boho cool".

His book How to Dress (Harper Collins) devotes an entire section to holidays, with tips on accessories, beauty, colour, prints, bathers and bikinis, as well as valuable advice on what's best for different body shapes.

Summer Top 10:

TOPS: Oversized boyfriend tees, slouchy tops,  styles that fall from or under the bust  are flattering, comfy and the perfect  foil for fitted shorts and cropped pants,  showing off your legs but skimming the  stomach. 

BOTTOMS: Cropped pants and shorts - a summer  essential and so practical, but beware  of cropped trousers if you have short  legs because they will make your legs  look shorter. Try before you buy to find  the best length for you. The same goes  for shorts. Shorter lengths are better  for shorter legs.

FLIRTY  FLORALS: Floral prints never  go out of fashion  because they're  pretty, feel  summery and  keep you looking  fresh. With the  help of a few  accessories, a  floral dress can  suit many fashion  moments, from  beach to  barbecue,  wedding or race  day. This makes it  an absolute  summer essential.

FOOTWEAR: Gold or coloured jandals are the  perfect accompaniment to a maxi  dress, shorts or swimsuit. If you want  to keep the emphasis on your outfit,  choose a nude-coloured pair. Flat  sandals will keep you in step (gladiator  styles are still popular), and a canvas  sneaker will also see you right.

SUNGLASSES: The fastest way to update your look is  to invest in a new pair of sunglasses.  Styles are in step with the latest trends  in bold colours - yellow, turquoise,  orange and red - through to neutral  sand and nude tones, and frames to  suit every face. Oh, and they protect  your eyes from the sun.

HEAD TURNERS: Plain, wide-brimmed hats are so hot right now as a summer fashion accessory, with the world's leading designers giving them the nod on the catwalk. Aside from adding instant movie star glamour to your look, they're also practical, protecting the face and shoulders from the sun.

MAXI DRESS: In Gok's words, the maxi dress is "body flattering and beats the heat", so there's a lot to like about it. Wear it to the beach or out in the evening. This garment has multiple uses. It also takes the thinking out of getting dressed. Put it on and you're done.

SWIMWEAR: One-piece swimsuits with flesh- revealing cut-out designs have dominated the international runway shows, but there are loads of more structured styles too, and bikinis maintain their popularity. Choose from nautical stripes, tie-dye and oversized floral prints, and bold blocks of colour - tangerine, pink, emerald green and azure - decorated with ruffles or frills.

ACCESSORIES: You can never have too many. Chunky jewellery is big right now, as is the Boho look, so have fun with both. A long necklace worn with a swimsuit and sarong will bring the focus to your decolletage, if you want to show it off. A chunky bangle will divert attention to the wrist; or you can shift the focus to your face with a colourful head scarf or dangly earrings.

SUMMER TOTE: A colourful maxi bag or beach tote will add instant colour and interest to your outfit and allow you to have all your summer essentials at your fingertips. One of Gok's "sneaky style tips" is: a giant maxi bag will make you look tinier in comparison and we love that.

- © Fairfax NZ News