Winter was pretty mean to the British public this year. There was rain and wind, then ice and snow all the while we endured freezing temperatures. This made trying to keep on top of the latest fashion trends, particularly sky high heels and body con, a complete nightmare. Walking to work in icy conditions with nothing but a stiletto for grip is not really advisable. Thankfully, temperatures are finally starting to rise, the sun is coming out to play and the weatherman is forecasting a pretty pleasant summer.
Thankfully, this means it's time for our biannual wardrobe overhaul. You'll need to hang up those summer staples, reheel your sandals and attack the high-street with vigour and this summer, skirts are very much back on the agenda.
Thanks to Sienna, the first five years of the 21st century were dominated by Boho, oversized cardigans and loose fitting tops, all the while matched with the most amazing 80's revival ever: skinny jeans. But now, fashion is embracing a women's shape once more.
Body con is back with an 80s vengeance; cinched waists are no longer a fad and a women's true shape is being embraced. With this in mind think pencil skirts, tulip skirts, high-wasted and belted. The 1980s theme is dominating with ra-ra skirts and puff skirts proving to be continually popular.
Another key trend of 2010 is denim. From jeans to shirts, shorts to skirts, it seems no outfit is complete without at least one denim accessory. Thanks to celebs such as Kirsten Dunst and fashion icons like Kate Moss all-over denim can be cool.
Although the classic knee-length pencil skirt is a top contender, the resounding winner is the micro-mini. This means we need to get ready to get our legs out with 'tube' and 'banded' minis being the must-have items of the summer.
You can match them with a rock-t for an edgy, punky look or with a vest and denim shirt for something a little cooler and on trend. Floral is also key, so combine a tighter-than-tight mini with a flowing floral shirt. Or if you want tight on top and a little more leeway on the bottom, pick a military shirt with a ruffled mini.
Don't cover up a high-waisted skirt with a jacket or cardigan. Choose a vest or over-sized t-shirt and tuck it into your skirt creating the appearance of an hour-glass figure even if you are lacking curves in the right places.
The sun doesn't shine for long in England so get those legs preened and primed for when the sun does decide to make a show of itself.
Josef Kazan is a fashion critic and writer with over 10 years industry experience. To find out more about the latest high street trends check out New Look's website for an impressive range of fashion tips.
