10 Summer Must Haves

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I got exceedingly excited when the sun reared its head for a few days. I read that we were going to have one of the hottest summers ever. Like most sun deprived souls in the U.K, I started dreaming about picnics in the park, barbecue, double digit temperature........ And then POOF! Whaddaya know? Hail, wind and then 0˚C nights. Bonkers. Utterly bonkers. No wonder my parents came up with the most incredibly creative excuses about not coming over to England.

Never mind. I've been consoling myself by spending the last few days planning our summer vacation with a friend of mine whom we'll be visiting this August. It'll be scorching hot but hey, I live in England so I'm not going to complain about plenty of sunshine. It's been nearly 6 years since we moved to the U.K but I still can't get over how easy it is to nip over to another country for a weekend. Get on a plane and 2 hours later......I'm in a whole different country.

My mother pointed out recently how different fashion is in New Zealand as compared to the U.K. She's absolutely right. I rarely invest in summer clothes these days because I just don't get enough mileage out of them. I spend my days swathed in layers of sweaters, jackets and coats for most of the year and then get into a minor panic attack when we get blessed with an unusually hot summer. I don't want to go all crazy and buy a ton of summer clothes which will probably spend years languishing in my closet.

Being anal as I am, I've worked out.....after much contemplation (yes, first world issue. Major stuff. NOT) that I'm drawn to loose embroidered tops, preferably made of voile cotton or linen. I'm usually utterly sick of plain t-shirts by the time summer rolls around. I've found that monotone embroidered tops are easy to pair with jackets when it's a tad colder but just as lovely on their own. I've worn my Isabel Marant Etoile broderie anglaise top so much that it's getting a little threadbare around the seams.

I'd mentioned about the linen striped top from Isabel Marant Etoile previously but I'm thrilled that I've found a far cheaper alternative from the popular French brand Armor Lux. I've tried their breton jersey tops previously and loved their flattering cut but I'm pleased they came up with a sheerer option for the hotter months.

I got a chance to try out a Borsalino panama hat when I was in Nice last year and promptly fell in love. BUT....... I physically flinched in pain when I saw the price tag. These handmade ones from Marks & Spencer and J.Crew are good options too but at a fraction of the price. I rarely see a dress that I like but this boho-luxe crochet piece from Isabel Marant Etoile is stunning and works well as a top too. What are your top 10 summer must haves?