The clocks have gone forward, the sun is shining and we’re all excited about balmy evenings drinking G&Ts in the garden!  With this delicious thought motivating us, we’re turning our heads to our summer wardrobes.

Barbeques with friends, country picnics with the family, romantic alfresco dinners with our loved one. . . bring on the warm weather! That’s before we’ve even started on holiday wardrobes, summer weddings and fancy days out at the races.

This season, romance is a key look. Enjoy feminine fashion with beautiful colour palettes in soft blues, greys and lilacs. Dresses are the way to go for both formal and informal moments. Long and slinky or short and floaty, there are some gorgeous and versatile looks waiting for you to bring them to life. For an alternative, try some summery leggings/tops combos. Whatever you choose, finish the look with some great clogs, wedges or sandals, teamed with an eye-catching statement piece of jewellery.

So, book your pedicure, get your fake bake at the ready and plan to let our stylists take the stress out of shopping. At Gene’s, we have something gorgeous for every occasion, whatever your size or budget. We’ll keep bringing you ideas on the website, but pop in store to be utterly spoilt for choice.
 

There’s nothing like a new summer dress to get us in the mood for sunshine and G&Ts, says Caroline Warner; Fashion Director at Gene Sutcliffe

There is always room for another dress in every woman’s wardrobe and there’s nothing quite like a brightly coloured new one to make us feel sexy and summery.

Our fashion stylists at Gene Sutcliffe are ready to fix you up with gorgeous summer dresses whatever the occasion. We’ve featured here a selection of our favourites to get you started.

This summer we’ll be wearing a mix of styles. Boho maxis are still looking cool, but dresses with handkerchief or tulip hemlines are making their mark with fashionistas. Monochrome and neutral options are plentiful, but bright prints are so pretty, they’ll be hard to resist, even for the colour phobic among us.

Whether you go full-on floral in a hot off-the-shoulder number or super-feminine maxi dress; or prefer to remain cool and neutral with a funky café au lait shade, there’s something for everyone this season. Graphic prints are having a moment, so opt for an abstract sea/sky pattern, or maybe a Rothko-inspired red/ pink/sand design.

Any of these dresses could take you from glam garden party to casual barbecue, from family picnics to beach holidays. Two or three dresses, tribal sandals, shrug, slouchy bag, sunglasses and you are good to go for pretty much any occasion the hot weather might offer.

Whether you plan to be amazing at Ascot, chic at Chester, elegant at Epsom or stunning at Sandown,
a day at the races is all about wow factor, says Gene Sutcliffe director Caroline Warner

Gone are the days of the prim mid calf skirt suit with ‘matchy-matchy’ accessories for the races, 2010 is all about the super sexy dress, that you can glam up with a modern hat, heels, statement jewellery and a cute little bolero or shrug.

Our fashion stylists at Gene Sutcliffe have chosen a selection of show-stopping looks to get you started. All will look gorgeous dressed up with sparkle and feathers for the races (and your friend’s glam summer wedding), but equally can be toned down – think bejewelled sandals, slouchy clutch bag and a super-soft pashmina – to take you out or a dinner date or summer garden party.

Try a pretty in pink look from James Lakeland for grown up elegance with undertones of Barbie cuteness – demure and decadent all at the same time.

For a really fashion forward option, go for this graphic square design from Marcelino. This is a seriously stylish option for ladies who love to be ahead of the fashion curve.

Another classic, yet right-ontrend outfit, again from Marcelino, is this blue and white number. The design is very Givenchy as inspired by muse, Audrey Hepburn. The print is super-fashionable working this season’s bold graphics.

For an unstructured look, try one of these sexy-gorgeous dresses from Legatte. Slinky and glamorous, these options are for you fashionistas who like to own
a look that’s totally unique. Big hats or feathers work equally well. And don’t be shy with a bold lipstick to really stand out from the crowd.

So, that’s the outfit sorted, now it’s time decide which horse you are backing, before sashaying off the champagne tent to grab a glass of Veuve Clicquot!

A huge trend for spring/summer and still going strong for next autumn/winter season, I decided it was high time I learned to love leggings all over again.

Last time I wore them, it was 1993, grunge was all the rage and I teamed leggings with heavy doc martin boots and my dad’s jumpers! This time, if I’m to up the glamour stakes, I need fashion insider knowledge! So here are the top tips I’ve gleaned from our fashion stylists at Gene

Sutcliffe on how to wear leggings.

* The Legging: Black is the safest bet, and the fabric should be stretchy, but with a tight weave. Pull them a bit and if they stretch too easily, put them back on the rail – these will lose shape quickly. A tighter stretch will keep the shape, hold you in and give a smooth curve to your body to rival any magic knicker! Of course, check that the fabric is completely opaque!

* The Base Layer: Temperature depending, this should be a vest or a long sleeved T. A scoop neck will be most versatile.

* The Fashion Piece: This is your showstopper. Try a mini dress, even if you’d never think of going above the knee usually – you might be surprised how fab theycan look. The shape can be fitted, tunic, or a long shirt, just make sure it finishes somewhere on thethigh. Anything higher belongs at the gym! Colourful prints or muted plains work equally well.

* The Jacket: Experiment with lengths. Cropped jackets work brilliantly to balance out the longer top. Rick Owens-style biker jackets will toughen up the look, while little Chanel-style numbers will create an offbeat elegance. Otherwise, go long. Knee or even ankle length knits look really cool. Or, a boyfriend blazer or YSL-style tailored jacket will look gorgeous over any top. Mix and match your fabrics to create your own signature style.

* The Accessories: Style up the whole thing with a fierce belt (my favourite is a Gucci-style number with rivets and studs!). Grab a statement necklace or cuff to finish it all off.

* The Heels: Until the weather warms up, it’s clearly boots. Pretty much any boot works well with leggings. My favourites are some black biker boots with a chunkyheel. To be ready for the warmer weather, start hunting for some gladiators now!