Spring is here again and along with dusting down the house, it’s time to revamp your wardrobe for the new season. Who better, then, to offer essential fashion advice than Italian catwalk model, international personal shopper and wardrobe consultant Sasha Aquil.
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She’s worked with designers including Rossy Merry, Sebby Zacco, Korn Taylor, Vero Moda, Patrizia Altieri and Stelian Mosor, and has appeared at all the major fashion shows, so her dress sense is second to none.
We asked her for expert guidance on what to wear this spring to look your hottest.
The Essential Wardrobe Basics For Spring
With the warmer weather and lighter evenings, there’s every excuse to ditch the heavy winter wear and step out in seasonal style. However, before you can do this, you need to ensure that you have the essential seasonal staples in your wardrobe to mix and match.
1. Clothing
Blouse or T-shirt: A simple white, long-sleeved blouse or T-shirt is a must-have for spring. They go with anything and never fall out of fashion. I love the offerings by s. Oliver or Burberry but H&M also have a good range of affordable wear.
Jacket: Denim/blue jeans jacket. Denim is trendy again but the truth is that it never went out of style. It’s cool and casual, and ideal now that the woollies can be put away again.
Hugo Boss and Levis stand out from the crowd with their denim jackets, but I also recommend checking out Italian fashion designer Dolce & Gabbana.
Leather or artificial leather jackets are another option. Dolce & Gabbana should be top of the shopping wish list, but Zara rocks some stylish budget alternatives.
Finally, every woman needs at least one black blazer. They instantly make your outfit more elegant and work in a wide range of ensembles. I prefer Benetton or Balmain for blazers.
Coat: Even though the sun is shining again, don’t be fooled—spring has its fair share of rainy days. Keep a quality trench coat on standby, in black or beige. Burberry, naturally, is a winner in this department, as are coats by Prix and Tom Tailor.
Pants: Good-fitting blue jeans/denim pants. The wonderful thing about quality jeans are that you can be either dressy or casual, depending on how you feel.
Caption: International personal shopper and wardrobe consultant Sasha Aquil says that the trend this spring is for simple outfits.
2. Accessories
Hats: The bucket hat is, admittedly, something of marmite clothing. You either love it, or you hate it. What can’t be disputed is that this 90s throwback has come back in style in a big way, and makes for excellent casual but vogue spring headwear. To seal the deal, however, opt for a higher-end option, such as Gucci or Acne Studios.
Shoes: White trainers are the most versatile of shoes, as well as being chic and comfy. As the winter puddles dry up, you can wear them again with confidence. With shoes, especially, it’s better to invest in something more expensive as they will last the years, rather than just the season. Adidas or Gucci can’t be beaten.
Black or nude flat ballet shoes are a neat alternative, and far more stylish than sandals. Clarks have some perfectly fine ballet shoes, but at the higher end go for Chanel or Gucci.
For more formal occasions, high heels in black or nude are stunning. I recommend Aldo or Jimmy Choo. Long or ankle-length black boots should also be ready for you to pull out of the wardrobe and Office or Russell & Bromley deliver some very attractive footwear.
Bags: Handbags are an instantly noticeable accessory, so it’s important to make sure that yours is as striking as your outfit. That, however, doesn’t mean the same thing as flashy. A practical and classic bag, in black, nude, navy or brown, will never let you down. I adore the GG Marmont Mini by Gucci, as well as the designs by Christian Louboutin or Prada.
Waist belt: It’s a given that your belt should be high quality, but the key thing to remember is to ensure that the belt chimes with your overall style. If you like a simpler, refined look then choosing a belt with a chunky, blinged-up buckle is definitely not a good idea.
Also be mindful of the width. A thick belt works best for women with a longer torso as it helps balance their proportions. For shorter women, a thin belt is the better option for the same reason.
I favour belts in black, white, nude, metallic or gold. There are lots of designers out there with sensational belts but Aldo, Zara or Michael Kors, Louis-Vuitton, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, or Hermes come immediately to mind.
Jewellery: With jewellery, minimalism is the trick. All you need is a luxurious pair of statement earrings or a chain necklace—by Gucci or Swarovski—to provide the perfect finishing touch to your outfit.
Caption: As a catwalk model, Sasha Aquil has worked with top designers such as Rossy Merry, Sebby Zacco, Korn Taylor, Stelian Mosor and Patrizia Altieri.
The Hottest Fashion For Spring 2020
Hot pants: Designers went cold on hot pants in the early ‘90s but they have once again taken the catwalks by storm and are going to be sizzling this spring. You can’t get hotter than by Italian legends such as Salvatore Ferragamo or Valentino. If you are uncomfortable with showing too much of your legs then they can work well with black tights.
Short suits: As demonstrated by the renewed love for hot pants, this spring’s trend is for short clothing. As the thermometer skyrockets you’ll be thankful that designers have once again embraced Bermudas. Julia Roberts looked like a million dollars in a Bermuda suit in Pretty Woman, and you can too. Opt for Bottega Veneta, Chloé or Givenchy.
Organza: I’ve always adored organza. The thin, transparent fabric is fabulous for blouses or dresses, being classy, extravagant even, but oh so feminine. What’s so special about it is that the colour changes depending on the light and the fabric shimmers a little differently each time. That’s what also makes it so diverse. Organza can be combined in a chic and cool way but it is important that this luxuriant material breaks the style so that your outfit doesn’t appear boring or too pompous. You’ll be wowed by the offerings of Valentino or Cecilie Bahnsen.
Crochet: The crochet dress is bohemian, laid-back and works equally well on the beach or walking down the high street. My top picks are from Stella McCartney, Missoni, Fendi or Bottega Veneta.
Silk or silk-satin: The big trend for 2020 is minimalism. Bold and brash is out; stripped back and relaxed is back. Nothing is as clean and simple—and elegant—as silk. The same fashion ethos holds for colour so plump for tops or dresses in black or light shades. Jean-Paul Gautier, Intimissimi or Zara go well with a fashionable pair of blue jeans, and likewise with organza blouses.
To book Sasha Aquil as a personal shopper or wardrobe consultant, visit www.sashaquil.com