No summer wardrobe should be without one, but the perfect cotton dress is notoriously hard to find. Carey Mulligan’s printed, belted version is by Prada and clocks in at around £425. The label’s new Print Collection has sparked a mini-trend; that and the DVD release of Mad Men Season Three mean that this shape is hot for summer 2010. Look out for similar from labels such as Jesiré and customise with a well-loved leather belt. Photograph: Mark Mainz/AP/Press Association Images
Colourful shades and all their fun counterparts – the heart shape, the Lennon circular, the endless Wayfarer homages – are all very well for a festival. But for a summer party, you should take the lead from Cate Blanchett. Her Cannes frames epitomise elegance and timeless classiness. M&S has nailed this shape with a pair of understated sunglasses in tortoiseshell – less harsh than black – for a mere fiver. Photograph: ALLSTAR/KURT KRIEGER
For a very long time, short sleeves for men were seen as a major fashion crime. This season, following a successful return to various catwalks and the high street (try Cos and Topman) they’re back in style favour – see Canadian director Xavier Dolan. Think of it as a sophisticated T-shirt, which can be dressed up with neat trousers and a smart shoe. Warning: do not wear with anything resembling a tie; open two buttons instead. Photograph: CHRISTOPHE KARABA/EPA
AKA summer 2010’s party dress. Witness Marion Cotillard illustrating that a sparkly jumpsuit can have as much impact as a bog-standard party dress yet is pleasingly much more covered up. Party jumpsuits are taking over event dressing by stealth, and the high street is completely on top of this. Head to Reiss or Asos.com for the best selection and wear with heels to your next BBQ/wedding/whatever. Photograph: Matt Sayles/AP
We’ve been banging on about tea-rose/cafe latte/peach sorbet being the shades of the season for ages, but we haven’t given quite enough attention to what to wear with those colours. Here’s Dasha Zhukova, editor of Pop magazine, showing how brilliantly a bright red bag works with muted tones. If you have been prescient enough to buy something silky and muted already, then dig out your brightest accessory and style it a la Dasha. Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
There are several lessons in Glenn Close’s outfit – she wore it on a yacht, you might wear it to a wedding. A head-to-toe tonal look is a classy approach to summer event dressing that requires simple styling – say, a brooch, a clutch – and done hair. Note: there is metallic shimmer here, not full-on sparkle – much better for an upscaled daytime look. Try Wallis’s soft grey jacket with an interesting pleat shoulder detail. Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
