We all need those stand-out pieces in our wardrobe to brighten up our basics. We’ve picked ten of our favourite statement styles to invest in this summer

Words Joy Montgomery

In our experience a wardrobe is typically divided into four sections: core staples, shoes and accessories, wear-once-in-a-blue-moon occasion wear and, lastly, statement buys. While basics are the glue that bind our ensembles together, statement showstoppers are the cherry on top of the cake. They’re the pieces that offer personality and elevate the most basic of buys.

Whether it’s a trophy jacket, quirky accessory or dramatic silhouette, everyone needs a touch of frivolity in their wardrobe. This is especially true in summer when we have to rely on few pieces to make an impact (RIP layering). Less has to be more. We’ve found ten pieces to spark your imagination – from high street to high end. It’s time to go bold or go home…

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THE FLORAL MAXI DRESS

Finery Lotus Pleated Peonies Printed Dress, Red, £149; finerylondon.com
This show-stopper from Finery London is ideal for those who aren’t generally drawn to a floral frock. The traditional print is offset by its calf-grazing length, long sleeves and trendy pleats. All it needs is a pair of chunky sliders and a colourful cross-body mini bag.

PRINTED BLOCK HEELS

GINA V-Cut Flare Block Heel Court Shoes, £56; topshop.com
Last season’s v-cut block heels are here to stay. Update yours for SS17 with zany zebra print, which will add personality to a pair of cropped flares or midi skirt. The chunky heel is also perfect for summer weddings.

COSTUME JEWELLERY

Metal pendant earrings, £9.99; mango.com
Hooray for costume jewellery; it’s affordable, fun and can add fashion points to any look. The high street has delivered and a veritable smorgasbord of styles that will work for all events. Pair with an oversized shirt and low pony for smart casual cool or decorate an off-the-shoulder summer dress.

RUFFLED SHIRT

Stories frilled blouse, £45; stories.com
Treading the border between staple and statement, a ruffled shirt is both wearable and chic. Ideal for those who want to add drama without loud colour or prints, this look will carry you from desk to dinner with ease. Just keep your bottom half streamlined to balance the silhouette.

BOLD BLAZER

TOPSHOP UNIQUE Beale striped satin-twill blazer, £285; net-a-porter.com
The classic blazer has made a resounding comeback this season and we couldn’t be happier. If you’re worried about looking a little corporate then try this striped Topshop Unique number, which packs a punch with its quirky pin stripe fabric. It’ll look cool worn over a band tee and black skinny jeans.

ASSYMETRIC SKIRT

TIBI asymmetrical gingham skirt, £700; farfetch.com
Gingham is one of this season’s most popular and easy-to-assimilate trends. Keep it from looking too twee with an asymmetric hemline and dramatic tiers. We’ll wear ours with a simple white tee and structured red handbag.

SLOGAN TEE

Rouge Bleu Blanc T-Shirt White, £65; etrececile.com
When it’s hot there’s a temptation to wear the same failsafe plain t-shirt for the entirety of summer. While this isn’t the worst thing in the world, it can make it harder to add interest to an outfit, especially when there’s no winter coat to hide behind. Etre Cecile are our go-to for statement slogan tees. Versatile and cool, they can be tucked into a skirt, thrown together with jeans or layered under a strappy dress.

LACE-UP JEANS

MOTO Lace Up Cropped Wide Leg Jeans, £46; topshop.com
Lacing has emerged as this summer’s micro trend, adorning everything from off-the-shoulder tops to wide leg jeans. These Topshop iterations offer just the right amount of SS17 flare, sitting flatteringly high on the hips, while the lace-up detail transforms them into a statement piece. They could easily be mistaken for a designer.

DRESSING GOWN DRESS

Printed Kimono Dress, £59.99; zara.com
Made popular by new-brand-on-the-block Attico, the dressing gown-style dress is this year’s unlikely style hero. Either worn by itself as a formal look or layered over a white t-shirt and jeans (our fave), this is a must-have statement buy for this season. We love the Japanese-inspired print on this Zara dress.

RAFFIA BAG

Nanacay Baby Roge Multi Pompom Bag, £138.93; revolve.com
Nanacay’s cute pompom tote have won the hearts of the fashion crowd, triggering a surge of love for straw bags. Transporting us to the sun-dappled streets of Rome, these are a must-have for your holidays – very La Dolce Vita when worn with a striped sun dress.