I LOVE fashion and in the 12th issue of STATUS Magazine I was asked to write an article about the trends of spring/summer 2014.

Florals, prints, jewels and lace are all set to make their mark this year, so I’ve tossed out the black knitted jumper and primped my pastels for this seasons romantic look.

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Bang on Trend with 2014’s Spring/Summer Staples

Breathe new life into your wardrobe and indulge your fun-loving side with this seasons must have head to toe trends. From fabulous florals to dazzling prints, spring/summer 2014 promises to be the most sexy, bold and jewel-encrusted yet.

Pastel Power

Featuring fondant shades, and sugar-sweet hues, pastels are a key ingredient for those who like their spring/summer fashion on the feminine side. Tempered by contrasting silhouettes and sheer fabrics, pretty, pale pinks, purples, corals and blues have been modernised into elegant and sleek springtime wear suitable for both work and play.

The monochrome trend continues to power on through the season as does its sister, the all-white ensemble. Fresh and versatile, this trend can be adapted to suit any style from daytime to evening wear in playful minis and floor length gowns. Lace, silk and sheer fabrics lend a wonderful dreaminess to the different all-white interpretations, creating sensual glamour and radiating innocent romance.

Prints and Patterns

Mixed with the sugary pastels, geometric floral prints in juxtaposing layers have burst into life this season along with embellishment and embroidery in bold designs. Shift dresses, organza dresses and suits in bright citrus colours are all the rage, along with monochrome sweatshirts and jackets featuring flower cut outs and haphazardly stitched crystals.

Graphic checks, tartan and houndstooth in reds, pinks and blue continue to linger on from the autumn/winter collections, taking inspiration from 90s heritage with matching jackets and skirts and cropped slogan T-Shirts. Combined with pale-washed jeans, featuring rips and fringes, fashion’s take on downbeat is revisited with wild clash prints, layered statement jewellery and vintage bold metallics.

Lovely Lace and Pretty Pleats

Floral prints and sugar-coated lace go hand in hand this season, with pretty pinks, mints and duck egg blues featured throughout the catwalks. Far from being sickly sweet, the innocent English Rose look has been deconstructed and now features sexy sheer shift blouses teamed with beautifully delicate lace and silk skirts, adding an exquisite allure to the romantic trend.

More versatile and carefree, yet no less feminine than lace, pleats have added another dimension to the traditional skirt. Wrap-around pleated skirts buckled at the waist and pleated chiffon skirts floating around the ankles feature prominently this season, adding movement and new life and mixing business with pleasure.

Masculine Chic

Masculine tailoring in feminine textures has offered a welcome respite this season for the realists who prefer to shun the frills. Generously-proportioned palazzo pants with pleats make for an elegant alternative to the traditional pencil skirt, and tailored blouses in pastel hues emit a seductive air under an oversized statement blazer.

Biker jackets have long been a worthy wardrobe companion but this season, the black has been held at bay in favour of a new palette of hues. Similarly, bomber jackets offer that classic vintage style with the latest interpretations including fitted versions in silky prints and multi-coloured florals combining sportswear with artistic luxury.

Fancy Flats

Continuing to pay homage to the vintage look, this season has been all about comfort with the natural choice of footwear being the flat shoe. Although some killer heels have snuck onto the runway, stunning couture and upbeat collections have all been accessorised with lace-up sneakers, jewel-covered slippers and multi-coloured, multi-strapped sandals.

With animal-print pumps, embellished loafers and pointed brogues accompanying sharp, tailored suits and candy pink shift dresses, the flat shoe has been a 2014 revelation that has well and truly rendered the towering six-inch look as so last season.