Pictured: Striped top €6 (in stock now), Cropped Denim jacket €17 (in stock now), 1950′s dress €21 (in stock February) .

All trends are not for everyone, but in 2011 one of our resolutions is to bring you what’s in the shops each season. The way we look at it is: recycle your old favourites, (that is your strong core pieces of clothing) and combine them with new trend-infused items that suit you, to create outfits that show off your own personal style.

While buying basics should be at the best price you can afford, trendy thrills can be thrifty and the high street is the best place to start. 

One of our go-to shops for fast fashion is Penneys (or Primark as it’s called in the UK) where key catwalk trends are emulated every season.  It’s true that these items won’t last you a lifetime but they will certainly see you through the season. With that in mind,  we look to what’s in store for spring summer 2011.

Penneys spring summer 2011 collection

Brighton Pier

Brighton Pier nods to the 1940’s through to 1960’s era – think The Talented Mister Ripley and Riviera styles. It’s a clean, retro and fresh palette of Navy, matched with acid greens, sorbet lemon, fresh mint, fire engine red and pretty pinks. Key items are the A line skirts in shorter youthful lengths, knitwear cropped and crochet, Breton striped jersey tees and prom dresses a la Carey Mulligan in Prada at the Cannes Film Festival.

WSW tip: Even if vintage is not your look, a vintage looking clutch bag can add a stylish je ne sais quois to any evening outfit.

WSW tip: Breton tops are our must-haves for this season. In Penneys they cost €6 and come in black on white (pictured), white on baby blue,white on navy and white on red and will never go out of fashion!

Wide legged culottes are back and accessories include big bow headbands and bright retro handbags. 

Garden Delights

Penney’s plays out the 70’s trend which is back but better for spring 2011. Think floor sweeping, flowing print dresses and high-waisted tailored palazzos pants and jumpsuits; flower is most definitely the reigning power for Spring 2011!

Pastels are a perennial trend at this time of year and here we see 1960’s inspired baby doll dresses, tailored shorts, feminine blouses and flirty crochet knits with. Quirky motifs including birds and butterflies.

WSW tip: Culottes and palazzo pants are only for the tall and slim amongst us!

Indigo Girl

Indigo Girl celebrates a simpler time, when a post war mentality was to ‘make and do’ and fashion was about timeless classics from picture perfect postcards. That means a menswear influence creeping through; think oversized shirts clinched at the waist, worn denim jackets with printed linings and apron style over dresses. Shapes are easy and functional, with feminised detailing being key.  You’ll see lots of blue and whites, with navy blue becoming the new black.

WSW tip: Navy is better on most Irish skin tones than black.

Check out some images from the collection in the gallery below. Images credit: Penneys

Watch the behind the scenes of the Penneys SS11 shoot.

Gallery

By Jennifer Ennis

Hats and headwear are a part of daily life for most Irish women, yet with our ever changing weather it is hard to know what to go for as the seasons change.

As usual on WhatSheWears.ie, I turned to both the catwalk and cool celebrity style makers for today’s inspiration and so here are my top five choices to decorate your crowning glory with this spring….

1) Beanie

While we wait for the weather to warm up, a classic beanie hat is a good option for staying cosy. Kiera Knightly and Gwyneth Paltrow are self confessed beanie girls but the one who really stole the show is Kate Beckinsale (pictured top right) who was spotted in New York last month in a snug black number. Copy her style with a super snug knitted beanie from Stradivarius (€12.95), Jervis shopping centre and Dundrum Town Centre.

2) Headband

Bottega Veneta’s creative director Tomas Maier sent almost every one of his models down the Spring/Summer 2010 runway sporting a white headband (pictured bottom right), while actress January Jones received high praise for her choice of a black one to the Golden Globe Awards this month.

In short, headbands are big news this season. Topshop have a great selection including a crochet one, available in black or cream for £12/€15. You can experiment with colour and style to vary your everyday look while a classic headband makes an excellent choice to compliment a party outfit.

3) Beret

Embrace the Parisian look this spring with a timeless beret. This hat is a style that suits all hair lengths – Mary Kate Olsen and T4’s newest fashionista Jameela Jamil are regularly spotted wearing theirs.

Brighten up your look and complexion with a white one a la Ralph Lauren (pictured bottom left). New Look do a great version named the Angora beret for £7/€10 and it also comes in grey.

4) Bow Hat

Cheryl Cole caused a stir when she wore a large black bow in her hair during The X Factor and the fashion world certainly noticed. Bows are everywhere right now, so why not add a girlie, feminine twist with a hat with bow detail?

River Island has a few woolly ones, but my favourite of them all is a Ted Baker Grosgrain one from fashion website ASOS.com – it is a gorgeous warm pink colour and currently on offer from €27 down from €48.  ASOS also have a number of bow headbands and hair clips.

5) Trilby

Victoria Beckham looked amazing when she touched down in Heathrow airport this month – and that was largely due to her eye-catching trilby hat.

Trilby hats can give a smart, stylish take to most outfits and are available in a wide variety of styles and shades this spring.

Reiss have a good selection including a studded one for £49/€58. This choice is ideal for the fashionista who wants to stand out from the crowd!

So whether you wear hats for warmth or adornment, with today’s Top 5 picks, all that’s left to do is hold your head high as you sail into this season in style.

Image credits: Style.com

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