Surf Safari: 3 Key Ways to Nail the Trend

Words: Jabulile Dlamini-Qwesha | Photography: Luke Kuisis | Styling: Akim Jardine

Get in loser, we’re doing vacation-ready style all summer long. Whether you’re staying in the city all season or heading to a dreamy destination as soon as the weather allows, “affluent guest at the five-star resort” is the look to go for. Think roomy boho shapes, earthy tones, safari-inspired cuts, woven straw accessories, colour clashing the rainbow – if a surfer or a game ranger would wear it, you should get it.

Tropical prints

More florals for spring/ summer, but the new go-to motif channels tropics that you wouldn’t normally find at your local flower shop – so like, Hawaiian shirts, but in stylish silhouettes. As seen on Gucci, Fenty PUMA, Michael Kors and Coach’s runway collections for Spring 2018, flowers, stems and pods in high summer brights contrast against white, even day dresses get a modern-romance aesthetic.

Matching sets

Whether you want to call them co-ords, suits or matching sets, complementary outfits are all the rage this season. Sure, you’re getting more bang for your buck because you can still flourish with these pieces as separates, but the look is all about doubling up. Even Versace brought back retro 90s classic prints for the season of seeing double. But we’re a lot more inspired by Christian Siriano’s broad striping and tendency for full length cuts; it’s easier to weave these into office style.

Straw accessories

A slight departure from OTT maximalist pieces we’ve been seeing lately, there’s a shift back to simpler, cleaner and more classic accessories in Spring/ Summer 2018. Jane Birkin may have put basket bags on the map in 70s, and while their popularity comes and goes, they have taken on a new life this season. Heeding the call from brands like Kate Spade and Rebecca Minkoff, we’re getting into woven straw materials for shoes, caps, hats and micro handbags.