Figure-flattering easy summer dressing

Dress clever

The temperature shoots skywards and getting dressed turns into a sweaty stressful ordeal. You don\'t want to get the arms out and the legs aren\'t what they used to be? We\'ve all been there! But, with a few carefully chosen pieces in your closet there\'ll be no more summer sartorial struggle.  We\'ve found 10 fabulous looks to keep you cool and covered up, all season. By Alyson Walsh

Click on the \'Next\' button above to move through all of the outfits

The super-chic cardigan

A delicate shimmery cardi with cute three-quarter fluted sleeves is an easy way to stay cool without showing too much flesh. Wear with black Capri pants and ballet pumps for a business lunch or wide leg linen trousers for a summer day out.

‘Melina\' cardigan £57

8-16

www.toast.co.uk

The linen coat

Looking for a super-cool cover-up? We recommend a lovely linen coat that can always be relied upon on to smarten up any outfit. Choose a zesty colour and wear with slim pants and summer flats.

Chic linen coat £79

8-20

www.boden.co.uk

The pop-over top

For that essential top-of-the-arm coverage, we find a loose fitting linen top works a treat.  Dress it up with a knee length skirt and an armful of bangles - or add pair of khakis and a summer scarf for a laid-back weekend look.

Linen lace panel top £39

8-16

www.kew-online.com

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The summer dress

For holidays and smart summer occasions we recommend an A-line tunic dress in a cool cotton fabric. And though we\'ve been resisting the allure of the legging, there\'s no denying their thigh-slimming, leg-covering properties. Demi Moore has been rocking a pair and looking tres chic and she\'s over 45!

Lace detail dress £160

8-16

Nougat (020 7792 3574)

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The peg trouser

Now we know what you\'re thinking... the generous cut on these cotton trousers will make any woman look the size of a house. But with a waist-cinching leather belt and a pair of platform heels to elongate the legs, we have a fresh new summer staple.

Silk blouse £225

Peg trousers, £185

Leather belt £98

Nanette Lepore; 020 7221 8889

More fashion ideas

High st finds - all figure-flattering winners

The easy jersey dress

For holiday evenings or busy days when it\'s a case of dress and go, the jersey frock is an easy summer option. And this little number comes with its own underslip and a removable matching belt. Not bad eh?

Silk-linen summer dress

£79

8-20

www.boden.co.uk

The kaftan

Every woman should own one. That\'s all we\'re saying. That\'s it. No more.

Africa print kaftan £98

s,m,l

www.kew-online.com

The all-in-one

Why is this versatile jersey jumpsuit so very flattering? The beautifully cut fabric drapes elegantly across the body, the scoop neck shape draws attention to sun-kissed shoulders and of course, head-to-toe black is always a figure-flattering winner.

Jersey jumpsuit £123

xxs-xl

Zoe Tees at www.my-wardrobe.com

The maxi dress

So what if the whole of Glastonbury (apart from Lady Ga Ga) was wearing cut-off denim shorts, we much prefer seventies festival chic. A printed maxi dress is a cool way to relax on summer days off - and we know that means bearing the arms, but when it\'s over 30 degrees, what the hey!

Maxi dress £129

8-16

www.jigsaw-online.com 

The t-shirt

Introducing our new favourite t-shirt brand, American Vintage. Which is French, not American. When it comes to super-soft jersey fabrics with a lovely lived-in feel (hence the name) and easy-to-wear shape, they\'re unbeatable. Which is why we have crowned them masters of the fashion universe.

Loose slash neck top £49

xxs-xl

American Vintage at www.my-wardrobe.com

The collection

Hooray for the new collection from Ghost . A collaboration with those hip young folks at Modernist brings a more contemporary feel to one of our favourite labels. Elegant, drapey dresses and easy-to-wear separates look lovely layered up or teamed with sharp tailoring for a more urban vibe.

Shop.ghost.co.uk

0800 008 7772

Expert fashion and beauty advice and offers

Visit our sister site 30 Days of Fashion and Beauty for more fashion and beauty advice, great competitions and offers, and brilliant reader events taking place in September

www.30daysoffashionandbeauty.co.uk