The blazing summer sun is upon us, indicating the arrival of a hot and long summer; now is when most people start planning a summer break. Be it a vacation in exotic Bali, a fuel-pumped visit to Ibiza or if you’re like us then frequent trips to the French Beach, one must not forget that being fashionable is half the battle won in your quest for a good time. Looking good will make you feel better, even as you’re gazing at the glaciers in the mountains up North.

The recent resort/cruise collections by Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta and Chanel are all the hype these days because of their immaculately crafted pieces, and they excite us with their summer look. Even though none of these brands are accessible to us in Pakistan, we think of these images as inspiring trends that we can attempt to incorporate in our wardrobes.

Go Graphic!

If there’s one message that the Chanel in Korea Cruise collection blatantly gives us, it is to embrace graphic prints! From florescent floral patterns to the architectural whites, blues and blacks, it’s all about layers of graphic prints. If, however, colour and graphic prints are not your thing, Chanel’s got you covered. The collection also introduces plenty of outfits that play around with monochrome and polka dots. After all, who doesn’t look good in a short polka-dotted jumpsuit? Just add on a contrasting belt and you’re set for a bohemian chic look.

Buy it here: It’s print galore in Pakistan but when it comes to holiday-wear, we would strongly recommend the dotted, quirky prints at Sania Maskatiya, the florals at Nida Azwer and Zara Shahjahan or if you want to take inspiration from the Chanel collection, Sana Safinaz’s graphic prints are perfect to grab as quirky summer outfits.  Of course, the short tunics at Mahgul are equally brilliant, if you manage to get hold of her limited edition voile.

Material, Girls

While the Chanel collection is all about colour, the Louis Vuitton Resort collection 2016 is about experimenting with different materials. From the use of leather to faux reptilian skins, it’s textures galore at Vuitton. Perhaps that’s a good indication to pack that leather jacket hanging in the closet for your next trip to Nathia Gali.

You probably are so sick of lawn and voile right now that it would be a good time to experiment with different materials when you’re vacationing. A pair or two of denim jeans is a must, some short linen tops for comfort, sheer chiffon wraps and ponchos for evenings out and of course, if you have the sense to mix it all up then you’re spot on trend.

Buy it here: Check out the new variety at Debenhams if you’re in Karachi or then Mango, which also stocks some interesting summer variety.

All about Structure

Balenciaga’s summer collection is all about off-shoulders and structured outfits.  The European summer inspired collection is a perfect place to look for good insights for your next trip to the beach or a summer party with friends. So while the heat is high, crisp cool colours mixed with structured designs would do wonders. Remember, bohemian chic works wonders when done right.

Buy it here: For a trendy and quirky summer outfit, you can check out the collection at Natasha Kamal, which recently showcased at PSFW 2015 showing quite a few off-shoulder looks that are sure to be sizzling in the heat of summer. Likewise, Misha Lakhani’s collection is classically chic and quite a good option for an urban look.