The summer style guide: 5 trends to wear on repeat

Summer is the perfect time to have a little more fun with colour.

This season, electric blue and vibrant berry pink are making a playful statement. They’re bright, confident and full of energy, whether you choose one standout piece or mix them throughout your wardrobe.

Start with a simple top in a bold shade and team it with neutral pants or shorts for an easy everyday outfit. Or let the colour do all the work with a bright dress. A statement shade doesn’t need much else to make your outfit feel fresh.

For an even bigger splash of colour, try a matching set. A vibrant top and shorts worn together create an easy outfit, while each piece can be styled separately with the rest of your wardrobe.

Style tip

Let one bright colour be the star, then keep the rest of your outfit simple. A woven-look bag, neutral sandals and a little jewellery can help balance a bold shade without taking away from it.

Tropical-inspired prints are bringing a holiday feeling to summer dressing.

Palm-inspired patterns, rich colour combinations and playful placement prints create instant personality, whether you’re heading away or simply enjoying a sunny day at home.

A printed dress is one of the easiest ways to try the trend. Keep your accessories simple and let the print shine or pick out one colour from the pattern and repeat it through your shoes or bag.

Not ready for a head-to-toe print? Start small. A printed top with a simple skirt, shorts or pants can bring the same summer energy while feeling a little more understated.

Style tip

A busy print doesn’t need lots of extras. Try simple sandals, a woven-look bag and minimal jewellery for an easy outfit that feels ready for sunshine.

There’s something wonderfully easy about a maxi dress. Slip one on and your outfit is already sorted.

This summer, flowing long silhouettes are bringing an effortless feel to warm-weather dressing. Look for strappy, halter and relaxed shapes that move with you and make getting dressed feel simple.

A maxi dress can work for so many summer plans, too. Pair yours with flat sandals for a relaxed daytime look, then switch to heels and add a little jewellery when it’s time for dinner.

Style tip

Think about your accessories when you’re planning a maxi look. Flat sandals and a roomy tote can keep things casual, while a pair of heels and statement earrings can take the same dress somewhere a little dressier.

Rich brown shades are a great way to add depth to your wardrobe without stepping away from the relaxed mood of the season. They work especially well with the brighter colours in the Hot Tropics trend, making them easy to mix into the rest of your wardrobe.

Try a chocolate brown dress for a simple one-piece outfit or build a look with a brown top and flowing skirt or pants. You can even bring the shade in through your accessories with a brown bag or sandals.

The real beauty of this trend is how easy it is to pair with other colours. Chocolate brown works beautifully with cream, white, pink and vibrant blue, so you can create plenty of different looks without making getting dressed complicated.

Style tip

Try chocolate brown with a brighter colour for a look that feels fresh for summer. A berry pink top with brown pants, or a blue dress with a brown bag, is an easy way to bring two trends together.

Matching sets are making summer dressing wonderfully simple.

A coordinated top and bottom instantly create a pulled-together outfit, without needing to spend ages deciding what goes with what. Look for relaxed shorts sets, flowing pants and lightweight separates in solid colours or playful prints.

The fun part is that you don’t have to wear the pieces together every time. Style the top with denim or a skirt one day, then pair the bottoms with a simple tank or T-shirt the next.

It’s an easy way to get more outfit combinations from the pieces you already have.

Style tip

Keep one simple outfit formula in mind: matching set + sandals + bag. It’s an easy combination for weekend plans, holidays, lunches and sunny days when you want to look put-together without overthinking it.

Find your summer style

The great thing about summer fashion is that there’s no one way to wear it.

You might fall for electric blue, live in a tropical print maxi or make chocolate brown your new go-to. You might love matching sets for their easy outfit formula or simply add a colourful top to the pieces already in your wardrobe.

Whatever catches your eye, the Hot Tropics mood is all about making everyday dressing feel bright, easy and full of personality.

Ready to refresh your wardrobe? Discover our latest women’s styles and find your new summer must-haves at Kmart’s famously low prices.