Fashion can be practical as well as stylish and this is especially true when it comes to dressing for a great British summer. A summer cover up is a wardrobe essential. It will be there for you, come rain or shine. The clever folks at fashion retailer Pure Collection have selected five of the best cover ups, from wraps to shirts and jackets, perfect for a day at work, a summer wedding or a chilly evening on holiday.

Helen Thomas, Head of Buying at Pure Collection, comments: “Our Summer season stock has been flying off the virtual shelves this year; in particular our cardigans have been in hot demand. The newest shades of orange and aqua blue perfectly compliment this season’s neutral palette.”

If it’s versatility you’re after, then look no further than the Sleeved Wrap £95.00 which can be worn in a multitude of ways to suit your mood and outfit. Wear it loose for a casual daytime look, paired with jeans and wedges. Wrap it over your shoulders for an evening dress cover up or tie in a loose knot for effortless style with pastel chinos. Silk and cashmere blend to form a lightweight, luxurious fabric and ribbed cuffs complete this wardrobe staple.

Elevate your latest ensemble with a Linen Jacket, £129.00, it’s a fabulous addition to cropped jeans or a summer dress. Just finish off with a tan leather handbag, it complements linen perfectly. This pure linen jacket is finished neatly with button flap pockets and button cuffs, giving a smart yet lightweight appearance. It’s available in Biscuit or Cream so you can choose a shade to compliment your favourite summer outfit.

A new shape for this season, the Cropped V Neck Cardigan, £59.00 comes in luxuriously soft 100% sustainable cashmere. Match this cute cardigan with a soft silk shirt or camisole vest for a useful layer in unpredictable weather. With a flattering deep V neckline and three quarter sleeves and available in a range of colours, try this seasons soft orange to stand out from the crowd.

Horizontal stripes are everywhere this season and you can incorporate this trend using a stylish Striped Short-Sleeve Cardigan, £41.00 . Cotton and cashmere make this cardigan beautifully soft and ideal for keeping cool in the summer. Available in three combinations of navy, cream and white for a true nautical theme, try teaming it with a pair of white cropped jeans and loafers.

This shirt is the height of luxury and is the perfect garment to keeping you effortlessly cool. The Gathered Neck Silk Blouse, £89.00, is loose fitting but with a curved hemline, wear it tucked into a fitted skirt or leave it loose against a pair of fitted trousers. The Habotai Silk makes it lightweight enough for summer wear and comes in Indigo Print, Khaki Print and Bone colour-ways for a casual and comfortable cover up.

For the perfect bikini and beachwear, take a look at the great options available at www.swimwear365.co.uk.

Summer is a great season for fashion, but at the same time it can also be one of the most uncomfortable seasons of the year. If the heat gets excessive and you’re still trying to squeeze into the trendiest skinny jeans or tight top you might find yourself getting very frustrated. When a heat wave hits, all we want to do is throw on the baggiest, loosest thing in our wardrobe, but sometimes we resist doing so because we don’t want to sacrifice looking good. However, there is a solution. Baggy jeans have been a bit of a fashion faux pas over the past few years but they are coming back in and look great when combined with certain other items of clothing.

First of all, you need to consider what kind of top you will be wearing with your jeans. Tight tops or small t-shirts will only accentuate how wide and baggy the jeans are, which will make your lower half look large in proportion to your torso. It’s best to go with a similarly baggy top, although you can choose something that gathers around the waist or has a low cut neckline in order to maintain your femininity. Tunic dresses by Joe Browns, an indie retailer, are a perfect match for baggy jeans and they usually come in interesting patterns and colours, which will draw attention away from the bagginess around your legs.

Another perfect item to combine with baggy jeans is one of the biggest trends of the summer – wedge heels. Tall wedge heels will keep your legs looking long even in baggy jeans, which can sometimes make your legs look short and squat if worn with flat shoes. Wedges, a tunic top and baggy blue jeans will give you a perfect retro summer look, comfortable and feminine!

Pure Collection Tie Belt Skirt Was £79 Now £59
If we could come up with a formula for the perfect skirt, we’re pretty sure this one would be the result. Let’s take a look at the key elements that make it an essential for every woman’s wardrobe.

Material
Coming in at a luxurious 55% soft sand washed Silk and 45% Linen blend, the two combine to create a casual, comfy fabric that has a luxurious feel. The natural slub effect (which is the posh word for twisted fibres to form a pattern) is common in Linen fabrics. The sand washed fabric gives it that super soft feel and keeps it on the fine line of being casual enough for day, but smart enough for night.

Style
Knee length is no longer the boring cut it was when you were at school (you rolled your skirt up too didn’t you?) These days, we can appreciate the length for its magical properties. A well-fitted knee-length skirt hugs your curves in all the right places at the same time as remaining classy and sophisticated.

Detailing
This tie belt skirt does exactly what it says on the tin, but does give you the option of removing the belt, if you want a sleeker look. It features a deep hemline, top stitch pocket detailing and back welt pockets. Pockets at the front are side slant pockets, just big enough for a lip gloss, don’t ruin the cut by using actually using them – if you needed an excuse to buy a new handbag, there you go! There is a zip fly opening to the front with a concealed hook and bar fastening onto the waistband to make it extra secure.

Versatility
Wedges are hot property this season and this skirt was made for them. Opt for a natural tan or cork wedge heel to elongate your legs and show off the skirt to its very best! Silk shirt, block colour vest top, lace detail cardigan, you name it and this skirt goes with it. If you’re thinking ‘why would I buy a summer skirt now, when winter is looming?’ Fear not, this skirt will take you right through to Aunt Mabel’s Christmas turkey buffet, and beyond, just team with tights and boots to keep toasty warm.

Availability
Where does one buy such an amazing skirt I hear you cry? Luckily for you it can be easily obtained from http://purecollection.com, in return for just £59.00, not long ago it was £79.00 so you are grabbing yourself a bargain. It’s available in green and stone colour ways and comes in sizes 10-18. Delivery is just £4.95 but if you can’t wait a few days – who could blame you? – Opt for the next day delivery option at £9.95.

Recommendation
Don’t just take our word for it, read this glowing review from one of our recent customers who purchased the tie belt skirt.
Lovely Summer Skirt! 5 stars – Date: June 8, 2011

I’ve just received this skirt and it’s so much nicer than I expected! Lovely material and a good, flattering fit. Looks good with a linen shirt, camisole or T shirt, so I am expecting lots of wear this summer! I’m so pleased to find such flattering clothes, as well as wonderful cashmere. Well done Pure!