You bat for Team Light, Bright or Dark Footwear depending on which you like to wear the most. Note that pastel, light metallic, light earth tones, light animal prints, and lighter mid-tones are grouped with light footwear. Burgundy, plum, eggplant, forest green, navy, dark olive, dark grey, dark patterns, dark metallics, and black count as dark.

I don’t wear black shoes or black clothing. I have an old pair of dressy navy knee-high boots and burgundy hi-tops that I wear a few times a year. I have bright red, citron, turquoise, and shocking pink shoes that I wear quite frequently. The lion’s share of my footwear capsule is shades of white. Bright white, off-white, cream, and bone. I have a few pairs of taupe, gold and pastel shoes too.

Here are my light and bright shoes. In fact, these are all my shoes apart from pool slides, slippers, and snow boots. Some pairs are worn out and tired looking. But I can’t bear to part with them because they are very comfortable. I’ll pass them on when I have the right replacements.

I bat for Team Light Footwear because the colours work best with the palettes in my wardrobe, which are sour brights, some pastels, some earth tones, and lots of blues and whites. Light footwear also matches the white pearl jewellery I wear daily, and works well with my blonde hair. Visually, I like the crisp and modern addition of white shoes in outfits. I’ve been wearing white shoes all my life, and it’s signature to my style. I also enjoy wearing bright, gold and pastel shoes, but always come back to some shade of white.

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Light, Bright, or Dark Footwear? Tell us why and no batting for multiple teams. If you can’t pick a side, join the bench, where I’m serving home-made tuna and salmon poke bowls with warm sushi rice, fresh avocado, seaweed salad, and hot miso soup. Dessert is Cadbury’s fruit and nut chocolate.

A new fashion documentary, London’s answer to the Met Gala, and other style stories that made headlines this month.

• Canada is banning cosmetic testing on animals.
• After years of creating custom wedding looks for celebrities, Rodarte is officially launching its first bridal collection.
• Older female models are struggling for work as brands play it safe post-Covid.
• Thanks to TikTok, gen Z users are rediscovering the art of getting their colours done.
• New documentary Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field takes a deep dive into the life of the 82-year-old costume and fashion designer.
• Allure reports that ombré hair is back.
• After six years at the helm of British Vogue, editor-in-chief Edward Enninful is poised to take on a new global role at Condé Nast next year.
• Fear of sun damage has seen sales of new tanning products soar.
• Vogue editor Anna Wintour is planning London’s answer to the Met Gala to raise money for London’s struggling arts scene.

Gone are the days where wearing a traditionally seasonal palette is best. Wear brights, whites, and pastels in the Autumn and Winter, and earth tones, jewel tones, greys, dark blue, and black in the Spring and Summer. As long as the weights, fabrics and silhouettes of the items are seasonally appropriate, any colour at any time of year is fab. 

Burgundy is on the earthy and Autumn side of colour palettes, and some of my clients enjoy wearing it in the Summer. Some burgundies are on the deep red, wine and claret side of the spectrum, while others look more brown. Take your pick.

Here are some burgundy outfit ideas for Summer.

1. Patterned Top with Denim Bottoms

A summery patterned top that has burgundy in the palette is great to wear with denim bottoms like a pair of blue jeans, shorts or skirt. Here, a burgundy patterned off-the-shoulder top incorporates bright citrusy oranges. A toffee bag and wedged cinnamon espadrilles are the earthy finishing touch. If denim is too hot, opt for lightweight cotton bottoms.

A pair of light coloured jeans, shorts, or a skirt in white, cream, stone, or tan adds a summery touch to a burgundy patterned top. Cotton utility pants or chinos in similar light neutrals can work well too.

2. Column of Burgundy

Wearing very fluid or oversized easy, breezy separates in lightweight fabrics like linen and cotton is another way to wear burgundy in the Summer. Here, an on-trend matching set of pants and tunic creates a column of burgundy. Note how the shorter length of the wide soft pants does a great job of offsetting their volume, and preventing a tripping hazard. Sandals in a neutral like black, grey or brown, are a lovely finishing touch. Add a bag and sunhat to match. It’s a great way to feel ventilated and covered in hot weather.

3. Burgundy Dress

For those who bat for Team Summer Dress, wear a summery frock in a burgundy pattern or solid. A burgundy jumpsuit or romper works too. Add light, bright, or dark summer shoes, a bag to match, and Bob’s your uncle.

Here’s a variation of dressy and more casual dresses in solid and patterned burgundy for Summer:

4. Burgundy Skirt and Spice

Rich dark reds look fab with spice colours. Combine a burgundy skirt with a turmeric, cinnamon, saffron or mustard top that works with the silhouette. Repeat the spice tones in footwear and add a bag to match. Here the top is quite cropped. Feel free to choose a length that is more to your taste. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

I used to wear a dark blue volume mascara by YSL and loved it. But the gorgeous blue was discontinued, so I switched back to black volume mascara by Clinique. I’m fond of black mascara, but missed the blue. Dior’s Pump ‘N’ Volume Mascara in blue came highly recommended, so I gave it a try.

The blue is brighter than what I was accustomed to, but darkens quite a lot during the day. It’s almost as bright as the stock photo when it’s in bright light. When I first applied it, I laughed and was a little shocked. But by the time I added a bit of eyeliner and groomed my brows, it blended very nicely. Interestingly, blue mascara makes my green eyes look more green. It also works well with my light blue specs.

I’m wearing blue mascara almost daily right now. Just for fun, and to change things up. I am prone to facial rashes, eczema, and itchy eyes and so far this mascara has been great. No irritations or smudging either. It comes in black and maroon if blue is not your cup of tea.