Here are four simple pieces, each with a little extra design detail. Wear them in Spring and straight on into Summer. Remember to look through all the colour options. 

• Banana Republic Shadow Stripe Pullover: A breezy covered option for warm temperatures. Cotton and texture rich, cozy soft, and casually chic. A super substitute for a tee, and fab on a fuller bust or broad shouldered lass. If crew necks have been driving you crazy, try this baby scoop neck for a change. It’s a tailored piece that isn’t clingy. 
• Marisa Cuffed Cropped Pants in Linen: I have happy, and shocked clients in these linen pants. The pleats are stitched down so they don’t pouf out around the tummy area like pleats normally do. And therein lies the beauty of the style. They have worked on both straight and curvy bodies, slim and fuller thighs. Roll up the cuffs to shorten the length and wear them in casual settings. Modern, on trend, lightweight and breezy. A great solution to staying covered in the heat if shorts aren’t your thing. Also available in taupe. Warning: you have to make peace with the linen crease. 
• Sam Edelman Sutton Sandal: A refined sandal with chunky straps. Pretty comfortable and versatile. Works best on a foot that can fill out the style. Not great on narrower “low volume” feet. 
• BCBGeneration Tabitha Clutch: A vegan friendly modern clutch.

Pop on these four items to create an easy and comfortable casual outfit. Wear the top untucked, semi tucked or tucked.

Although arm candy is all the rage, let’s not forget about the big necklace. I’m specifically talking about chunky styles that are worn close to the neck. This style of necklace can make your outfit, and comes in countless variations. Here are ways to match them up with flattering necklines on tops, knitwear and dresses. 

1. V-neck: Large necklaces with a triangular shape work particularly well with V-necklines. The necklace either fits into the space defined by the skin above the neckline, or overlaps the neckline. 
2. Scoop neck: Large necklaces with a round rather than triangular shape are well suited to scoop necks. But a triangular shape necklace will work just as well. 
3. Crew neck: Bib and collar necklaces work particularly well over crew necks. 
4. Open shirt collar: I’ve found that necklaces that fit into the triangular space defined by exposed skin work very well inside an open shirt collar. I like to layer a multi strand gum-ball pearl necklace inside my open shirt collar. Chunky choker styles are another option. 
5. Buttoned up shirt: Triangular shaped large necklaces get my top vote for this neckline. 
6. Turtleneck: This option can veer into frumpy territory so proceed with caution. It’s important that the large necklace is large, be it a long pendant style or one that is worn close to the neck. Personally, I do not fancy dainty jewelry worn over a turtleneck. 
7. Strapless: Pretty much any large necklace style will work over a strapless item due to the large amount of exposed skin. The neckline barely interferes with the style of the necklace.  
8. One-shoulder: This option is for Team Asymmetry. I like necklaces that are “front heavy” with this type of neckline. That way you expose a little more of your bare shoulder and neck, which makes for an interesting visual effect.  

Now that I wholeheartedly bat for Team Minimal, I hardly wear necklaces or any jewelry at all. But when I do, I stick to oversized white pearl necklaces or my late Mum’s vintage gold pendant necklace from the ’70s. I usually wear the pearls over a crew neck, turtleneck or inside a shirt collar. And the pendant necklace over a turtleneck or crew neck. How do you wear big necklaces?

You are on Team Gold Shoes if you prefer gold footwear, and vice versa. Any shade of gold or silver counts, be it bright sci-fi silver or muted gold, in any style of footwear. Note: if you prefer pewter footwear, you’re sitting this one out on the bench because pewter is often as gold as it is silver. If you prefer rose gold footwear, you bat for Team Gold Shoes.

I love sci-fi silver footwear as much as gold footwear. I have silver and gold trimmed footwear, and would welcome a pair of gold shoes into my wardrobe. I am less fond of pewter because it’s not as bright and light as a clear silver or gold. Although I love pewter footwear on others.

So I’m sitting this one out on the bench with patat frites. That’s the Dutch version of French fries, served in a cone with a dollop of mayonnaise. When it’s fresh and hot, it really hits the spot. 

Over to you. Are you Team Gold Shoes or Team Silver Shoes? No batting for both teams, but by all means join me on the bench. There is plenty of frites! 

The point of being by the pool, lake or beach is to soak up the sun with sunscreen, relax under an umbrella, or swim. In these instances, you’ll wear your swimsuit sans cover-up. But there are times in these settings when you’ll probably want to partially cover up your bod and suit. Like when you’re walking to and from the car, visiting the restroom, grabbing a bite to eat, chasing toddlers, playing beach bats, strolling along the beach, when it feels a little breezy, or when you’ve just had enough of exposing lots of skin.

Here are thirteen ways to cover up your swimsuit: 

1. Tunic Button-Down Shirt: You’re after an oversized woven shirt in a lightweight cotton, cotton blend, or gauze that’s roomy, fast-drying, and easy to launder. I would not recommend a silk cover-up because of the laundry commitment. These short shirtdresses from the Gap have been great beach cover-ups for some of my clients this season. 
2. Kaftan: Quite the easy, glam option, both in long and short versions. Here are some guidelines to help you put together the beachwear kaftan look. 
3. Wrap: Wraps come in all sorts of fabrications and sizes, covering the bottom half of your suit. Solid, patterned, long, short, cotton or spandex-rich. Crochet and mesh versions are lovely too. 
4. Pareo: These types of wraps that halter round the neck provide a fun ’70s flashback. They can also double duty as a normal wrap.
5. Clamdiggers: Great in denim or cotton. Denim cut-offs are a personal favourite to wear with my swimsuit. 
6. Shorts: So many options! Denim short shorts, board shorts, regular cotton shorts like the boyfriend style from the gap, skorts, viscose pull-on styles or knitted harem pants. Sport your swimsuit on top, or add a tank, tee, or beach-friendly top. 
7. Casual Dress: Again, so many options. From sporty styles that are fast drying and gear-like, to bohemian maxi dresses and little roomy cotton numbers. Think lightweight wovens and crochet fabrications. Or something like this unusual cover-up dress from Miraclesuit. 
8. Romper or Jumpsuit: Not the practical solution if you’re heading to the restroom, but so fun. Think long or short versions. 
9. Baggy Drawstring Pants: You’re after linen, or something gauzy, cotton-rich or even crochet. Wide legged and very drapey. Wear it over your swimsuit with a denim jacket. 
10. Full Skirt: I vote keep it flared and woven. So tropical! But knitted versions with wide foldover waistbands are just as popular with my clients. Wear the skirt over your swimsuit just like that. 
11. Tunic Pull-on Shirt: These can be knitted or woven, roomy or fitted, and are in a pull-on style. The hemlines are often high-low and the fabric fairly transparent. Sometimes they are mesh or crochet. 
12. Rashguard Tee: These formfitting tees that match your swimsuit are worn on top, with or without a pair of shorts or skirt. Quite sporty, both in long and shorter sleeves. 
13. Denim Jacket: A weird idea to some, but I LOVE to wear my denim jacket over the top of my swimsuit when feeling a little chilly. I find the look comfortable and alluring.  

Beaches also get quite cool as the sun goes down. On most Cape Town beaches the wind starts blowing later in the day and it’s really cold. You often need much more than a lightweight cover-up. A hoodie, pair of jeans and windbreaker are much more effective. But when it’s warm, I like wraps, tunic button-down shirts, a denim jacket, a drapey top, clamdiggers or baggy shorts. I don’t wear them all together, but at different times during our time at the beach. I love the idea of a beach-y jumpsuit, and would probably go that route next time round. 

Over to you. How do you cover up your swimsuit?