Season in the sun

It’s all very well, heading off for the South of France or the Italian Riviera once the great British weather has tipped over to the other side of bearable, but what on earth will we wear?

Never have we been so under-prepared for a sun-blessed break. Mentally, physically and most definitely sartorially, most of us are somewhere in January, 
still layering on knits and making sure the Uggs and wellies are in the boot of the 
car.

The prospect of boarding a plane, flying a brief couple of hours, then stepping out into blinding sunshine is hard to picture. Yet this is how it works, arriving at Nice airport and emerging into an alien wonderland, bursting with bright colour and vivid pattern, warm light bouncing off the white marble, and where everything is illuminated.

And then there is the fashion. Oh my. Hop on a bus and there are those oh-so-cool French and Italian women dressed head to toe in the brightest and most colourful ensembles that Versace and Dolce have to offer. The accessorising is both brash and chic, with the bling, the bags, the shoes and the shades, the neon, the shine, the riotous pattern – and yet the overall effect is of harmony, like paradise on earth.

Well, we can all achieve paradise status, if we put our minds to it. Avoid the dowdy Brit blues by arriving in the manner to which you intend to become fully accustomed during the holiday, even if it’s just a pair of shocking pink cropped jeans and an expensive looking pink, yellow and gold silk scarf. Fortunately, this year’s preoccupation with matchy-matchy head-to-toe dressing in mesmerising pattern and scorching colour ensures that keeping up with the French and Italians is so much easier than usual. When in doubt, try a white shift dress or jeans and vest with accents of lime or bright fuchsia, plus metallic bling touches and accessories where possible.

If you prefer to de-brash rather than up-brash, mint and salmon are shades 
that will take you all over the world 
(think maxi dresses – no holiday in the 
sun is complete without at least one) and don’t forget to test your fabulous sandals for pain-free wearability before setting off.

Twitter:@yorkshirefashQ