JACKET DU JOUR: PAUL SMITH'S CACTUS CAMO COVER UP

Me wearing: my Paul Smith Jeans camo shirt jacket, Whistles silk blouse and matching trousers, with patent Christian Louboutin sandals.

Not exactly a radical choice for summer but I can’t get enough of my camo, arm-style jacket at the moment. The cactus print beauty is actually from the Paul Smith Jeans men’s collection, worn oversized (as camo jackets should be) it’s ideal for throwing over most summer ensembles: I wear it with smart tailoring and dresses on work days and with tracksuit bottoms and jeans on weekends. Plus I love all the pockets, ideal for festivals and other times when you want to be handbag free. See, it’s practical and perfect in every way!   

In detail: the jacket has double-button cuffs.

Up close: its wooden button fastenings. 

In detail: those perfect pockets. 

To get your khaki 'Desert Camouflage' print shirt jacket, from the Paul Smith Jeans men's collection, click here. 

BRITISH SUMMER ESSENTIALS

Me wearing: the 'Sailor T' by Chinti and Parker, with J Crew Liberty print trousers, a Gucci bag and Office shoes.

It’s mid-June, and whilst I’m totally holding out for July and August, experience tells me the absence of a jacket might be as good as it gets in London this summer. But just because the weather isn’t playing ball doesn’t mean you can’t look and feel summery. 

So for summer dressing in the cold, I’m relying on printed trousers (the brighter and more colourful the better), my current faves are this Liberty floral pair by J Crew, a vibrant breton stripe top: Chinti and Parker do them best, check out the coral and orange contrast ‘Sailor T’ I’m wearing above. 

For added summer pizazz, give black and dark bags a rest in a favour of pastel and washed out hues, my pale blue Gucci Soho leather Disco bag fits the bill perfectly.

Ideally we’d all be wearing sandals in June, but I hate soggy toes as much as the next person so I’ve been getting lots of style miles out of my white leather Office sling-backs, which do ok in the rain and keep outfits light and fresh. 

In detail: my Gucci 'soho leather disco bag' in pale blue.

Up close: my Office sling-backs and Liger's paws.

For unreliable UK weather updates, click here.

SKIRT SUITING FOR SECRET CINEMA

Me wearing: a jacket by The Kooples, with a Milly skirt, Petit Bateau t-shirt, Chanel bag, Zara sandals and sunnies by Louis Vuitton. 

On Friday night I went to a Secret Cinema event, if you haven’t been before, Secret Cinema (strap line: tell no one) screens mystery films in unusual locations around London, and guests are expected to dress in character!

After filling in a themed questionnaire online I was emailed my ‘employer ID card’ complete with illustration of what I was to wear (see below): a ’40s style suit with a ladylike handbag, right? Simple enough, however I ended up looking like a ’90s power dresser! Totally off target but retro all the same. Ally McBeal: eat your heart out. 

Go to secretcinema.org to find out more. 

LABEL L♥VE: THU THU

Me wearing: my new Thu Thu 'Lilac Circle Wave Pleat' dress, with YMC navy leather sandals.

Designed and made in the UK, Thu Thu is the new label I can’t get enough of. Founder Thuy Duong Nguyen (who was born in Vietnam and raised in Germany) creates colourful, impactful collections that are super easy to wear. Take the Carbon Cobblestone hand printed jeans (pictured on me below), their skinny, mid-rise fit makes them a very wearable shape, whilst the hand-crafted Vietnamese embroidery pocket detail (a Thu Thu signature) coupled with the original print makes them a stand out buy in any wardrobe. 

The other piece from the Thu Thu spring/summer ’13 collection that I couldn’t resist is the ‘Lilac Circle Wave Pleat’ dress (pictured above), the easy shift shape makes it a brilliant all-rounder, worn here with my new YMC navy sandals it makes for a great work look, but teamed with gold sandals and sparkly jewellery the dress transforms into a frock fit for any wedding or summer soirée. What's not to love?

Me wearing: Thu Thu 'Carbon Cobblestone' jeans, with a Chinti & Parker tee and pumps by Hobbs.

To see and shop the full Thu Thu spring/summer ’13 collection, click here.