The sun is sizzling, and so will you this season! A lot of trendy, fun and colourful styles are in fashion at the moment: follow our guide which highlights what’s hot in the plus size fashion scene for summer 2005.

This summer it’s all about the subtle touches that give an outfit that extra something. Try and put in a touch of glitter into your style to give yourself some allure and shine.

Halters are back in girls. Do not feel shy to expose those shoulders! Just make sure you are protected with a good sun-protection lotion, this is very important ladies. Spin around in trendy summer styles by mixing and matching up different items with halter-neck tops. You can see a good example of a perfect colored halter top at Torrid.com: in stock at the moment they have a brown halter-neck, which can be easily matched up with a pair of jeans, trousers, skirt or capris pants!

Green is a particularly popular colour this season, so go for chocolate, gold and forestry colors which can easily be matched with green.

Accessories should be an important part of your wardrobe this season also: be ready to stock up on some fun, exotic and feathery earrings, necklaces and bracelets. What’s very popular are peacock feather earrings.

And don’t forget those trendy pair of metal sunglasses! Besides protecting your eyes from the blazing sun, I think sunglasses are a vital part of a summer outfit, as they complete a look and style. Retro and metal styled sunglasses are sizzling hot this season.

By: Maya Matthews

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Whether you’re spending time relaxing on a beach, touring a European city or reading outside in your own back yard, you’ll want to be feeling fashionable. Check out these tips for creating the most beautiful and trendy summer wardrobe.

- This year invest in a classic Parisian striped top. It will go with everything in your wardrobe, from high waisted shorts to 50s style tapered trousers. Pop it on when you want to look elegant and expensive, and add a straw hat for a Venetian twist.

- Hair styles for summer 2010 are inspired by braids. Whether you do a large messy fishtail side braid in the style of Alexander Wang’s New York show or create a vintage braided updo in the style of Rochas girls, keep experimenting with different plaits for different occasions.

- The crew neck is the neckline of the season, and thank goodness, because this means that gorgeous tanned legs can be shown off to their full advantage whilst you remain elegant and classy. Keep your t-shirts long sleeved as well as high necked, and for extra fashion points invest this season in a high-waisted skirt to mix and match with your multicoloured shirts.

- Learn the art of draping and wrapping, if you want to look super chic this summer. Donna Karan’s runway was filled with artistic fabric movements and styles, which you can replicate at home by being a bit more experimental and maybe even creating your own chiffon wrapped bodycon dress. Keep the colours neutral for the most subtle effect.

- Blonde hair is the ultimate summery compliment to fresh glowing skin. Take a visit to your hairdresser to get some subtle highlights added that will catch the sun’s rays on a hot day by the beach. And keep drinking lots of water so that your skin looks hydrated and fresh.

- Classic shapes mixed with modern prints make for a very pretty but edgy look. Combine lace and sharp tailoring for a similar effect or bright contemporary colours with feminine cuts, and look to Erdem’s SS10 show for inspiration.

- Lace is definitely big for this season, as the ‘underwear as outerwear’ trend continues in high streets as well as on the catwalk. Lace edging on a vest top is a simple way to add it to your wardrobe, or look for a pretty 60s style cream lace dress with a silk slip underneath.

- Neutrals are set to be a big trend for the autumn/winter season, so if you want to start building a wearable wardrobe for the whole year, look to colours like camel, cream, beige, ivory, taupe, peach, nude and antique rose.

By: Alissa E Carter

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Summer 2009 brings with it crisp white clothes, sexy bikinis, gorgeous resort wear and makeup with pretty color. Accessories are flamboyant. The look is decadent.

How does that translate to packing for a beach vacation during the recession?

Less is more. Go minimal. But don’t sacrifice your style.

Start with a bikini. The quintessential summer essential. At very least, bring along a swimsuit.

The bikini top can double up as a sexy summer top when you are away from the swimming pool or the beach. Throw on a sarong, tied around your hips as a low slung skirt and you have classic beach wear that is timeless.

Bikini tops go beautifully with regular skirts as well. So 1 bikini can be worn so many ways. You can swim in it. Or you can wear the top with sarongs, scarves or skirts as classic resort wear that will take you through many summers to come.

If you have stretch marks on your stomach, which make you self conscious if you were to wear a bikini, try a tankini instead. The top can double up as a tank top for summer.

If you have a tummy you want to hide, wear a one-piece swimsuit that holds in your tummy. Try a miraclesuit. The beauty of that one-piece swimsuit is that it can double up as a body suit when you are out of the pool. Just throw on a skirt or shorts.

Why not get all 3. A bikini for the sexy, mid-riff baring top. A tankini for a summer-friendly tank top. A one-piece swimsuit you can wear as a bodysuit. These are all the tops you need for your holiday, which you can wear virtually anywhere on your holiday.

Talking about shorts, bring along a pair of shorts for your vacation. That goes with your three swimsuit tops.
For evenings out, bring a long black skirt you can wear to dinners.

The next thing to get is the little white dress. That replaces the little black dress is Summer 2009′s must have dress. The LWD (Little White Dress) would take you from day to night. From a casual day out to a romantic dinner for two in a fancy restaurant.

Makeup wise, scale down and get pretty with pink. One pink or coral lip and cheek color is all you need. You know, those two in one color sticks or cream blushes you can use on lips and cheeks for rosy color. If your lashes are already black, that color stick is all you need. If your lashes are light, add in one mascara and you’re done for summer.

Since you will be out in the sun, don’t forget the sunblock. Make it at least SPF 15. The sun’s UV rays can seriously damage your skin and age you before your time, so be vigilant and use that sunblock all day long.

Finally, wear a pair of a giant pair of earrings. Earrings are easier to pack in than necklaces or bracelets, since you can pack them into a coin purse. Hey, you could bring more than one pair for more looks this vacation.

Going on a vacation doesn’t mean you have to stick to only the bare basics. Accessorize!

Bring along a pair of heels to go with your white dress. Thong sandals go with your bikini at the beach. A sarong or huge scarve can be worn as a skirt.

By: Janice Tham

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