PICKS OF THE WEEK

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This weeks top three picks from the high st are getting me in the mood for a holiday. Check them out below.

I love this Stars and Stripes t-shirt from Topman! Tourist prints are still going strong on the high st, with many retailers introducing the trend into their spring/summer collections. This print is the follow on from tourist prints which is a nod to patriotism. Union Jack prints are also coming through thick and fast, with inspiration coming from the Olympics and the Queen's diamond jubilee.

The sun has certainly had his hat on this week so what great timing to discover these Pull & Bear sunglasses. Okay, so they're not Ray-Bans but at this price, who cares?! The cool leopard print arms give the sunglasses a cool edge.

Yes they are pink swim shorts. I'm not denying they're bright and confidence is a must to swagger around in them, not that I'm justifying my pick. Instead, responding to some of things that are probably going through your mind. A lot of designers used pink trousers and shorts in their S/S12 collections and for those of you who are following them, these are a great buy. I've been a fan of Republic's White Label for a while now as it offers affordable, great quality fashion options and this is no exception.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Spring is on our doorstep and the high st is gearing up for warmer times ahead with shorts and t-shirts starting to fill the stores.

The 'Global Traveller' look is really starting to build now with Aztec prints, backpacks, wovens and moccasins being the key pieces to look out for.

Two of my picks from the high st this week will sit perfectly into the 'Global Traveller' look and the third pick is from the trend which is showing no signs of stopping, the tourist print.

I love the t-shirts from Pull and Bear. Not only do they produce great prints which fit perfectly but they are so affordable. This tourist print is a cool take on the trend and a nice change to the usual New York skyline prints which have dominated the high st.

You have to give Burton credit. This season they are flexing their fashion muscles and proving that Arcadia has two menswear brands to be proud of. This Aztec print hoodie is a great up style for this seasons most versatile piece and it's perfect for the 'Global Traveller' look.

I need these woven shoes in my life! The colour and leather will look great with ikat shirts, Aztec prints and chino shorts. If ASOS is reading, I'll have mine in a size 9! Thanks!

GLOBAL TRAVELLER

The look, which I am calling 'Global Traveller' has been building for some time. I first mentioned Aztec prints in the beginning of January and since then they have been all over the high st. Not that I'm claiming to be responsible for it's success, more pleasantly surprised. I was initially cautious to post about Aztec prints as some of the styles have been quite wild, which for menswear, never usually translates into mainstream success. Although, I think that the growing popularity of fairisle every A/W and the introduction to Navajo prints earlier on in the season have paved the way for this Global Traveller look.

The look is made up of lots of elements and is slighty complex, more so than the nautical look for instance. The key pieces for this look are Aztec prints, moccasins, backpacks, woven (belts, shoes, accessories) and Ikat shirts. Ikat is a dyeing technique (similar to tie-dye) which uses a resist dyeing process. This technique results in creating amazing prints with an ethnic feel.

I will be approaching this look with the word 'balance' in mind. Whilst I would love to be able to throw together an Ikat shirt with some Aztec shorts, woven moccasins and a backpack and look instantly amazing, sadly I know that this won't be the case. Instead, I will try and create balance by wearing my Aztec/Ikat prints with a basic and use accessories and colour to give the look a global feel.

ASOS are launching their new trend 'Laurel Canyon' soon and this image is a great example of how to wear the look.

‘ASOS have been heavily influenced by 70s west coast America for SS12, resulting in a range of psychedelic ikat shirts. The shirts are washed to give an authentic look and feel, a key element of our Laurel Canyon Trend’ Marty Thorne MW designer.



Here are some Global Traveller pieces available on the high st now.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

For this weeks top three picks from the hight st, I have gone for a 1970's vibe. The inspiration has come from Topman Design's S/S collection which is a mix of bohemian eastern influences.

The key piece is the silk shirt below, but if you're not that committed to the look you can take inspiration from the other pieces and build them into a style you're more comfortable with.

Pieces like this, make me really excited about menswear this year. To say that this shirt will be a 'Marmite' part of the Topman Design collection, is an understatement. You will either, love it or hate it. Although I couldn't see myself wearing it, I think it's a great statement shirt and a bold move in the right direction for Topman Design.

These shorts are a great versatile item that will sit into multiple trends this S/S. The stripes allow them instant access to the nautical club, the style means that they can tag along to the global traveller look and the colour gives them 1970's credentials. To work the 1970's look would mean using clashing prints and fabrics against them which can be tricky.

I love this colour block t-shirt from Pull & Bear. Infact I love nearly all the t-shirts they have in their current collection. Not only are they reasonably priced but the colours are perfect for the 1970's look.

FIVE WAYS TO WEAR COLOURED CHINOS

I often get asked for help and advice on Twitter about everything from summer footwear to current trends. Yesterday I received this call for help and I think it's something that a lot of you will be able to relate to.

Coloured chinos and jeans are a big look on the high st right now. Whilst its easy to pick a colour or style of trousers that suits you, the challenge comes with finding something to wear with them. Some of you will have a natural eye for what colours work well together, so wearing coloured chinos will be a walk in the park. For those who've struggled to think of more than one outfit to pair with your trousers, hopefully my five outfit suggestions using the same chinos will help you!

I've based every outfit around these red chinos from Burton.