Women's Summer Style Guide: Summer 2008

The weather's heating up and so should your wardrobe! It's time to brush up on what's in for this summer. From shoes  to skirts,  from office  to runway, this is your complete guide to fashion,  summer 2008.

Fashion Trends for Summer 2008 

Top Picks for Summer 2008
Stars and Stripes Stars  are the trendiest shape this season. Jewelry  shaped like stars are in, as are star prints  and stripes.  The ultimate effect is sort of chic preppy look.	Let's go on a Safari Safari  inspired fashion is huge right now. Classic trench coats  in laid-back beige colours are making their way onto city streets and store windows. Waists are cinched, buttons  are brass and colours are natural this season.	Mini Floral Prints Floral prints  are always in for summer, but this summer focuses on tiny, English rose-like floral prints  rather than the huge in-your-face flowers of summers before. Short dresses  that are girly and floaty and have a tiny floral design  are in, especially paired with accessories that are nerdy and comic book like, such as large rimmed glasses.  Luella's floral dress  is being hailed as one of the biggest pieces of the summer.	Paint Drips Mini floral prints  a little too cute for you? Don't worry, artistic paint drips  and abstract art  are all the rage. Bold pieces that appear as if Pollock  got into a Monet  watercolour painting  can be seen in new Dolce & Garbana  and French Connection  pieces. Tie-dye  is also back, but in a more toned-down way; think more watercolour than 1960s hippie.	Gladiator inspired shoes Gladiator-like shoes  with large buckles  in cream or black have taken the runway by storm! Peep-toe shoes  are huge this summer as well. Valentino  and other designers endorsed giant wedges.  Colours ranged from crazy mixtures to simple and classic neutrals, but the one thing in common was that they pushed the height of the wedge to a new extreme. The bigger the better! Sandals  that have straps that tie around the ankles are popular this season as well.

Show off your Underwear Well, sort of. Boudoir  seduction is a huge trend right now, with celebrities wearing barely-there dresses  with bra-like tops.  Look for corset-like dresses  and tops.  Lacy sheer chiffon  or other materials commonly seen in lingerie  are big on dresses,  tops,  and skirts  this summer.	Oversized Clutches Celebrities and runway models are sporting oversized clutches  this season. The material, pattern, and colour matters little with this trend, so you can choose one (or many) to match every outfit. The only rule: go big! The bigger the better (or at least the more stylish) is the only key to having a trendy bag this summer.	Ruffles Ruffles  are getting bigger! We saw some smaller ruffles this spring on stars like Kate Hudson,  but get ready for oversized ruffles!  The key to mastering this trend is to only ruffle up one item. You'll like ridiculous if you wear everything with ruffles, of course. Keep the rest of your outfit simple and opt for oversized ruffles on a skirt,  shirt,  dress,  or tank top.  This trend is especially good news for flat-chested women, as ruffles tend to add extra dimension to the chest.	Skinny No More Put your skinny jeans  away (though I wouldn't suggest throwing them out, as they will probably be back again within the next five years) ladies. It's time to welcome back wide leg pants  and flare jeans. .. again. Top designers like Prada  have ditched the abnormally tight legs trend and opted for wide leg pants with a higher waist  and a belt.  Skinnier flares  are going to be more popular than full-blown bell bottoms.  Pair wide leg pants with heels.	Get Chunky This summer is all about less jewelry -- that says more. It's time to invest in chunkier jewelry  that brings a bold statement to your outfit. Gold  is very much in style this summer, as are chunky cocktail rings,  bangles  and cuffs.  Ethnic  elements are in, as are crests  and coat of arms  symbols. Art deco  shapes and stars  are taking the runways and red carpets by storm, as are turquoise against gold  and jewelry with ancient Greek,  Egyptian,  Asian,  and Indian  motifs.

External Links

• FemaleFirst.co.uk-- The hottest summer trends  seen on the runway and red carpet.
• Fashionising.com-- The biggest styles of 2008 and beyond. Predicts the longevity of these trends.
• Vogue.co.uk-- Browse the electronic version of one of the biggest fashion magazines of all time.
• Elleuk.com-- The website for Elle magazine in the UK. Find out all the new fashion and beauty trends.
• Cosmopolitan.co.uk-- Comprehensive fashion, beauty, and lifestyle advice.
• GlamourMagazine.co.uk-- Find fashion, health, gossip, and makeup tips here.
• Fashion-era.com-- Key to summer 2008 fashion.
• Squidoo.com-- The biggest runway fashions.
• Ezinearticles.com-- All about the safari fashion trend. 
• AssociatedContent.com-- An article on spring and summer fashion trends in 2008.
• TheStar.co.uk-- Top five biggest fashion trends this season.