Whether you’re spending time relaxing on a beach, touring city in a European or reading outside in your own back yard, you’ll want to be feeling fashionable. Check out these tips for making or 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 girls in Rochas, test and 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, luxurious and classy. Keep your t-shirts long sleeved as well as high necked, and for extra more fashion points invest in 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 delicate effect.

- Blonde hair is the ultimate summery compliment to bright 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 plenty of water so that your skin looks hydrated and fresh.

- Classic shapes mixed with modern prints make for a very pretty but edgy look. Combining lace and sharp tailoring and embroidery for a similar effect or bright contemporary colours with modern feminine cuts, and search for 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.