T H E S H I R TJust like jeans, the fashion mileage yet to run on the humble (or, with the right designer, not-so-humble) white shirt seems in no danger of nearing its end. Summer or winter, business or pleasure, dress-up or day off … the white shirt’s range is as broad as fashion week is long, as shown by the new season’s cornucopia of choices. Just when we thought there were surely no new ways to reinterpret this staple, SS15 showed us this well is far from dry. Masculine options, such as this Donna Karan design worn by Helena Christensen or the offerings of J. Crew, Saint Laurent, Juliette Hogan and Equipment, retain the white shirt’s versatility and timelessness while, conversely, keeping it unambiguously feminine.

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k n I T w E a RHas any other fashion category undergone the ugly duckling-to-swan crossover to quite the same extent as knitwear? Its rebirth continues apace as designers take it further from the clichés of clumsy cold-climate swaddling or ill-chosen gift, and elevate it to the realms of stylish, luxurious, cool, dressy and even – who knew? – sexy. Materials, too, have come a long way since the term “knit” recalled those harsh, rash-inducing fleeces, and now include unexpected fabrications and all-year seasonality: cotton, linen, cashmere, leather and even neoprene. Labels to look to include Equipment (worn here by Christensen), Isabel Marant, Sabatini, Standard Issue and Sills.

lET ThEREbE whiTE The style rules have been rewritten and it’s time to reinvest in your wardrobe. Meet the gamechangers of the season. woRdS danielle seitz

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T H E d R E S SMove over LBD: there’s a new kid on the go-to occasion dress block and it’s just as deft at holding its own for a hot date, dinner party, or anything else that calls for a cocktail of no-nonsense sex appeal and fierce individuality. The stunning Cushnie et Ochs off-shoulder number, paired with Gianvito Rossi heeled courts, seen here on Christensen doesn’t so much whisper “So which yacht is yours?” as announce “We’ll take my helicopter”. A similar not-to-be-messed-with (unless invited) spirit can be found in new-season little white dresses from Camilla and Marc, Thierry Mugler, TK, Trelise Cooper, Carlson and Zac Posen.

o n E - P I E c EFashion is about, if nothing else, versatility. (Don’t let the price of that beautifully inaccessible one-use haute couture masterpiece tell you otherwise.) So what’s not to love about the idea of repurposing swimwear for dry-land use? A classic-style white one-piece swimsuit, such as the Tomas Maier piece worn here by Christensen, or options from the likes of Eres, Camilla and Marc and Zimmermann, belongs just as easily in the pool as it does reimagined as a chic basque. Just team with cargo pants, chunky bangles and achingly cool sunglasses for a quick beach-to-bar update.

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THE TRouSERBoyish trousers have been the first port of call for stylish girls since Katharine Hepburn made them her trademark in the ’40s. While designers have worked every interpretation of the staple in the intervening decades, white is probably the least-seen hue for trousers. But new offerings, such as the Adam Lippes chinos Christensen wears here, Christian Dior’s loose-waisted cigarettes, or Ralph Lauren’s satin jeans, give white pants a new lease on life. Add loafers, a wide-brimmed hat and a smart nautical watch for the ideal boating ensemble. Shirt optional.

T H E S a n d a lSun, surf, sand … and sandals. Does anything say summer more than shoes you can kick off and carry on one finger while you stroll the surf’s edge, or slip on to sip a daiquiri somewhere expensive enough to issue its own postcards? Birkenstocks, seen here on Christensen, might be the Mercedes-Benz of sandals (reliable, well-designed and falling just short of being “fashionable”), but Givenchy, Céline and Ziera have given the same idea a Porsche-with-the-top-down update. All you need is a bright varnish for your toes and a cocktail menu.

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photographer helena christensen at mindfoodstyle.com. CA

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