The Safari Chic Edit - Farfetch.com

As the SS16 season gets well underway, in the UK, the weather seems to have its own agenda despite said season! Enter, the trends that boast the perfect transitional pieces. We’ve all seen the rise of the lightweight bomber jacket, the cold shoulder tops which still allow for seasonality sleeve length while flashing just enough flesh for that traditional Spring/Summer look, and then there’s denim. – The beautifully embroidered pieces that popped up in several shows are everywhere this season. Denim is the all-weather piece, it will always be 'in', every season updated with a new must have shape or style detail, whether it be the distressing we’ve seen over the last few years or the fantastically fun pop culture look, that made it cool to have a spaceship or an emoji on your back pocket this season! 

One trend that really is the saviour from one season to the next is Safari Chic, as featured in the latest Farfetch Editorial . This trend comes back each summer, with some seasons being more heavily influenced by print and others based solely on a safari/military-esque colour pallette. Either way its presence can be felt in all our favourite designers’ collections someway or another.
Silk, tencel & linen fabrics give this trend an effortless spring/summer look, shapes are key, oversized shirts nipped at the waist by buckled belts with leather accents and gold tones. The accessories are all about texture, think Indiana Jones’ rope slung over a shoulder or the details of pattern within an African tribe. The trend is beautifully minimalist pieces, with fabrics being brought to life by texture and print. Shirting is heavy with pockets, creating the perfect summer weight ‘shacket.’ On the other hand lightweight shirts are stripped to complete minimalism, with concealed button fastenings and clean long line hems. You can have as much fun as you want with it, making it the ideal trend to make your own! Here’s a few of the key pieces I've chosen from Farfetch.com to show you ,my favourite aspects of SS16's take on the Safari Chic trend.



This season's classic safari look is all about the added detail to modernise the trend. Patch embroidery has been taken from the military look and fits effortlessly on to utility shirts & playsuits. I particularly love the Valentino butterfly embroidered playsuit (Top left.) The Dsquared2 applique shirt (Second from right,) is also a beautiful example of a modern update on the vintage safari shirt.
Safari jackets have been given a gorgeous update in the form of the Beau Souci Suede Safari Jacket (centre.) This addition of texture takes this classic shape to a transitional investment trend piece, suitable to carry over in to seasons to come. The Givenchy Biker Cloak (Third from left,) is a great innovative piece, the fashion house also produced this shape in classic black leather, this sand coloured option gives a great alternative to the calssic safari jacket shape. Complete the look with a nude purse, these two from J.W.Anderson and Michael Kors - Both give the efficient, yet glam finish to a relaxed look.

The classic safari look is executed perfectly with the addition of texture, colour & print in the form of an accessory! I've chosen my favourite bracelets, guaranteed to give your wrist the perfect wild look to tie in your outfit! As I mentioned before, texture is key to accessorise this trend, beautiful leathers in a variety of shades are prominent this season so finding your favourite has never been easier. Personally I love the Heidi Klein Double Strap bracelet with the addition of a little palm tree engraved on each gold stud! (Worn by model, top right.) Pops of colour can also be found within the accessories, including the Versace Medusa Double Wrap bracelet (Bottom centre.) This gives the trend a fun injection of colour and accentuates the animal print in a modern way. I couldn't help but include the Chloe 'Jane' shoulder bag (Bottom right.) This beautiful suede and leather combination expresses an exotic feel with it's colourful stripes and bright suede tassels.



If a wild accessory isn't enough for you, fear not. Printed pieces are having a moment this season - especially jungle prints. The banana leaf in particular can be seen on everything from these gorgeous Dolce & Gabanna patch jeans to their Printed Dresses and skirts. A crisp white shirt tucked in to the jeans will give you an effortlessly chic look. The vibrant green sits beautifully alongside a tan leather bag also. Leopard print is back again this season, did we doubt! However the updated addition of colour from the ever great catwalk's of Versace and Kenzo amongst others has given a whole new dimension to the animal print trend. I particularly love this Saint Laurent Military Print Jacket (above centre.) Givenchy have also produced a gorgeous green animal print range in several pieces. Finally the feather print by Emilio Pucci is executed in beautiful fabrics, this Feather print skirt gives the flow and elegance as you'd imagine to see in the character of a bird flying free in the wild.

Above clockwise from 12'o'clock - Chloe, Pierre Hardy, Marc Jacobs, Kenzo, Saint Laurent, Heidi Klein, Fendi, Stella McCartney, Charlotte Olympia & Kenzo.

Finally, my favourite summer shoe, the espadrille. The stylish answer to comfort. I've selected 10 of my absolute favourite flat espadrilles from the Farfetch website! My number one has got to be the Stella McCartney 'Rocio' espadrilles - I love the soft print look, keeping it classic yet modern at the same time. I also think the Fendi Bird of Paradise espadrilles are a beautiful easy wearing addition to the delightful  'Bird of paradise' range they produced for SS16. I would live in espadrilles everyday if the UK wasn't so unpredictable with the weather! All I'll say is be prepared to take them off and run down the street in the rain barefoot girls!
On that note, I hope you are inspired to choose your favourites in this beautiful trend! I had so much fun building outfits in my head while selected the key pieces. Be sure to check out the Farfetch Safari Chic Edit here - Now we've decided what to wear, is it time to plan a trip!? 

“The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to.” * Richard Mullin (Origin unknown)

Happy Outfit/Trip planning!

Lindsay x

P.S If you'd like to know who any of the products in the above image collections are by, comment and ask and I'll happily reply with the link!