pictures from style.com

There may be a recession but Diane Von Furstenberg’s resort collection for 2009 was definitely up beat. It is summer, the weather is gorgeous and the sun is out, what is there to be miserable about? This resort collection is for next summer anyway and who knows things may seem a lot brighter economically by then.

The name of the collection is a resort collection after all and that suggests it is all about holidays. Perhaps these are not the sort of clothes that you would wear every day but worth investing in for a treat. I love the candy colours, graphic patterns and the simple but flattering styles. Diane Von Furstenberg has been well known for her wearable and flattering dresses ever since she designed the much copied wrap dress.  This collection was more about the draped dress with plenty of tropical bright chiffon to add to the appeal. This resort collection is definitely about what she does best, real clothes to make real women feel great.

This pink draped top from Marks and Spencers is perfect if you want something bright and draped for your holiday like the pieces in the Diane Von Furstenberg collection.

At the spring summer catwalk shows many designers decided to rebel against the doom and gloom of  the financial climate and  brighten up proceedings with some of my favourite colour - hot pink.

Hot pink can be used to describe a range of pinks from Fuscia to cerise and neon. It just doesn’t include those pale and sugary pale pinks. Hot pink is just about the most flamboyant colour that you can get and is perfect for girls who like to get noticed.

The best thing about hot pink is that when you wear it, it will brighten up your day and that of everyone you meet. The perfect colour for cheering yourself up - give it a try.

Hot pink looks great on its own, with neutral shades of beige or with bright tangerine oranges.

Richard Nicholl - Hot pink looks great in this dress with a bit of bright orange and pale pink.

Luella - Luella combines a bright pink with lavender coloured lace for a very feminine look.

Diane Von Furstenberg - The combination of hot pink and brightly coloured patterns makes this outfit rich and interesting.

Max Mara - the shiny finish of this hot pink outfit makes it impossible to miss. Definitely not for shy retiring types.

Jucca - this hot pink chiffon top is perfect for an evening out.

The wrap dress is one of those items that almost every woman has or certainly should have in her wardrobe. It does something amazing for the figure and I am not quite sure how but it narrows the waist and gives a very slim silhouette. Perhaps something to do with the diagonal lines of the fabric wrapping around the body and tying at the narrowest part of the waist.

The wrap dress was invented by Diana Von Furstenberg and she will always be a fashion legend because of it. There are so many different versions of the wrap dress available. With prints, plain, with ruffles and a knitted version in cashmere, the wrap dress really can be worn for almost any occasion. I have always though of the wrap dress as a very grown up item of clothing but it also exudes a maturity that comes when someone starts to realise which clothes really suit their figure and look great.

For a casual look a wrap dress looks great with a vest top in a contrasting colour worn underneath.

For a more dressy occassion, this Belle and Bunty Silk Wrap dress looks amazing.

I just had to post about the DVF show at New York Fashion week. Diane is one of my favourite designers and I love her clothes for their sheer, feminine, wearability. If I had loads of money to spend on designer clothes each season (which I don’t), I would probably buy something from her collection every season. I have long lusted after her gorgeously flattering wrap dresses which reappear season after season and are much copied and imitated.

 The collection had a definite bohemian feel about it and I loved the long loose hair with flowers and feathers hanging from long leather cords- definitely a look I will be trying out next Spring Summer. To my delight the collection was almost entirely made up of dresses in bright happy tropical shades.

This light and floaty dress has a great print. I love the simplicty of it and I could defintely wear it all summer long.

This dress is amazin pschedlic looking and  the gold jacket aswell sunglasses would definitely be recommended to protect the eyes.

This dress is the ultimate in flower power and the gorgeous flowers in the hair really complete the look.

pictures from style.com

To get this look next summer I will be attaching leather cords, silk flowers and feather to a simple hairband.