SS12 LOOKBOOKS : H&M

 H&M have become the first of the high street stores to have released their Spring Summer lookbook and it's a fresh and colorful insight to fashion on the high street next season. You would be forgiven for forgetting that H&M also have stores to run outside the Versace and Marni collections which are taking up a lot of press at the moment. When I saw the collection, I did take a minute to remember there are other clothes in the store! Bad as that sounds....

 Designs are minimal, easy to wear basics which can be mixed together to create a really fresh summery look.  I personally like that sleeveless zip waistcoat/jacket above.

 Amongst the collection of white pieces, were highlighter tones of acid yellows and greens which are also played against white to lighten the palette. Dresses have collars, shirts and jumpers have lost their sleeves while accessories are chunky, silver or wooden.

 There are a lot of kimono style tops or tunics over trousers, this featured heavily in the SS catwalks too. It's a real early 00s fashion which I hoped had seen the error of its ways back then, but no, it's back. So prepare to relive the horror once more. H&M seem to present it in a 60s Eastern influence with lots of beige colors, silks and delicate patterns though. Just for the love of god avoid cropped, harem or flared trousers underneath a tunic. If it's swingy, loose, A line or just plain oversized then you need to counteract the shape and team it with something that shows the shape of your legs like skinny jeans or leggings.

 I can't recall there being any more purple then this for some reason. But this cute little playsuit is just gorgeous. I really love the slightly clashy purple shades placed together with another Japanese influence - the obi belt.  The obi belt comes up every now and again in fashion and usually in winter collections for some reason, but this is just a really cute little number for going out in. It doesn't even need much styling - it works so well on its own.

The collection will start to launch in the next few months