Fashion: For bling and country

Published on Monday 1 June 2009 19:22

JUNE is bursting out all over… and the Scotswoman of style finds her thoughts focusing on the challenge of appropriate dressing for the festive days of the great Scottish summer. Or, more precisely, she's wondering how to retain some sartorial composure in the mudflats of Ingliston or Inverness-shire. For this is a month of Scottish country capers: the Royal Highland Show for cattle and sheep, and RockNess for, erm, Super Furry Animals.

The latter happening is Scotland's coolest little music festival, blessed with the special charm of a setting that could be Nessie's landing strip. For the line-up of music stars (which this year includes The Prodigy, Orbital, Placebo and Basement Jaxx – as well as those Super Furry Animals) will be performing on the shoreline of our most myth-enhanced loch.

As for this month's other big Scottish event… whether you go to Ingliston to gawp at the farm machinery or marvel at the culinary wizardry of Scotland's top cooks, the chances are you'll be treading through slurry. So those strappy Jimmy Choos are really not the shoes to choose. Even rugged Ugg boots are unlikely to be sufficiently tough to cope with underfoot conditions.

Which explains why wellingtons (rather than dainty thong slides or gladiator sandals) are the only truly chic choice for these first weeks of the Scottish summer. The brand to covet is Hunter – most certainly best of breed, and a fine old Scottish name, er, to boot. Now, as ever, they're the option most likely to withstand the challenges of the our challenging terrain and the uncertainties of our weather.

But what to wear from the knees up? Whether your plans involve listening to dance music or picking out a new combine harvester, you might like to fit a suggestion of plaid into your ensemble: Otherwise, consider washed-out neo-vintage florals. There's a great ditzy floral print dress at All Saints that would suit any informal summertime occasion jolly well. Or, for just 25, Next's softly ballooning strappy floral top most certainly boasts more dash than cash.

Denim is key. "Boyfriend" jeans at the RHS (well, you want to look like you've borrowed a handsome farmer's strides, don't you?), shorts, a micro-mini or rompersuit for a convincing stab at that "I'm-with-the-band" look at RockNess.

At either event, you should top off your ensemble with this season's must-have straw trilby, strategically dipped below one eye. For a cute hat worn at a jaunty angle might prove just the thing to distract attention from your mud-spattered feet.