Fashion: West End girls

Home to the best contemporary independent retailers, the West End is a must-visit for any style-conscious fashionista who wants to the best one-off pieces to rock this summer’s hottest trends.

This season’s Granny chic trend hit the catwalk at the beginning of the year, with designers constructing garments with floral fabrics and bold prints. So dig out your Nan’s pearls and team them with a signature pencil skirt, silk blouse and cashmere cardi.

You could say that the preppy trend is having a bit of a style surge at the moment, but it’s never really found itself in the fashion faux-pas bin either. A true sign of a timeless look, preppy pieces have been cropping up amidst the more whimsical, fast-fashion trends emerging on the high street, and the shops encourage edging up florals and accentuating the scholar style silhouettes that are big news in fashion this season – it’s the perfect mix and match masculine/feminine look.

During recession, the fashion world looks to renew our desire for luxury, so this summer you will also find yourself wrapped in heavenly fabrics and underwear so good you will want to wear it out. Underwear as outerwear is a huge look, with silk vests and midriff skimming camisoles now available in a range of fabulous vivid colours, as well as the soft neutrals hanging on the racks.

Always a staple and always in style, the West End is well and truly on the fashion radar this season, so make sure to visit and discover some of Edinburgh’s best kept shopping secrets.

n For more information on the West End visit www.facebook.com/westendedinburgh