August favourites

Sunday September 6 2026, 12:32pm

The sun is beginning to set earlier and the long stretch of heatwaves has ended in a curtain of autumnal drizzle. After a month of frozen cocktails and sunbathing on garden lawns, the Fashion writers have been musing about what they loved in August

Scarlett, Fashion editor

In spite of all the croc haters out there, I am proud to say that I love my pink crocs, and that they are definitely my most worn shoe at the moment. I cannot fault them. They’re undeniably practical, with there being very few situations I’ve found myself in where they fall short. You can slip them on effortlessly to mill around the garden or to pop to the shops; they’re the perfect beach shoe; and pair them with a pair of socks and you can wear them to go for a walk or for a day out. I also deem them to be stylish: I’ve enjoyed adding pops of colour to my summer outfits, with pink being one of my favourite colours to wear this time of year. I will shamelessly die on the hill that crocs are not the fashion faux pas people make them out to be.

Rachel, Fashion editor

“Crocs are not the fashion faux pas people make them out to be”

Recently, one of my friends announced that she is planning to get a blackberry tattoo, and thus reminded me of why this particular hedgerow treasure is the chicest of all fruits. Deliciously described by Mary Oliver as ‘the black honey of summer’, these tart, prickly jewels gather all the hot, heady sweetness of August into their gorgeous deep inky purples and maroons. (If you cook with them you’ll appreciate their colour even better.) Their strong stems and thin spines create an elegant structure; the muted sage of their leaves complements the ripe berries. But blackberries also evoke the allure – and danger – of the wild: they’re always just slightly out of reach, and you won’t escape without a few scratches.

Minnie, Fashion writer

The never-ending heat across the UK this summer seems far better matched to a tropical island in the Caribbean than a Northern European archipelago known for endless rain and cold. Instead of relaxing on the beach, soaking up every last second of sun, we are packed like sardines onto tube lines that reach north of 35 degrees, and forced to go about our everyday lives while sweating like pigs. But my August favourite, Space NK’s Caribbean Shores Shimmer Body Oil, has helped me get those beachy vibes no matter where I am. With dreamy notes of mandarin, coconut, and sandalwood, adding this to my collarbones and arms makes me not only smell amazing, but also provides a shimmering glow which perfects any summer look.

Angel, Fashion writer

Though it may be cliché, my August fashion favourite, and a staple of (admittedly a few too many) outfits recently, has been a pair of bold, chunky sunglasses. Sunny or not, they’re a great way to shield your face from those rogue strands of hair that stick themselves to your lip gloss, and they stylishly balance most summer footwear (you can’t go wrong with the sandwich method)

“The epitome of an elegant summer outfit”

Anyone who knows me knows I’m likewise a sucker for wedges: pair them with your sunnies and you’ve got the epitome of an elegant summer outfit. For the male readers, sunglasses are also a fantastic way to feign a few inches extra height when pushed onto your head. Kaiia The Label’s square sunnies are my personal favourites – especially the coloured lens variants – and are the perfect accessory for that effortlessly cool (and UV protective) summer look.

Rachel

One of my favourite late summer flowers is solidago, commonly known as goldenrod. A freely available, British alternative to the more fashionable mimosa, this wildflower adds structure and warmth to any bouquet. Its dancing, bright yellow spears are stylishly architectural (and pretty majestic), and look as though all the sunbeams of August have amassed on their tiny petals. Plus their fluffy fronds are right on trend, picking up on this season’s love affair with fringe.

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