All white, all cream and a mix of both. So chic. So perfect for summer. It’s an incredibly easy way to dress too. If you are wearing all-white separates, then make sure that the whites are the same and if you are going to throw cream into the mix, there should be a definite contrast between the white and the cream. And that’s it for the ‘rules’! You’re good to go.

Separates, as apposed to a dress, are a la mode this summer. A two-piece has more life in it than a dress as you can wear the top and bottoms separately. I love thinking of as many ways as possible to wear an outfit. Matching pieces worn together tends to be the smartest way of doing it but put the top with trousers and the skirt with a t-shirt and you have yourself a much more casual look. I would put both mine and mum’s tops with either white or cream jeans - preferably cut on the ankle. If you’re tall (or happy to wear heels) then mum’s top would look amazing with wide leg trousers too (like these for example).

I also wanted to talk to you about sunglasses. Make sure that your sunglasses are great - ideally cool. Unfortunately there is a trap that many of us fall into as we get older. Our eyesight goes and so sunglasses require proper lenses which is costly. As a result we often go for the ‘safest’ pair so that the glasses go with everything. I totally get this but can I implore you to stop! Leave the ‘safe’ practical ones back on the shelf and grab the amazing ones that first caught your eye. Go with your heart and not your head. I’ve said it before but glasses/sunglasses are such a great way of keeping your overall look contemporary.

Buy the sunglasses that make you feel cool in every outfit that you wear.

Anna Murphy wrote a really good article in The Times this week about fashion being an excellent anthropological study. She wrote ‘I know what a difference your clothing choices can make both in terms of how you feel about yourself and how you are seen by others. To appear contemporary means, whether you like it or not, that you are more likely to be judged to be up to date in other ways by those around you. This becomes especially important as you age. At 50 I have come to understand in a way that I didn’t at 30 what an incredible cliche busting tool clothes can be’. I love this and I want you all to feel inspired to have fun with clothes and to really embrace this age defying resource that is available to us all.

And for those of you who might be feeling a bit lost at sea, please do stick around. I have every intention of helping you out of any ruts that you have found yourself in. Do also remember that I am at the end of an email should you want to ask me something specific. I’ll always try my best to help!

One last thing, this jacket that you see both mum and me in is from Uniqlo and is incredible value at £34.90. For those of you who have followed Graham St for a while, you will know that we love a little versatile jacket that can pull together a simple outfit into something more contemporary. This one is a goodie.

My other PSA is that if you would like to wear a heel this summer but find them quite uncomfortable or impractical then an espadrille with a wedge is your answer! The ones that I am wearing are from Castaner and are the best in my opinion (they do different wedge heights as well as a myriad of colours) but the high street are doing cheaper versions that also look pretty damn good. Try these or these.

P.S. Don’t miss the shopping/inspiration edit at the bottom of the this post….. this week is a white out….

Photography by Alexandra Mooney

Sue’s wears…

Blouse, £100, Levete Room at Wild Swans

Skirt, old but alternative here

Jacket, £34.90, Uniqlo

Ballerina pumps, old but similar here

Sunglasses, £105, Ollie Quinn

Hannah wears…

Blouse, £55, Arket

Shirt, £69, Arket

Espadrilles, £85, Castaner

Sunglasses, £105, Ollie Quinn

SOME MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT…..