As a society, we need to come to terms with the fact that we have no chance of looking as good during winter as we do in summertime. I say this with confidence and appropriate research because I’ve tried it all. I’ve tried wearing those Acne Studios eclectic scarf dupes, I’ve tried all the different colours of puffers that exist, I’ve tried baseball caps (and yes, I am aware of how ridiculous I look wearing a baseball cap when the sun hasn’t touched British ground for three consecutive weeks). In a moment of weakness, I’ve also tried beanies. But regardless of how many flamboyant colours I wear, I never quite manage to get that glow, liveliness, and effervescent beauty that I usually possess during the summertime (I am not a narcissist at all, thank you very much).

Winter, for me, is the seasonal equivalent of a retail shop’s changing room: my hair suddenly turns drier than my supervisor’s feedback, my makeup turns cakey (no sweetness included, unfortunately), and I seem to lose all ability to use a lip liner. And I’m quite sure the same might be true for you (if not, you might as well stop reading this article, you perfect human being). Here’s the thing: although the STEM fanatics currently reading this might argue that everything I’ve described is just a natural result of low temperatures, I have a different theory as to the true cause of this winter-special physical disparagement. Cold light. Also known as severe deprivation from the wonder that is sunlight. So here’s my thesis: it’s not necessarily that we all look better in summer – it’s that we all look better when the sun is out.

“It’s not necessarily that we all look better in summer – it’s that we all look better when the sun is out”

Think about it. When the sun is out, we don’t really have to worry about whether our jewellery actually matches – the sunlight reflecting off it will scare away any potential ugliness that might arise from a mismatch. We don’t have to stress over how we’ve styled our hair, since the light’s reflection on it hides all the frizziness and the dead ends the three terms in Cambridge have left behind. Do I care that I’m wearing black and navy in the same outfit? Absolutely not – they both look cool in warm light. Our tops are a bit see-through? We get our little cheeky ‘oops’ moment in the sun.

But this sunlight does not last forever – especially not in Britain. Appearance-wise, you really have to make the most of the few glorious moments of sunshine you get. Lucky for you, I’ve got just the guide to help you and your clothes glow and shimmer in the summer sun!

It’s not my intention today to make any enemies by taking too radical a stance in the gold jewellery vs silver jewellery debate. That said, gold is infinitely superior. During summer, at least. Silver is nice, but its appeal peaks in cool light, while gold is famed for its ability to shine in the sun. Don’t go for yellow gold, though – it tends to look a bit too ostentatious. Plus, you still want to be able to wear your jewellery in winter (and gold yellow in the background of the bare trees in autumn and winter is a no-go). Go for a subtler, champagne-ish gold. I’m a big sucker for oversized jewellery and consider it a great way to stand out during the summer (think about it: you’re literally walking down the street and reflecting light in all directions), but small, elegant earrings, necklaces and rings do the same job. If you really like silver jewellery, pair it with gold – this way, you also get a pass at calling yourself unique.

Do you need to do anything to your hair for it to look good in the summertime? Objectively, no. But then again, you only get approximately one month of sunshine, so this is the time to go all out. When picking out the different accessories you might use in your hair, follow this single-word incentive: shimmery. Oversized scrunchies are lovely, but don’t let them always define your hair-style. Try out some gold or pearl french clips, some metallic gold bobby pins or barrettes. They will maximise your hair’s glow and shield it from the wind: a clear double-win. Additionally, if there ever was a perfect moment to start using glitter hair spray, this is it.

“You should do the sunshine justice by mirroring its brightness through your garments”

And finally, for the pièce de résistance, let’s talk wardrobe. I really do believe that if the sun is out, there’s no way you could look bad – regardless of what you’re wearing. That said, you should do the sunshine justice by mirroring its brightness through your garments. Black is allowed only if paired with light-blue jeans and a lot of jewellery. White is a classic – and a welcome one. So is cream. Beige is a no-go – even if it’s in your colour palette (whatever that is) – you don’t want to waste your skin’s glow by veiling it with something that screams passivity. Speaking of screaming: don’t be afraid to wear more vocal colours – yellows, reds, dark blues, browns. If you were waiting for me to say pink, I love to disappoint: I said screaming, not shrieking. Go for pale or orangey pinks, and please, stay away from anything fuchsia-esque.

I hope the guidance I’ve provided will help you stylistically navigate the summer months and enjoy the little intimacy you get to have with the sun. But, in the end, the chicness of summer fashion comes from the laissez-faire attitude you pair it with. Nothing is more stylish than an outfit or a hairstyle that screams: “I was so excited the sun was out this morning, I just threw on some random clothes”. At the end of the day, if you feel hot, you look hot.