These must-have accessories will refresh your summer wardrobe

From lapel pins to pocket squares, don't let the heat affect your cool

After the recent heatwave, the British were rudely awakened to some harsh truths about our summer dressing. There is nothing harder than keeping your cool – both literally and sartorially – when the sun comes out, but accessories are a great way to heighten your style over the simple shorts and shirt staple adopted by the masses.

From leather-trimmed belts to the finest scarves, nobody knows how to create these summertime touches better than Ted Baker, and with their up to half-price sale now on, there is no better time to refresh your wardrobe. So take a look, and allow the native fashion house to show you how to best do the Great British Summer.

Hints of colour, and accessories that don’t cause overheating are invaluable during the summer months. A pocket square, such as this geo print example below, will bring interest to your outfit without adding another layer. And, if you don’t mind the heat, a scarf is the perfect lightweight addition – and easily taken off when the mercury rises.

As with pocket squares, a great way to introduce a pop of colour or texture into any outfit is by spicing things up with a statement belt. Summer, the season of the woven belt, gives you an incredible range of options – but these two warmly-coloured examples are our top picks.

Some use the hotter weather as an excuse to drop their dressing standards in the office, and opt for open collar over a tidy tied-up look. Don’t fall into this trap. Unless it’s hefty and knitted, how much difference is a tie really going to make? And, with warmer weather and the blazing sun, you can experiment with colours and patterns during the summer months more so than any other time.

With the sun in the sky, any glint or glimpse of something shiny will be caught in the light and add a touch of sparkle to your outfit. Try this understated arrow lapel pin for a subtle hint of gold, or go for a more casual accessory, such as this leather hook bracelet, for a more off-duty look.

Unless you ascribe to the growing sockless style, then your socks are an important part of summer dressing. Forget your winter woollen ones, and instead opt for something lighter – that will inevitably be on show given it is the season of turn-ups and crops. So go loud or go home with our picks below.

The flat-cap has seen something of a resurgence of late. And, be this thanks to the incredible Peaky Blinders, or simply because it is the perfect stylish alternative to a summer baseball cap, you’ll want to be investing. These two options offer both sides of the spectrum: plain and understated, or bright and a looser fit.

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