Admittedly, Durham doesn’t have many shops, but you can find bargains in those they do have- and I mean real bargains, not Jack Wills prices (I’m not sure my student budget quite stretches that far to be honest…). Dollyrocks and New Look have both been recently renovated, and both the interior of the shops and the clothes look fabulous, spotlighting trends that have been seen on many spring/summer catwalks. With such reasonable prices, there’s no reason NOT to buy yourself a little happy in the middle of your exams!
Bodycon/Sculptured

Dress: £25, Dollyrocks; Bangle: £10, New Look; Necklace: £8, Miss Selfridge

This gorgeous dress is perfect for a night out without being too restricting, like the majority of bodycon. The peach and yellow panels highlight your best features, and the silk fabric feels fab as well as making the dress more suitable for evening wear. Don’t wear this if you have hang-ups about your thighs- the peach panel at the bottom hem will only serve to emphasize them. The studded bangle toughens up the outfit and gives a nod to the gladiator trend, while the necklace will draw attention to the top of the dress- and cleavage!

Floral
Floral fabrics are everywhere this spring/summer. This structured dress is perfect to be worn during the day, with a slouchy cardigan slung over and a pair of huge sunniers, or for the night, glammed up with towering platforms- not as uncomfortable as they look, and I’ve even dared to climb the Durham hills in them! The metal bangles are eyecatching without detracting attention away from this fab necklace- also giving a sly hint of the nautical trend.

Peplum

Peplum skirts and dresses are popping up everywhere, and are really flattering at hiding heavy hips, if you choose the right cut. This fabric is beautiful and eyecatching, and works well for either day or night. Natural wooden bangles are cropping up time and again on the catwalks this season, and these accessorise the dress without being too much against the bright florals. The statement wooden necklace draws the eye up, which helps elongate and draw attention to your face.

Colour-Pop
Designers have been going crazy for making structured items, from dresses to hats, and this colour-pop skirt is a perfect high-street take on the trend. The colour needs no dressing up, and looks gorgeous teamed with a slouchy-but-dressy grey vest. The belt draws attention to the waist, and the statement necklace kicks the outfit up a notch, perfect against the plain backdrop of the vest. The sexy heels take the outfit from day to night, ticking off both the gladiator and the cage shoe trend in one!

Top: £12, New Look; Skirt: £12, Primark; Headband, £4, New Look; Bangles, model's own

Nautical
Nautical is a trend that seems to be around every summer, but to make it look fresh, nautical items need to be paired with new-season items. This little vest is adorable, and would go perfectly thrown over some slouchy jeans and vertiginous heels. It looks gorgeous with this striking peplum skirt, which is so pretty, and in a lightweight fabric for those summer days. The bangles draw attention to slim wrists, and the cute rope-knot gold headband hints at the nautical trend; this is an outfit that acknowledges the trend without making (ever-so-funny) builders want to shout “Hello Sailor!” at you.

Dollyrocks: The Gates,  01913 867385
New Look: Prince’s Gate, 01913 750564