Welcome to this week’s instalment of Amanda Zips It Up and it’s hot hot.
Men are diving minimally into ‘Speedo Summer’, with short shorts and budgie smugglers on show, from the Balearic beaches to the Portuguese poolsides.
Speedos, budgie smugglers, tightie whities. Whatever you call them, tiny swimwear for men is big business this summer, with searches up 41% in the UK.
GQ has declared 2025 the year of SPEEDO SUMMER while retailers are pushing short-shorts as the halfway house for men ready to dip their toes (or thighs) into the trend.
‘They’re designed to be noticed, they’re not something to wear if you’re a shrinking violet’, the mag comments.
Speedos can be really fun and playful, so why not go to town with the huge variety of prints on offer.
When it comes to “short shorts”, I suggest buying a chino material in the classic male shades, navy or beige, if you’re feeling tentative. You could even try denim, and turn them up to trial a shorter-short without splashing the cash.
The golden rule? Make sure you feel good before you walk out the door.
‘If you’re on the beach, you’ve got to be able to walk with your head high and with confidence in your step,’ says GQ. ‘That’s how you have to rock Speedos.’
As well as holiday season – we’re right in the middle of Festival time… so I have more ideas for you in that department. Enjoy.
Yes, it’s upon us, and if you are prepping for Glastonbury – which starts on the 25th June this year – (or indeed prepping for another festival), packing appropriate clothing that will look stylish, is comfortable, practical and keeps you dry is key. With the current heatwave- I can’t see layering or wellies being necessary, but here goes.
Even if you’re not heading to a week-long festival, and simply venturing to a one-day concert, selecting the right outfit is important. A barely-there top might look chic upon entering a sun-drenched field in the peak of a summer’s day. But, hours later when the main headliner takes to the stage, the sun has gone down, and the temperature has dropped, you can find yourself clutching onto dear friends for body heat and wishing you’d brought extra layers.
Festival dressing is all about layering – and not just to maintain a warm body temperature by adding, or taking off, layers – it can make the outfit. For example, the Western theme has been on trend for some time – you can wear denim shorts, a white tank top and cowboy boots – which are all still IN. In this theme, extra layers such as a checked shirt, fringe waistcoat and denim jacket can elevate the look while also keeping you warm.
Some summer ravers typically opt for trainers or open toe sandals for a festival, but we recommend chunky boots, Western boots or Wellington boots, which will protect your toes from the booze-infused muddy puddles.
Hunter Micah Wellies
A pair of wellies are commonplace at a festival. Whilst some opt for low ankle rise designs, others go for full length that reach just below the knees, but these are a happy medium between both styles. I prefer the mid-length as it provides enough coverage to prevent muddy puddles from seeping in, but not too long they have your calves sweating. Available in four colours, including khaki green, black, neutral and brown, but we prefer the neutral tone that are just a little more chic than the classic black.
Levi’s High Waist Baggy Denim Shorts
Shorts are a favourite for many come festival season, and the high waist is super flattering, but also provides extra coverage, while the longer length delivers comfort, coverage, without being restrictive.
Poppy Delevingne Blue Fringe Jaime Denim Jacket
Poppy Delevingne’s Nobody’s Child collaboration is the epitome of summer dressing and festival season because of the bohemian twist on select designs. The Jaime Denim Jacket is a welcome alternative to the classic oversize denim jacket we live in, but a more durable design instead of a suede fringe jacket that could be ruined in a festival. The fringing is a nod to the Western theme, which is still the look of choice.
Oversized Linen-Blend Shirt
While some may opt for a lumberjack style checked shirt, others may prefer a linen shirt to layer over your outfit – ME! When you want to ditch the layer simply tie around your waist, or slip it on and wear unbuttoned. It’s a practical layer to keep your shoulders covered if the sun is burning your shoulders, or when the evening chill sets in.
Long Lace Skirt
Lace skirts are all the trend right now, and it can be styled for any festival this season for those wanting to nail the bohemian aesthetic. Team with an oversize slogan T-shirt, denim fringe jacket and biker boots for a chic look.
Paisley Satin Scarf
We love a neckerchief, and it’s a great accessory to keep in your festival arsenal because it can double up as a neckerchief, hair tie or belt.
I love a boho basket, and raffia bags are back (did they ever really leave?) They’re hands down the easiest way to give your outfits that laid-back summer vibe.
Lightweight, chic and surprisingly versatile, these are the pieces you’ll be reaching for all season long.
Whether you’re heading on holiday, off to a picnic, or just running errands in the sun, a woven bag instantly pulls everything together.
The Beige Raffia Frame Clutch from River Island is the perfect way to add a touch of texture to your summer wardrobe. With its wooden handles, neutral weave and chain shoulder strap, it’s an effortless day-to-night accessory. Pair it with everything from linen co-ords to evening dresses for a chic, sunshine-ready look.
First Topshop returns, then there was speculation that bandage dresses à la Hervé Léger are making a comeback, and now Jeffrey Campbell’s killer heeled shoe boots have hit the shelves once again. I had pair many years ago and my knees (and dignity) have never been the same. Always falling over.
Gen Z may not recognise the following references, but millennials will no doubt back us when we say that you haven’t lived until you’ve ditched your smartphone in favour of your Samsung flip phone, digital camera, physical cash, concealer lips, your boldest bodycon dress, and last but not least a pair of Jeffrey Campbell’s sky-high studded heeled ankle boots. What a time to be alive!
Now, we know nostalgia is rife, but never did we predict the day when we would be dusting off those sky-high studded heeled ankle boots, especially now that kitten heels are the current flavour for a night out.
Whether you are a millennial reliving the trend , or you’re new to the heeled shoe boot trend, Jeffrey Campbell’s are the cream of the crop.
JEFFREY CAMPBELL Lita Platform in Black
The iconic heeled shoe boot is back. It boasts a sleek black leather exterior, block wooden heel and synthetic sole for comfort, as well as a lace up front. The heel measures 12.7cm in height, and available in UK shoe sizes 3 to 8, though it doesn’t come in half sizes.
And here’s Ronnie in this year’s must-have Sunnies – The Classic Black RayBan Wayfarers.
Welcome To Amanda Zips It Up and your MIDWEEK FASHION FIX.
In fashion news this week, it has been all about the hottest new Fashion Designers at that hotbed of creativity, Central St Martins.
CMS have just had their annual Fashion show at the main building on Granary Square in super cool Kings Cross– showcasing modern up-coming talent and their collections of the futuristic garms we’ll be wearing in years to come.
Starting with The Hover Skirt by Jada Tudor: Central to his collection is the theme of gender-nonconforming, as he is trans and from South Asia. I felt so sorry for the model trying to walk or should I say hover down the runway in this. I can’t see this look ‘taking off’.
Next is HongJi Yan from Beijing, China. He says: Myself, young delivery drivers and livestreamers. They’re everywhere but often feel invisible in a deeper way, both socially and emotionally. I wanted to express that feeling through materials that blur the line between seen and unseen. Well, I can’t UNSEE these green pants. Plus that poor guy in the middle just can’t see.
And finally, Mason Tomsett from a wee town called Dunoon, in the West of Scotland. Drawing from key childhood memories in Scotland of locker rooms, street uniforms, suits, football kits and kilts, he wanted to reimagine these traditionally masculine symbols through a queer lens. What about the kit in the middle?
Onto this week’s instalment and we discuss tech undies, men’s tweekments and KINKY BOOTS.
Almost a quarter of young men (in fact, a slightly larger percentage than young women) have had a “tweakment” – basically, a non-surgical cosmetic procedure, most usually Botox, fillers or dental veneers, according to a report in The Times.
In 2025, it’s all about pouty lips, shiny foreheads and sculpted eyebrows to. I dare any man to pretend that they don’t own a set of tweezers.
These procedures have become reasonably affordable, reasonably painless, in large part safe and, crucially, socially acceptable
This isn’t anything wholly new about this. As far back as the Eighties, young men were using sunbeds and getting their ears pierced at age 16 – the age when one had to prove you were more of an adult than you actually were.
Young men these days are spending all their free time in the gym in search of the perfect six-pack, instead of gurning all night on the dancefloor. The only exception to the above statement would appear to be DJ Roger Sanchez, claiming he is looking younger because he works through the night… not sure how he worked that one out, because it sure ain’t happening for me!
And of course, miracle weight loss drugs like Mounjaro are available to smooth out the bumps in the path towards a leaner physique – and it’s mostly men using them. Back in the 80s it was all about black coffee and fags, the appetite suppressants of the day.
The perm is now mostly for men only – especially teenage boys – NOT women, as we all opt for straighteners. Turkey teeth and nose jobs are huge too, as is the hair transplant. Of course, we all know that footballers love a hair transplant.
And Dermal fillers… Men want their cheeks to be plumper or have a more defined jawline. Botox is available absolutely everywhere too – it’s like popping out for a pint of milk.
Finally, Gen Zeds are concentrating on the pout. If you can’t grow a hipster tash or beard then it seems the next best thing is kissable lips. Because (in their eyes) there’s nothing more unattractive than thin lips… just don’t go OTT like some celebs I could mention.
In 2025, your underwear might be smarter than your smartphone. We’re talking fabrics that monitor your heart rate, track hydration levels, and probably remind you to drink more water.
Underwear that tells you when to call your mother? It’s happening. Wireless charging bands embedded in your knickers or pants? It’s REAL. A pair that warms your tush on a chilly morning? 100% happening.
Your undergarments are actually getting smarter, thanks to AI tech in the e-textile industry.
Myant Inc., a Canadian underwear brand, has developed smart underwear that could become one of the most reliable and effective ways to detect and prevent health issues. The underwear current includes biometric sensors that measure things like sleep quality, activity, stress level, temperature, and electrocardiography (ECG).
As consumers wear the underwear, sensors in Myant’s SKIIN brand fabric send data back to a corresponding app. Myant’s platform analyses the data, provides guidance on lifestyle changes, and allows users to share information with healthcare providers.
Underwear is a good choice for a smart garment because it makes consistent, close contact with the body – a must-have for continuous skin sensors.
The company’s first SKIIN products, smart underwear and smart bras, are designed with six sensors that allow the wearers to comfortably track daily activity, sleep and stress levels.
There’s a new (questionable) trend for Men making headlines, which you can expect to see at festival or event soon.
Introducing the thigh-high leather boot for Men Only. Actor Alexander Skarsgard was snapped stomping up the red carpet at this month’s Cannes Film Festival in a pair of £3,500 Saint Laurent thigh-highs
They look like they came from a fishing store or a Three Muskateers fancy dress outfit. Skarsgard is 6ft 4in, has steely good looks and a rather terse Scandinavian nature. So he just about got away with it. He was at the world’s largest film festival, where some would say that fashion statements are one way to get noticed and boost publicity.
“I was wearing a lot of leather in the movie,” Skarsgard, 48, says. “So, I thought it would be fitting to wear them. I got inspired. It’s a kinky gay biker movie. They are great fun”.
Actor Pedro Pascal was also snapped in a pair of the waders at the Last of Us Season 2 premiere in March, and GQ loudly praised the 50-year-old for dressing like a “fashion daddy”.
In perhaps the most high-profile endorsement of all, Brad Pitt is on the cover of the summer edition of GQ, also sporting the boots. Photographed in New Zealand to promote his forthcoming movie, F1, the star is snapped wading through a river.
But if the Saint Laurent boots are too expensive for you – at £3,500 – get down to your local costume shop, and say ‘three muskateers’.
Here we go then… It’s Goodbye to May and Hello June (almost), which means sunshine, music and of course summer FESTIVALS.
So, in this week’s instalment of your MID-WEEK FASHION FIX, we’re going in with plenty of festie fashion.
First of all – which dress. And which colours? Brown and Olive Green are still trending this year, as well as Buttery Yellow, Baby Blue and Dusty Pink. And look no further than Mango for the best offerings on the high street in this department.
Mango chose Cindy Crawford’s daughter Kaia as the new face of a capsule collection, embodying the spirit of ‘craft your own story’ – the brand’s concept, that aims to underline how fashion can help us to “show our different sides and present ourselves to the world with the multiplicity of aspects that define us”. Hmmm. Not quite sure what that means, but I’m loving the collection.
Next up in our summer focus, it’s all about the accessories, and as we’re expecting a heat wave in two weeks’ time (fingers crossed), I suggest that you’ll need an eye-catching fan – and even better, one that’s super large with adorned with memorable phrases. Introducing my friend Sarah Day and her FANTASTICO FANS collection.
Fantastico Fans are all about making a statement! Based in Ibiza, this vibrant brand creates bold, instagrammable fans for those who want to turn heads and express themselves memorably. Crafted from sustainable materials like FSC-certified wood and recycled polyester, each fan is designed to keep you cool while looking fabulous.
Here are the best including that ‘slogan necklace and something I expect to see my radio cohort RONNIE HEREL wearing to his Funky Dory Festival this summer… www.fantasticofans.com
Just in time for festival season, Cara’s sister and model Poppy Delevingne has teamed up with Nobody’s Child for what is perhaps the clothing collab of the summer.
Poppy has poured her heart into a collection of breezy summer pieces, each reflecting her signature free-spirited, vintage-bohemian style. Think floaty silhouettes, delicate ruffles, and festival-ready vibes.
Speaking about the collaboration, Poppy gushed: ‘I’m beyond excited to finally share my collaboration with Nobody’s Child! This collection has been a real passion project for me— merging my love for vintage and timeless style with the brand’s commitment to sustainability.’
What makes this collection special is that Nobody’s Child have accompanied each piece with its own digital product passport (“DPP”, in fashion lingo), which documents its whole supply chain.
Accessed via the QR code on the care label, shoppers can scan this to see where the clothes were made, bridging the gap between manufacture and the wearer.
Poppy Delevingne Navy Tie Neck Alexa Bodysuit Top
Featuring a halter neck and ribbon tie, we think the Poppy Delevingne Navy Tie Neck Alexa Bodysuit Top would look fantastic worn with last week’s Kate Moss denim skirt, I featured in AZIU. £59
Poppy Delevigne Leopard Print Denim Lola Shorts
No festival wardrobe is complete without a pop of print… surely? Featuring a 100% cotton denim fabric and an on-trend leopard print, these shorts are on my summer wishlist. £65
The full collection is out now with sizes from 4 to 22 (including petite options), and prices ranging from £49–£150.
