Reminiscent of fresh sheets winched out across a Sicilian street, of brides in their long gowns or just a sure-fire way to show off a tan - ice white never fails to make an appearance for summer. For this season, it's Stella McCartney's swirling, Baroque hemlines that we want to wear.

McCartney triumphed last season with her mesh and polka dot cut out dresses, a dress that would be hard to match. But the designer makes turning out statement pieces with her unique brand of sexiness, look easy. This dress and jacket are cut cleverly to soften what could have been an austere shape. Swirling, curling hemlines dip to give an extra glimpse of thigh and lapels are replaced with the same gentle edges.

With frosted make-up and loose hair, teamed Pamela Love earrings and with white Hasbeen clogs this is a look that defies grey skies.

Traditionally this is the time of year when collections are steered around the idea of sun, skipping town and heading for the yacht… okay well maybe just the beach then. But Marc Jacobs and Miu Miu have different destinations in mind for our summer. We're heading west, to the wild west in gingham and cowboy boots.

Picture the scene for a moment, we're transported from Peckham to the Texan plaines. We're riding through the hot dust in avant-garde plum velvet boots from Miu Miu along with a flippy black skirt. Marc Jacobs' gingham is almost iridescent in the sun. And gingham, the girly cousin of plaid, is a fabric for the season.

From farmhouse kitchen tables and matching curtains, to summer school dresses and musicals set in the 1950s, gingham holds many happy connotations. So of course playing up to these stereotypes the plaits come out and the ribbons too. Looking as if you're seven has never been so now. You'll be sauntering through bars in Soho with a new kind of swagger, just leave the cowboy hat at home.

Right now we can only dream about sitting by a pool in a Modernist house in the Hollywood hills wearing a Prada bodysuit and earrings. The reality is that we're wading in persistent rain and watching flash floods swallow the coast. However, imagine for a moment that we're anywhere but here, that we're sitting in something that looks like Tom Ford's 'A Single Man'. The LA sun is prickling the skin and the air smells like hot concrete and suncream. Days are spent pool side, reclining in the heat... It's a stretch we know.

In this fantasy LA-LA land we'd be accessorising Prada's '50s pin-up-worthy suit with Balenciaga's woven orange bag. The hit of colour is a welcome change to the natural beige coloured weave and after all summer should be bright. On the feet are Bally's pale blue slip-ons - the pool sandal for grown ups.

Inspired by David Hockney's paintings, we'll keep hitting the repeat button on this scene and usher summer in.