If there’s one trend that’s guaranteed to stop traffic this summer, it’s neon. The colour of high visibility vests, highlighter pens and lurid 1980s jackets is back with a vengeance, but this time round the look isn’t so glaringly obvious. “It’s about nuance,” says designer Peter Som, whose spring collection, dubbed “Petal to the Metal”, features large floral prints with small touches of neon yellow peppered into the patterns. He says: “There are different ways to embrace the trend. You can take one bright piece, whether it’s a top or a dress or a shoe, and let all the other pieces be neutrals. It’s about keeping the shape simple and classic.”
Stylist Mary Alice Stephenson, a regular on the Today Show in the US, agrees. “Like everything else, it’s all about moderation,” she says. “Mixed with neutral colours, like navy blue and khaki, the neon pinks and oranges look phenomenal.”