Cool

The ice blonde is back - strict, straight lines teamed with the slightest, slinkiest of knitwear in cool whites, creams and silvers

The fashion lexicon has two favourite words: one is "Retro" and the other is "Modern". In fashion-speak Retro means clothes that look as if you have seen them before. Yet Modern also means clothes that look as if you have seen them before, except that they are re-runs of hard- edged styles rather than more fussy, flouncy versions.

Thus Modern means looking back to the best of Seventies sharp-edged style. Many people recall their Seventies' wardrobes and shudder. But what did emerge was a fashion for strict, straight lines teamed with the slightest, slinkiest of knitwear. The key modernist then was Halston, who filled his studio with a host of ice-cold blondes with poker-straight hair and Nordic names.

Now the ice blonde is back, in slim white trousers and shimmery halter- neck sweater. Those possessed of slim Scandinavian stature will enjoy simple little sheath dresses. Those possessed of any of the other vast varieties of female body shapes might be relieved to learn that trousers, sweaters and cardigans in cool whites, creams and silvers, absolutely devoid of fussy detailing, represent one of this summer's more palatable alternatives to the neopolitan ice cream shades which fill the shops

Opposite page

Superfine wool pale blue cardigan, pounds 159, by Tse, to order, from Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW1; pale pink satin slip, pounds 250, by Prada, from Pellicano, 63 South Molton Street, London W1, and Prada, 44-45 Sloane Street, London SW1

Far left

Superfine wool T-shirt, pounds 139, by Tse, as before; trousers, pounds 168, from Tokio, 309 Brompton Road, London SW3; silver belt, pounds 20, by Joseph, 77 Fulham Road, London SW3; high strappy sandals, pounds 135, by Freelance, 55 Neal Street, London WC2

Left

Satin dress, pounds 355, by Prada, as before; ankle strap shoes, pounds 145, by Gucci, 17-18 Sloane Street, London SW1, and 32-36 Old Bond Street, London W1

Opposite page

Silver V-neck sweater, pounds 200, by Pellicano, as before

Below

Cashmere/silk vest, pounds 109, by Tse, as before; white satin cuff trousers, pounds 220, by Helmut Lang from Joseph, as before; pink high-heeled sandals, pounds 140, by Freelance, as before

Photographer Alan Beukers

Stylist Naomi Smith

Hair by Alain Pichon for Toni & Guy using Tigi Linea

Make up Virginia Young at Debbie Walters

Model Tua at Select