Your first basic comes in the form of skinny white trousers. If you don't have a few pairs already, white denim is one of the hottest looks this summer and well worth the investment. Take your pick from any amount of offerings, including Dolce e Gabbana (Liz Hurley's favourite) Serfentaine (Kate Moss's favourite) or plain old A/Wear (the choice of most of Ireland).

Savvy bargain hunters will look out for Penneys' first consignment of skinnies coming in April, starting at the cut-down price of 18.

Those who sagely forgo skinny jeans could try the mannish Coco Chanel-type sailor trousers or even three-quarter or half-length button panel trousers that are coming in in all shapes and sizes for the new season.

If you don't want to go designer, try Morgan, Kookai, Sisley and Karen Millen for a good range of medium-priced sailor pants, calm diggers, Bermuda and city shorts and Capri-style pants.

Staying true to the look, the next item on your list has to be something with bold navy and white stripes.

Whether you go for a fresh preppy polo shirt, a Breton stripe fisherman's jumper (always a classic) or a simple blue and white striped tee-shirt, this wardrobe basic is as wearall for summer as your little black cocktail dress for winter.

Whether you dress it up with a blazer and accessorise up with gold sandals, jewellery and belt, or dress it down with flats and a white cotton peacoat, this look is adaptable to all weathers, ages and occasions.

While detailing such as large brass buttons, anchor jewellery and Popeye-style vests under waistcoats could scream man overboard, retain Capri chic in lesser ways with a simple red, blue and red colour palette, good sunglasses and a decent trench coat.

Sweet cotton blouses and summer dresses, tulip skirts and high-waisted shorts with cinched-in ribbon waists all add a bit more Oooh la la! and are the items which make us long for summer. All we need now is that fabulous yacht, that beach house in the Hamptons and a lifetime to be idle and rich.

Or at least a wardrobe to fit the dream.