Naomi Chappell, director of U.K.-based ethical boutique MyGreenLipstick.com, shares with E.S. readers a list of the hottest trends for this summer and a slideshow of her picks. She also offers recommendations of how to seek out ethical ways to incorporate these styles into your wardrobe. Take her advice and soak up the sun in eco-style!

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With the recession upon us, we all have to rethink the way we shop. It’s important to be strategic about our fashion spending. By adding some trans-seasonal investment pieces to our wardrobes, we manage to be both guilt free — and clever! 

This season, where denim is concerned, anything goes. The hottest denim finish right now is distressed, and ‘80s silhouettes are back in a big way. The cut can be wide leg or skinny — it’s up to you and denim is always popular. Play them up with your favorite accessories or a statement piece. It’s one of those wardrobe staples that comes into fashion over and over again.

Pair your denims with watery shades, fluid silhouettes, statement pieces and natural embellishments. Brilliant blue is one of the easiest colours to wear of those bright shades that are so in right now. Colour block your look with matching blue shoes, keep your summer nights looking cool in different tones and bring the trend into the office with a blue suit. Added bonus: The jacket will also look great with your jeans! Fall in love with blue and start a relationship that will go on and on, season after season.

Embrace fashion’s softer side in tones of taupe or fawn, which add femininity and elegance to any outfit. Texture and silhouettes come to life in a neutral palette. Nudes fit into the trans-seasonal bracket too and look terrific with all those gorgeous summer colours. If you are unsure about going too bright, wear a neutral close to your face and add colour from the waist down or in your accessories with a flamboyantly coloured contrasting shoe or handbag. 

Nudes are also excellent for wearing under all those delicious sheers that are out there at the moment. As the seasons change and the cold weather approaches, layer up pieces in the same hue, wear a few different tones or simply add to whichever colour or shade you are wearing on a blustery day.

Generally, the choice of which neutral to wear will relate to your skin tone; darker neutrals such as cinnamon and coffee will flatter paler skins, while darker complexions can wear the more buttery shades. 

The key to all your shopping sprees right now is to think “trans-seasonal.” If a piece can be worn in many ways, it will add effortless chic to your wardrobe and it will cut down on the cost per wear. One dress that can be worn five different ways is a better value than five different dresses, even if they’re ethically crafted. Re-using your wardrobe staples will cut down on the disposable fashion that currently fills our landfill sites. 

Make your wardrobe work for you and feel good about yourself every time you change your look with those key pieces. As Ghandi said, you are being “the change you wish to see in the world.”

All pieces featured here can be purchased at MyGreenLipstick.com.