Join the bright brigade

Shape and cuts are irrelevant this season so you can let the colour speak for itself. Just choose your favourite shade and light up the room with bold brights.

Mellow yellow
If there's one colour you invest in this summer, make it yellow. The brighter, the better. Pastel yellow is pretty and feminine but it's bright canary yellow, as seen on the Gucci catwalks, that has really caused a commotion in fashion land. When Cheryl Cole was having marital problems earlier this year she paraded down the red carpet in super-bright yellow to show the world she was fighting back.

Blue hue
Blue regularly steps in as black's staple replacement over the summer months. Navy is great if you're in the nautical spirit but for top-to-toe block brights, azure blue is the colour to dive into.

Engaging green
Sarah Jessica Parker picked a show-stopping green hat to wow the fashion pack at the Sex And The City premiere. Get into green goddess mode in jewel-like emerald this summer.

Shocking pink
Fashion has really fallen in love with fuchsia this season. While pretty pastel pinks have girly associations, this season's bright pink comes with serious attitude. Gwyneth Paltrow recently dumped her conservative streak to show off a shocking-pink, vintage Christian Dior frock. Do like Gwyneth and head for hot pink in prom dresses to toughen up a prim-and-proper look.

/media/serve/20080614-lifestyle--fash2.jpgBraving the brights

Not sure how to pull off this summer's super-bright shades? Stick to these style rules and you'll be bright and breezy in no time.

• Avoid looking like a Fruit Pastille lolly. If you're new to experimenting with brights, stick to one colour at a time with your clothing.

• If you feel like you're overdosing on one shade, break up block colour with a contrasting waist-cinching belt.

• Feel like a top-to-toe black day? We all have them. Give your outfit a pop of colour with one statement bright accessory. Mary-Kate Olsen recently stepped out in a plain black satin playsuit, brought to life with a shade-inducing neon pink belt.

• Only for the super-brave... acid brights are big this summer so try out neon numbers if you want to go one step further on the colour chart.

Perfect for setting off toned and tanned skin.