I wouldn’t blame you if news of another brand collaboration doesn’t elicit anything more passionate than a light yawn. In a sea of brand linkups, it takes something especially novel, timely, and exhilarating to capture—and hold—our attention. Yet that’s exactly what Simon Miller and Mango have managed with the launch of their capsule collection. The lineup, which ranges from $35 to $399, spans swimwear, clothing, and accessories and contains all the bright, freshest colors that are signature to Chelsea Hansford’s designs but at Mango’s impossible-to-resist price points.
With elements like crochet, raffia, fringe, and high saturation, the collection hits on some of the major vacation trends of summer 2023. Considering we’re only at the start of the summer, you’ll want to pack the dresses, sandals, and matching sets for all your foreseeable travel plans.
With a collection this good, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to take it for a spin. I pulled together four outfits to show you how everything looks IRL and clue you in on what the best pieces are to buy. Of course, with a buzzy launch like this, pieces are already beginning to sell out, so once you scroll through this edit, I wouldn’t wait too long to hit order on your favorites.
Not to be dramatic, but I’ve never been so obsessed with a dress in my life. It’s hard not to swoon over this fringed skirt detail, and there’s something so satisfying about the way it swishes back and forth when I move. For such a flamboyant number, I opted for the black even though it also comes in green because it felt fun but still chic. In fact, it’s exactly what I’d imagine wearing to a beach wedding or summer event. It also happens to be one of the more expensive items from the collab and on the higher end of what you’ll find at Mango, ringing up at $250, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the quality was up to par. It’s beyond comfortable, but the knit somehow also just holds you in so well. Now, let’s talk about the bag. Let’s face it: She’s the real star of the show. I couldn’t walk more than three blocks without getting stopped for compliments and inquiries on it. Sure, there are woven bags, but then there’s this miniature shell-embellished one.
This collection is simply overflowing with summer vacation energy, but the look that screams “pack me in your suitcase” the most has to be this openwork knit set, hands down. This was the outfit I was most looking forward to trying out, and my editor colleagues agreed, admitting some of them had it in their carts already. In fact, our editor Yusra just bought the set in the striped version. I can’t say I’m surprised that this was the clear fan favorite. Crochet is shaping up to be a major summer 2023 trend, and Simon Miller’s signature crayon brights lend a fresh take on it. Getting down to the details, I appreciated the built-in briefs on the pants which make them ideal for wearing not just as a beach coverup but as a cool summer statement piece, too. The top definitely runs large and I could have gone down a size, but still liked the oversize look when tucked into the pants.
Sorry, but this striped halter swimsuit *is* that girl. The beachy stripes? The criss-cross neckline? The cutout? It’s giving everything and more. I wanted to prove it’s more than just a swimsuit, so I styled it as a bodysuit here with a linen maxi skirt, sandals, and bold accessories. I also ended up wearing these earrings with anything and everything—they may bring a lot of look, but they’re surprisingly easy to wear and shockingly lightweight, too. I wasn’t expecting the jewelry from this collection to be as good as it was, but allI have to say is wow. Don’t sleep on the accessories!
Amidst a sea of statement-making prints and vibrant look-at-me shapes are two relatively simple graphic tees: a cropped style and an oversize version. While they may not stand up against some of the more gregarious items in the collection, the power of a great graphic tee is not to be overlooked in your summer wardrobe. I have such a soft spot for them—I always have a few on hand to throw on with some denim shorts—and this cropped one lined with bright blue contrast trim definitely fit the bill.
