Crochet: How to navigate this tricky trend

When Miu Miu, Chloe and House of Holland put crochet on the catwalk, we admit we were concerned. It's not an easy look to pull off, but we're throwing caution to the wind and trying it anyway.

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Why? Because it conjures up some of the most romantic summer scenes - free love, Woodstock and skipping merrily barefoot through fields of some sort (although sadly this isn't something we do enough/ever) and we want a piece of that floaty hippy look.

Crochet works as a festival staple; crops tops with high-waisted denim shorts, mini dresses with scuffed boots; crochet skirts with denim shirts, but if you want to avoid looking like a Seventies flower child, then invest in a loose-fitting crochet T-shirt and pair with boyfriend jeans and a pair of wedges - pretty, but modern.

So who works the trend well? Festival style idol Kate Bosworth prefers crochet dresses with ankle boots; Diane Kruger went for a more utilitarian, smarter approach, teaming khaki shorts with a pretty crochet top; Alexa Chung is a fan of a crochet skirt and shirt combo; and Kate Moss is proof if ever that you need a white mini crochet dress in your wardrobe immediately (see picture).

To prevent being compared to a doily (a hazard of the trend unfortunately), make sure you add a tough, modern edge to your look with a biker or oversized jacket or chunky boots. Or just avoid white if you're really worried, but we're very much into its angelic, demure appeal. A lot of shops have rightly acknowledged the challenges of the trend, and have added subtle nods to their spring collections - a crochet trim or used it in accessories instead.

Shop the best of this season's crochet buys below:

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