As you'll no doubt recall in vivid, joyful detail, we recently published the definitive guide to building a quality summer wardrobe on a shoestring (well, £200) budget, in which we stated that "if you had £500 then we could really start having some fun." [with clothes]

Well guess what?...

We've only gone and done it.

For those with a little more spending power, here's how to make summer your most stylish season with the help of £500 and a lean, focused approach to outfit-building.

We've given you a few options for each item, in the name of flexibility and because we're very nice.

The Jacket

When it comes to your day-to-day casual summer jacket, then it's important to consider how much of your wardrobe it fits with. Better to spend £100+ on something quality that can be mixed and matched as opposed to dropping £40 here and £50 there on outerwear that only really goes with one outfit.

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Rab jacket, £125 by Folk

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Trucker denim jacket, £119 by Calvin Klein

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Cropped bomber jacket, £89 by COS

The Shirt

If you're panicking and thinking "But I can't wear a short sleeve shirt!?" Then please stop doing that, because you can (just look here ). You just need to find the right one, which is where we come in.

Avoiding anything too print-heavy in the name of versatility, a tonal short-sleeve with a smart fit is one of those items that will look as good on the beach as it will at summer drinks, BBQs or when it's just you alone in the house in a really nice shirt.

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Hawaiian linen shirt, £119 by Oliver Spencer

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Short sleeve Brandon shirt, £109 by Wood Wood

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Panama camp-collar shirt, £100 by Albam

The Trousers

Finding trousers that don't make your legs feel like they are trapped in a sweaty twill hell is the most important thing when picking out a pair of summer trousers, so look for some that are light and breathable in linen or sun-specific cotton.

Wide leg trousers also come into their own here. Breathable and trendy, who knew?

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Tapered linen trousers, £120 by NN07

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Aros light twill chino, £100 by Norse Projects

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Le long pant, £95 by Les Basics

The T-shirt

Unless you've had a particularly good year then there's no great need to spend a ton on a t-shirt. That said, you'll be amazed at the quality difference by investing a bit more and looking at specialist brands like Sunspel.

Also, if you're going to go graphic then keep it toned down. We're all grown-ups here.

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Long sleeve striped tee, £39 by Nudie Jeans

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Crew tee, £39 by Comme Des Garcons x Sunspel

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Slash print t-shirt, £30 by Saturdays NYC

The Shorts

Unfussy, chino and in a neutral shade of tan, navy, olive or grey. Shorts should be a simple beast to tame (here are more tips if you're struggling), and yet so often becomes the style hamartia of the British man-on-the-street come summertime.

While there are some beautifully-made pairs by the likes of Oliver Spencer and Norse Projects, as long as you get the fit and colour right then you'll be absolutely fine with something a bit more high street.

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Chino shorts,£45 by COS

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Linen-blend chino shorts, £19.99 by H&M

The Sweatshirt

The perfect mid-temperature piece for summer evenings - or when the weather is just a bit unseasonably cold - an oversized sweatshirt with a slightly worn-in wash is an easy, 'in' piece that, like your t-shirt, shouldn't cut too deep into your final budget.

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Crew sweatshirt, £75 by Levi's Vintage

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Label crew sweatshirt, £49 by Patagonia

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Patch pocket sweatshirt, £45 by COS

The Trainers

While espadrilles may well be having a moment this summer, they're not quite versatile enough to be worn with everything, unlike the white trainer (it's taken over the world for a reason).

While we've included a few options in terms of price, you really can't go wrong with something low-top in breathable canvas.

If you're sick of your usual rotation, then brands like Novesta come with the benefit of not being totally worn-to-death by everyone you know.

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Stan Smith Boost Prime Knit, £109 by adidas

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Club C 'Homage', £75 by Reebok

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Star Master, £49 by Novesta

Something Extra

If you want to shave off a few corners and invest part of your £500 (or just save up a bit more, go on...) into a summer watch, then something classic with a Nato strap should be on your wishlist.

We're big fans of Timex, a 'heritage' brand (you know who they are) that make stylish and affordable watches without any skimping on materials or build.

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The Fairfield Chronograph, £89.99 by Timex

Headshot of Finlay Renwick
Finlay Renwick
Deputy Style Editor
Mother, blogger, vegan, model, liar