Take a walk on the wild side with animal prints, khakis and neutrals. Lisa Haynes reveals how to work safari styling.

You don't need a plane ticket to Africa to embark on a safari adventure this summer. Park your jeep on the high street to pounce on the safari trend.

OK, you may not spot the Big Five but this sleek styling is worth pursuing for its versatile nature.

There are neutrals that can be worked in the urban jungle for a summer twist on officewear, monochromatic prints for a low-key spin on the usual bright tribal patterns, and animal prints for the tiger in you (or leopard or zebra).

It's likely you'll already have safari-inspired pieces in your wardrobe, so get in the fashion game now with some reinvention.

Unleash the wild woman in you by working this summer's hottest trend.

Neutral know-how

Look like a queen of the desert this summer by wearing cargo-style separates in khaki, beige and camel. Opt for rolled-up trousers or shorts for a casual look, or stylish belted jackets and safari dresses for a smarter take.

True safari explorers will know the importance of layering on a 6am game drive, so adopt the same principles for your summer look. Go practical with lightweight knits, sheer shirts and jackets with endless pockets to keep your sunglasses and sun potions in.

If you want to stick to an all-neutral palette, mix your safari separates with classic white for a fresh summer look. For a splash of colour, team your khakis and beiges with turquoise, peach, salmon pink or mint green.

Mono tribal

Tribal prints aren't always bright and garish. You can still adopt the Africana spirit with monochrome prints that blend into the background - perfect safari camouflage.

Floaty, loose silhouettes carry mono tribals off nicely and are ideal for humid temperatures, but work a more fitted piece on either your top or bottom half so you don't look like you're wearing pyjamas.

Lower contrast prints (in the same tones) are ideal for newbies to experiment with pattern because they're usually more flattering on most frames, particularly petites.

Stick to a small, uniform print to camouflage lumps and bumps. If you want to jazz things up, use statement tribal accessories to amp up your outfit for after dark.

Animal instinct

If you have no intention of blending into the background (other than at the zoo), work an animal print.

Traditionalists will feel comfortable in big cat leopard, as favoured by catwalk queen Kate Moss, but if you're feeling more rebellious try tiger stripes, monochrome zebra, exotic snake or even giraffe splodges.

You don't have to stick to the colours you might see on actual safari animals either - a pop of coral or red will brighten up leopard prints on accessories like scarves or bags.

Look for an animal print that runs vertically on the body for the most flattering effects. The darker the background of your pattern, the more slimming the look, so if you're conscious of your curves, avoid snakeskin or zebra prints which both have a predominantly white background.

Fashion flash

:: Posh bag

She may have her own line of handbags now, but there was a time when Victoria Beckham used a posh carrier bag for school. When asked about her first handbag love, she replied: "My Gucci plastic carrier bag that I used to carry my school books in every day until the bottom fell out."

The designer revealed her bag stories to Harrods as part of the Handbag Narratives exhibition. And her tips for choosing the perfect bag? "Always look for something timeless that has the potential to carry you through from day to night. I like discreet branding and believe in always choosing the very best quality." Harrods Handbag Narratives exhibition runs until August 24.

:: Changing dramas

STOP - before you buy that ill-fitting garment you'll never wear. Only one in 10 items make it past the changing room, while only a quarter of online orders are kept or worn by shoppers, according to a new survey by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk. Four out of five respondents said they enjoyed clothes shopping but the figures suggest British women are unable to spot what suits them at first glance. Just 39% felt they had the style confidence to spot fashion items and accessories that suited them.