H&M's High Summer Collection is a Cocktail of Intense Colours

This season H&M draws inspiration from faraway places with a series of exotic prints.

Trends for summer include lightweight tailoring, bohemian styles, ornate embellishment and bold accessories.

"We wanted to create something very colourful and light, with stand-out print," says Head of Design Ann-Sofie Johansson.

"We were inspired by hot holidays in Africa, India, Hawaii and South America; hence ethnic-style prints such as tropical flowers and leaves, ikat designs, dip-dyes and ombre effects."

High summer focuses on easy separates where style and comfort are synonymous.

Statement-making bohemian maxi dresses printed in swirling tropical leaf designs and short kimono-sleeved dressing-gown tops in ikat print are the ultimate in beach chic.

Swimwear is an exciting part of the collection and comes in a variety of styles, from triangle bikinis to more supportive halter-neck shapes and others with bandeau tops and swimsuits with a belt.

Colours are varied, ranging from graduated hues of dip-dye orange and spearmint to a selection of complex prints and all-over ikat print incorporating clementine, turquoise, white and black.

Other styles are highly worked with rich Indian gold-thread embroidery and intricate beading.