Pantone Picked White. We Picked Summi Summi. How to Wear Bold Prints This Summer

Every year I wait for Pantone's Colour of the Year like it's a new season drop. For 2026 they announced… white. Well, Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201), to be exact. A soft, slightly grey off-white that Pantone calls "a breath of fresh air."

And look, I get it. It's calm, it's clean, it goes with everything. But walk down any high street right now and it's a sea of oatmeal, stone, sand and "greige." Lovely. Also a little bit… asleep?

Here in the shop on James Street in Burleigh Heads, summer's almost here. The jacarandas are in full bloom, the water's warming up, and the pieces that keep pulling people in from the footpath aren't the beige ones. They're from our Summi Summi collection. So this is my love letter to colour, and a guide to wearing it, even if your wardrobe is currently 90% neutrals (no judgement, mine can be too at times).

The short version: Summi Summi is an Australian label by designer Ashleigh Vallis, known for hand-painted prints in bold colour on easy, relaxed shapes. It's my pick for wearing colour this summer, and you can shop it in store at The Freedom State, 12/50 James Street, Burleigh Heads, or online.

Why does everything in fashion feel so beige right now?

Short answer: we've spent a few years in "quiet luxury" mode. Neutral basics, capsule wardrobes, the "clean girl" look. Pantone choosing Cloud Dancer for 2026 is basically the official stamp on it. Their reasoning is that we're overstimulated and craving calm, which honestly, fair.

But here's what I see every day in store. Women pick up the neutral piece because it feels safe. Then they try on the colourful one "just for fun" and their whole face changes. Colour does something to your mood that beige just can't.

And the runways agree. This season is full of brights. Retailers are calling it the season of "dressing for dopamine," with tangerine, chartreuse, baby blue, lavender and tomato red all showing up. So the calm neutral base is still there. It's just that the fun is back on top.

What is Summi Summi, and why do Gold Coast women love it?

Summi Summi is an Australian fashion label founded by Ashleigh Vallis. She started out making kids' clothes as a hobby after swapping Sydney for a slower, seaside life in Yamba on the NSW North Coast. Mums kept asking for the same prints in their size, so she gave the people what they wanted. The brand now has its own flagship store in Yamba.

What makes it different? Summi Summi is known for:

• Hand-painted, original prints that feel more like wearable art than fast fashion
• Bold, saturated colour that looks amazing against a tan (or a fake one, we don't judge)
• Limited seasonal collections, so once a print is gone, it's usually gone
• Easy, relaxed shapes: oversized shirts, sets, shift dresses, skirts and ribbed basics

The inspiration is refreshingly everyday too. One collection was inspired by Ashleigh doing the grocery shop with her kids. That's exactly why it works on the Gold Coast. It's resort wear you actually live in, not resort wear you save for one holiday a year.

I've stocked Summi Summi at The Freedom State because it ticks every box for our customer. It's Australian, it's playful, and it goes from Burleigh beach to a Friday night drink without trying too hard.

What are the summer 2026 colour trends, and how does Summi Summi do them?

The big colours this summer are tangerine, chartreuse, baby blue, lavender, and tomato red paired with bubblegum pink. Here's the thing I love about Summi Summi: you don't have to chase one trend colour at a time. The prints mix several shades in one piece, so one skirt does the work of three trend buys.

Here's how I'd shop the Summi Summi range, piece by piece:

Dresses. From minis to midis, in prints that do the trend colours for you. The easiest way in: throw one on, add a hat, done.

Skorts and skirts. The cult favourite. A skirt at the front with shorts underneath, so you can actually live in them (hello, windy Burleigh afternoons).

Tops and tanks. Team one with your white denim or linen pants and you've got a brand new outfit from things you already own.

Pants and sets. Matching tops and bottoms you can wear together or split up for double the outfits.

Shirts. Relaxed and slightly oversized. Perfect over swimmers, or tucked into neutrals.

And here's my little twist on Pantone. Cloud Dancer doesn't have to be the whole outfit. Make it the canvas and let Summi Summi be the paint. A white Summi Summi top with one of their printed skirts or skorts? Calm on top, party on the bottom. Pantone gets its white, you get your colour, everyone's happy.

How do I wear bold prints if I usually dress in neutrals?

This is the question I get asked most at the counter. Here's what I tell everyone.

1. Start with one print piece. A Summi Summi skirt or top with your existing white, cream or denim. Everything else stays exactly as you'd normally wear it.
2. Keep your base neutral. This is where Cloud Dancer comes in handy. White, oatmeal and tan let the print do the talking.
3. Pull one colour out of the print. Pick a shade from the pattern and repeat it once, in a bag, a lip or your earrings. It makes the whole outfit look planned (it's one of the tricks in my 7 Point Rule for making basic outfits look styled).
4. Let the accessories be natural. A straw hat, gold jewellery, a woven bag. Earthy textures calm a bright print right down.
5. Go the full set when you're ready. Matching print top and bottom sounds like a lot, but it reads as one easy outfit, like a dress in two pieces.

The secret? Bold prints are actually easier to wear than you think, because the print does all the styling for you. No layering, no fuss. Just add sunnies.

How do I style Summi Summi from beach to bar in Burleigh?

One printed Summi Summi piece can take you through a whole Burleigh day. Here's how I'd do it.

Morning coffee on James Street. A printed skirt or skort, plain white tee, flat sandals and a straw hat off our hat wall. Easy, sunny, done.

Beach afternoon. Throw a printed tank or shirt over your swimmers and pull the skirt or skort on top. Sunnies on, towel under arm, straight down to the sand at Burleigh.

Sunset drinks. Swap to the matching top so you're wearing the full set. Add gold earrings, a woven clutch and a heeled sandal. You've gone from beach to bar without a single outfit change stress.

Prefer a dress? A Summi Summi mini or midi dress is the one-and-done version. Throw it on, add a hat, walk out the door.

What's Summi Summi sizing like?

Good news: Summi Summi is really forgiving. Here's what I've learned from dressing our customers.

• Stretch pieces like their skirts and skorts come in a wide size range, with many styles running from XXS/4 up to XXL/16.
• Relaxed shapes like their shift dresses and shirts are cut slightly oversized. If you're between sizes, size down.
• Fabrics vary by piece. You'll find silky cupro and viscose blends that breathe beautifully in Queensland humidity, plus stretchy mesh that moves with you on a hot day.
• My fit tip: Summi Summi's signature look is short and sexy. Love that? Go your usual size. If you'd like a little extra length, size up.

Not sure? Pop into the shop at 12/50 James Street and try it on, or send us a DM on Instagram @the_freedom_state and we'll help you pick.

Summi Summi FAQs

Where can I buy Summi Summi on the Gold Coast? Right here at The Freedom State, 12/50 James Street, Burleigh Heads. We're open Monday to Saturday 9am–4pm and Sunday 9am–3pm. You can also shop the full range online at thefreedomstate.com.au.

Is Summi Summi an Australian brand? Yes. Summi Summi is an Australian label founded by Ashleigh Vallis, who's based in Yamba on the NSW North Coast, where the brand also has its own flagship store.

Who founded Summi Summi? Designer Ashleigh Vallis. She started the business at 24 with a $2,000 loan from her parents, making kids' clothes, and grew it into the colourful womenswear label it is today.

What is Summi Summi known for? Colourful prints on relaxed, easy-to-wear shapes. Think resort wear and casual wear you can wear every day, not just on holiday.

How do you pronounce Summi Summi? Suh-mee Suh-mee. If you've been saying "Soomi Soomi", you're in very good company!

Is Summi Summi worth the price? In my opinion, yes. Many Summi Summi pieces use digital placement printing, which costs more than screen printing but captures every detail of the hand-painted artwork. The print is designed to sit on each pattern piece, so it lines up at the seams and lands exactly where it should.

Add limited seasonal runs and pieces you'll reach for every week, and the cost per wear adds up fast. You're paying for wearable art, not a print stamped out by the thousand. (I did the same honest breakdown for another favourite label in Is Free People Worth the Price?, if you're curious.)

How do I care for Summi Summi clothing? Cold, gentle cycle or hand wash, and don't tumble dry. Treat the prints kindly and they'll last for years.

Do you ship Summi Summi Australia-wide? We do. Shipping is free on orders over $150, we dispatch within 24 hours, and returns are easy.

Can I return Summi Summi if it doesn't fit? With us, yes. Here's my hot tip for buying online: shop with an independent stockist. If you buy direct from Summi Summi, returns are store credit only. At The Freedom State, we'll refund any full-price item returned to us within 14 days (Australian orders). Same gorgeous prints, a lot less risk.

So, beige or brights?

Honestly? Both. Keep your Cloud Dancer basics, Pantone's not wrong about them. Just don't let summer go by without a bit of colour. Come and see the Summi Summi collection in person in Burleigh, try on the one you think is "too much," and trust me. It won't be.

Mandy x