Your Sh*t Summer Weather Starter Pack: How To Actually Dress For (Some) Sunshine And (Many) Showers

First and foremost, a trusty trench is now your new best friend. Lightweight, practical (aka, easy to pack down and squash into your shoulder bag) but always stylish, this COS trench in classic beige has an added necktie detail - and hood! - that instantly transforms it from classic to cool. Buy once, wear forever.

You might've seen these woven leather totes cropping up on Instagram as the current bag of choice for any fashion conscious folk. And for good reason, too. Dragon Diffusion have nailed the office friendly beach-bag brief - whilst being big enough for beach towels, laptops, spare shoes, your brolly and everything in-between - no mean feat in our opinion.

Summer is synonymous with dresses. And whilst it isn't exactly hot hot hot right now, the versatility of a black summer dress will see you through pretty much all occasions. Easily dressed up with boots or trainers and a trench coat for wet weather, or paired with flip-flips and sunglasses for balmy beach days. Look to M&S for a collection of summery frocks that are both easy to wear and super stylish, plus most styles come in 3 different lengths depending on your preference - sorted.

UK 'summers' combined with freezer-like office air-con means having access to a cardigan at all times. Look to brands like Sézane, &Daughter and Uniqlo for cool-girl cardi's in punchy shades that'll immediately brighten up any grey skies.

Next on the essentials list, an umbrella, of course. Don't let surprise downpours put a dampener on things and ensure a brolly is always about your person. Mango's teeny tiny umbrellas come in 5 different shades and are the perfect handbag-friendly size.

If the sun pops its head out, we soon know about it - especially if you're commuting to work, stuck in a queue or waking up in a baking hot tent (this ones for you, festival fans). The viral, foldable, handheld fan by ANYDAY at John Lewis is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air and an all round sweaty saviour. Ensure yours is always charged and always in your bag.

As we know, the weather can change at any second - going from baltic rain to sweaty-sunshine in a matter of minutes. If you're out running errands, wandering through a festival site, or off on an impromptu visit to the seaside, pop a pair of flip-flops in your bag to save your trainer-clad feet from overheating.

Yes, yes we should all be wearing sunscreen everyday regardless, but, if you're not expecting a break in the clouds it's easy to end up with lobster red shoulders. Avoid any strap-lines and ensure you've got a mini SPF50+ in your tote bag for when the sunshine makes a surprise appearance.

Just because they're practical, doesn't mean they need to be boring. If you're in need of a pair of wellington boots for the season ahead consider Celine's sartorial khaki rubber boots a stylish take on the classics. For something a little more purse friendly, Hunter's tall glossy wellingtons will always do the trick.