Is it just us or is this weather – or how quickly it can change – driving everyone to distraction? We’re in that classic ‘in-between’ phase – the few weeks that come sandwiched in the middle of the last dregs of spring and the start of summer. This means blissfully sunny afternoons followed by buckets of rain and brisk winds. Brilliant, eh? To say it’s playing havoc with our ability to get dressed in the morning is an understatement. It’s cold enough for tights on most days, yet some folk are cracking out the foot files and braving it in sandals. Then, we have a spell of sunshine that forces everyone into lighter layers and summer frocks, before the wind picks up again and we're all freezing.
What to do? Shop clever: invest in double-duty pieces that all work together as light layers now and shed them as you please once summer finally rears its head. To help, here are some of the most versatile pieces of the moment, that will make sure your wardrobe does all the hard work so you don't have to...
The Soft Jacket
It’s not quite an army jacket, but isn’t a blazer either. Introducing the sofket – the soft jacket. Opt for something in cotton that looks like a shirt, but has just a modicum more structure. Ideal for wearing belted over wide-leg trousers for work, or open over a cossie come your beach holiday.
The Best Soft Jackets
1 of 4H&M, Twill Jacket, £39.99
2 of 4Sandro, Cotton Utility Jacket, £315
3 of 4Cos, Button-Up Jacket, £79
4 of 4Warehouse, Utility Jacket With Belt, £42
The Elongated Slip Dress
A maxi slip is very ’90s Kate Moss, but also very right for now. It has thin straps, a slinky feel and a swinging ankle length. It’s the easiest thing to switch up from damp spring to hot summer. Wear with a tee, denim jacket and boots now, swapping to flip-flops and sun cream in July.
The Best Slip Dresses
1 of 4ASOS, Leopard Print Slip Dress, £35
2 of 4Ganni, Floral Print Silk-Satin Midi Dress, £370
3 of 4Essentiel Antwerp, Printed Slip Dress, £199
4 of 4Arket, Blue Satin Slip, £115
Bermuda Shorts
Leave cheek-exposing denim shorts to the Jenners and Hadids of this world. This summer, the Bermuda short is a chicer option by far – and it’ll provide a lot more leg coverage while the weather’s still ‘meh’. Wear yours with easy breezy shirts (tuck one side in and leave one out for extra cool points) and a loose blazer now
The Best Bermuda Shorts
1 of 3Bassike, Pleated Cotton Shorts, £248
2 of 3Mango, Chain Print Bermuda Shorts, £39.99
3 of 3Jigsaw, Linen Shorts, £79
A Pastel Pair Of Trousers
Are pastel trousers the worst proposition since white jeans? Maybe, but trews in tantalizingly sweet shades – think lilac, buttercup and pistachio – are having a moment this summer. A belted waist, cropped legs or textured fabrics like corduroy are the details to have on your radar.
The Best Pastel Trousers
1 of 4Mango, Straight Linen-Blend Trousers, £35.99
2 of 4Maje, Pleated Blue Trousers, £146.30
3 of 4Weekday, Lilac Jeans, £45
4 of 4Whitles, Belted Gingham Trousers, £103.20
A Fruity Print
The best tonic for totally dismal weather is the most cheerful print you can muster. Leopard’s a perennial fashion-editor favourite, but why not go a bit fruitier this summer? Kitri’s jumpsuit covered in bundles of lemons and oranges, is the perfect precursor to all those jugs of Pimm’s
The Best Fruit Print Pieces
1 of 4Warehouse, Fruit Salad Midi Skirt, £29.25
2 of 4Charlotte Olympia, Fruit Salad Slippers, £325
3 of 4Rouje, Apple Print Midi Dress, £150
4 of 4Kitri, Fruit Print Jumpsuit, £145
A Summer Trench
The trench coat is your best friend in these tricky, transitional times. You can pile on the layers underneath – a polo neck, a cardigan – when it’s truly grim and sling it over your ditsy-print summer frocks when it’s sunny. Look for baked, earthy hues like ochre and terracotta to really say ‘summer’.
The Best Summer Trench Coats
1 of 3& Other Stories, Belted Trench Coat, £110
2 of 3Massimo Dutti, Trench Coat With Top Stitching, £149
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