If you've managed the impossible and have secured a booking, the reopening of pubs and restaurants (or their outdoor areas, at least) has been the most joyful stop on our journey to freedom. There’s just one problem – and that’s the weather. Sunny one minute, bone-chillingly cold the next, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to know what to wear, especially when the desire to look somewhat fashion-adjacent is kindling inside you for the first time this year.
To help, we’ve put together a guide for how to dress up while staying warm/dry for every social occasion you might have in your calendar over the next month.
And don’t forget the golden rule: always check your weather app before leaving home.
Back Garden BBQs
A padded gilet adds a stealthy layer of extra warmth, while waterproof clogs will keep your feet dry if the heavens open.
Back Garden BBQ's
1 of 5COS, Oversized Linen Shirt, £59
2 of 5COS, Relaxed Fit Shorts, £45
3 of 5Lindex, Long quilted vest, £39.99
4 of 5Toast, Jute Water Bottle Carrier, £20
5 of 5Hunter, Insulated Sherpa Shoe: Thicket Brown, £85
Al-Fresco Dinners
Dinner cooked somewhere other than your kitchen and by someone other than yourself? That deserves a cut-out dress and shoulder- grazing earrings, with a side order of rubber boots.
Al-Fresco Dinners
1 of 5Zara, Linen Blend Dress With Cut Out Detail, £49.99
2 of 5Kassl Editions, Press-stud belted cotton-blend raincoat, £700
3 of 5Monki, Faux leather ankle boots, £45
4 of 5Vanda Jacintho, United Earrings, £276
5 of 5Blunt Umbrellas, Metro Navy, £59.99
Pavement Brunches
A spring-ready knit dress will serve you well while there’s still a nip in the air. Dress it up – it’s brunch, why not? – with an elegantly-oversized mac and chunky frames.
Pavement Brunches
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1 of 5Lee Mathews, Striped ribbed-knit maxi dress, £425
2 of 5H&M, Oversized Trench, £69.99
3 of 5Dune London, Snaffle Trim Loafers, £75
4 of 5Nanushka, Oversized square-frame sunglasses, £295
5 of 5Fern Fans, Blue Striped Fan, £80
Pub Hangouts
You could go down the dress route to celebrate the return to your local, but what about the less obvious combination of wide-leg trousers, a striped shacket and ballet pumps? It’ll be much easier to manoeuvre in and out of (inevitably busy) picnic tables.
Pub Hangouts
1 of 4Ulla Johnson, Zita crochet-knit cotton tank, £365
2 of 4Arkitaip, The Wabi Pleated Linen Trousers, WAS £165 NOW £148.50
3 of 4Loewe, Stripe workwear jacket in linen, £1,600
4 of 4Russell & Bromley, Angelina Ballet Pump, £145
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