With not one but two Bank Holiday weekends on the horizon and the prospect of sitting in the garden past 7pm with an M&S passionstar martini, spring is firmly on the horizon. I’ve often found spring styling quite daunting, considering myself much more of an autumn dresser, but this year something has clicked and I’ve really been enjoying piecing together brighter outfits with light layers for the warmer weather.
For a recent day out in Stockport town centre (which is a gorgeous, understated alternative to Manchester, by the way), I dressed optimistically for the weather I wanted rather than the weather we had, and despite the fact I probably could have done with a jacket, I absolutely loved the overall look and keep finding myself gravitating towards the elements in it to create new outfits, too.
One of my favourite purchases of 2024 so far is without doubt this Blue Stripe Long Sleeve Shirt, from River Island. Despite having been a wardrobe staple since the beginning of fashion history (pretty much) striped shirts are seriously having a moment right now. It’s crisp, it’s cool, and it’s giving major summer vibes. They’re the MVPs of any wardrobe because they’re so versatile – wear them open over a tee for a casual look, buttoned up for the office, paired with jeans for brunch or, as I’ve done, with a summer-ready skirt.
When I got an email about this Damson Madder Hyan Leopard Skirt being on sale, it would have been rude not to, right? Managed to bag it for under £50 instead of the usual £65, so I was feeling pretty smug about that and I’ve already re-worn it a tonne since. Anyone who knows or follows me will know that animal prints are always a yes from me, and the details on this one are just gorgeous. From the tie back waist to the frilly pockets, not to mention the fact it’s the perfect length. Expect to see a lot more of her on Instagram this summer. Plus it’s been styled with a similar shirt on the Damson Madder website, so that means it must be on trend, right?
Beyond oversized band t-shirts collected from countless gigs over the years, I didn’t actually have many tops in my collection, and thought this Stradivarius tee was very cute. Made from 100 per cent cotton, it’s super soft but also fits really lovely. Boasting a cherry motif tied with a bow, it feels like it’s really nailing the current social media trends, too.
Tying in that pop of red, I styled the outfit with my Adidas Handball Spezials in pink and red, which feel like they just add an effortlessly cool touch to any outfit. Of course, no outfit is complete without the perfect accessories, and I snapped up these ASOS cherry earrings the moment they came back into stock. These gorgeous, glassy accessories are just so fun and playful and perfect for leaning into the ‘tutti fruiti’ trend I’m anticipating for summer.
As for the bag, this is the Orla Kiely Babaluna Crossbody in cream, which adds a touch of sophistication while still keeping things casual. It’s from their latest collection and looks as good with laidback looks as it does for date night with a dress and cream heeled boots.
I’m really looking forward to combining the different elements of this outfit with even more looks – the skirt has already been worn with my beloved Cos cardigan, while the trainers have had several run outs since Christmas. So, here’s to a season filled with sunny days and dopamine-fuelled fits – you can find more styling inspiration over on my Instagram here.
