My Goal Is to Look Expensive This Summer—7 M&S Trends I'll be Shopping to Achieve a Polished Capsule
From linen to lace, and a healthy dose of noughties nostalgia, these are the best summer fashion trends in M&S right now.
After months of transitional weather and dreaming of days when lightweight linen and whisper-soft blouses would be back in our wardrobes, the end of May has officially kicked off summer 2026. Although I felt mentally prepared for the sunny season, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing from my wardrobe. The pieces I currently own are undeniably classic: think shirred dresses and minimalist sandals, but after a few 30-degree days, it's clear that the summer trends shaping fashion right now are leaning into sun-soaked maximalism. From vibrant Y2K-inspired pieces to personality-driven layering, the mood is firmly "more is more", and as it stands, my simple staples are missing the trend-led energy needed to make them feel current.
In a bid to save my pennies for the fast-approaching holidays in my calendar, I turned to the only place I look when needing an expensive-looking high-street hit: Marks and Spencer. If you're an avid Who What Wear UK reader, you'll know our editors have a serious soft spot for . Cementing itself as a brand that provides excellent basics, traditional buys and fashion-forward designs, the brilliance lies in the retailer's ability to provide fantastic pieces at affordable prices.
This summer, the trends M&S is backing couldn’t feel more "now". Be it the noughties throwbacks we'd long shelved (the tassel scarf is a personal standout), or the delicate lace-trimmed pieces the fashion crowd can’t stop wearing right now. Any one of these pieces will shift your staples into a warm-weather mood. Of course, there’s also a handful of editor-approved satin and linen buys too. Ready to shop? Scroll down to see the seven trends I’ve handpicked that M&S is doing so well for summer 2026..
Shop the Best Summer Trends at M&S Right Now
1. Noughties Muse
Style Notes: This season, a noughties undercurrent is running through Marks and Spencer’s ample offering. Should this concern you, don't worry; the vibe is less Paris Hilton and more Sienna Miller or Kate Moss. Think micro-shorts styled with relaxed waistcoats and tank tops, or loose satin skater dresses finished with fluttery lace trims worn with stompy boots. You won’t have to look hard to find a trending update on these once considered "dated" pieces.
Shop the Trend:
This dress has gone straight into my basket.
Can you ever go wrong with a boho blouse?
Style open with linen shorts and biker boots for a '00s feel.
This is exactly how I plan on dressing this summer.
This dress also comes in a vivid mango and sugary pink.
Style layered over shorts, maxi dresses or denim miniskirts this summer.
Kate Moss, eat your heart out.
2. High Summer
Style Notes: Summer 2026 is shaping up to be the most maximalist in years, and this mood is echoed in the trends M&S is backing. With so many vivid shades and kitsch prints on offer, the brand is banking big on high summer's "fresh off the Amalfi Coast" energy.
Shop the Trend:
Pair with a cotton poplin maxi skirt and strappy sandals.
The perfect kaftan for strolling the beaches of Mykonos.
Who would have thought deep blue and lime would pair so well together?
One way to make a statemeant.
Florals, lace and punchy citrus orange? This is high summer in a dress.
Peplum tops are back in a big way this season.
Style tied in your hair with a matching swimsuit.
3. Luxurious Lace
Style Notes: Originally an evolution of the French underwear-as-outerwear trend, lace trims have quickly become summer’s most coveted design detail. Showing up on dainty blouses, floaty dresses, dreamy skirts and even shorts, it's a trend M&S is backing for yet another summer.
Boho at its best.
This dress does all the heavy lifting for you.
The structured shape makes this top look triple the price.
Find me a better summer date-night look.
Style with blouses or loose tees.
Pale blue is one of the season's biggest colour trends.
Simple yet oh-so stylish.
4. Blown Away
Style Notes: Although divisive to some, M&S is proving that bubble and balloon shapes are not only "in" but that they don't have to be OTT. 2026's exaggerated shapes and voluminous silhouettes have had a pared-back update, and they can make for a very chic look.
Shop the Trend:
I'd style these with an apron top and gold-detail sandals.
Throw on and go.
This season's go-to LBD.
So easy to wear.
If you're looking for something slightly more refined, this top is a must-see.
This dress has been all over my social media feeds.
Khaki has quickly become a fashion person's favourite shade.
6. Pretty in Pleats
Style Notes: After years of simple lines, all things pleated, draped and textured are back in fashion once more. The simple addition of pintucks or a shirred waistband creates volume and movement without constricting the natural contours of the body, and from dresses to shorts and T-shirts, these techniques are all over M&S's new-in section for summer 2026.
Shop the Trend:
I can't believe this dress is only £50.
Available in sizes 6–24.
You could easily mistake this for designer.
This is your reminder to dust off your palazzo trousers ahead of summer.
A perfect beach dress.
All I need now is a Hugo spritz and beach holiday.
Some of the best summer dresses I've ever owned are from M&S.
7. Lightweight Linen
Style Notes: Linen in summer is like florals in spring: it's impossible to have one without the other. There are trousers, dresses and the chicest top I’ve seen in some time, proving that M&S knows how to keep us cool in style.
Shop the Trend:
A Who What Wear UK editor favourite.
Butter yellow is going nowhere fast.
These shorts also come in white, dark khaki, oatmeal and navy.
Perfect for the petites amongst us.
The structure! The fabric! I just know this top will set out fast.
So good with long, pleated shorts.
