Why is the sun teasing us like this? Just when I think it’s safe to venture outside in a skirt with bare legs or a tee sans jacket, the temperature suddenly drops, and my warmest coat is either done all the way up or hastily shrugged off and tied around my waist. Call it “spring of deception” or “third winter”, but either way, ”actual spring” still feels a little way off, so we’re gradually starting to emerge from the cosy, cocooning fits that are starting to feel just a little heavy and tired. If, like me, you’re craving lighter fabrics, palate-cleansing colours, floatier dresses and light-wash jeans, and maybe some delightful stripes and floral prints to play with, I suggest you have a browse at New Look, where pulling together spring outfits is a breeze.
I’ve been shopping at the high-street stalwart since my teens because it specialises in those everyday staples you can rely on. This season, fail-safe separates like lightweight jackets, fluid trousers, bias-cut skirts and unstructured blazers really step up to the plate, ready to put a new spin on your existing wardrobe staples and create fresh new looks. What I like most about New Look’s spring pieces is how endless the styling possibilities are; a spaghetti-strap camisole can be worn in multiple ways, from shifting outfits into dressier territory or forming the basis of that winning jeans-and-a-nice-top party formula. Certain silhouettes and details, such as balloon-cut trousers and funnel necklines, nod to current trends whilst also transcending them, helping ensure their longevity in your wardrobe.
I also came across some particularly memorable dresses on my latest new-in scroll. Looking for the perfect wedding outfit? There are several options for that. New Look has really spun the colour wheel, too, serving up delicious shades of matcha and pistachio-macaron green, buttermilk yellow and shell pink to lighten up retro silhouettes. I can’t wait to offset the vintage-style slips and floral tea dresses, both delicately accented with lace, with a sporty windbreaker after dark, and hark back to the noughties by styling them over jeans by day. Nostalgic contrasts like these are rife in the expansive collection, where ’80s tailoring sits alongside contemporary athleisure and lingerie-inspired pieces just begging to be unexpectedly paired.
I’ve also bookmarked a pair of khaki combat trousers with big pockets, and some wide, straight-leg jeans that can be worn everywhere; a white pinstripe suit that would make a great alternative to a gown and multiple garden-party-worthy dresses that you’ll keep wearing without a thought.
