It should go without saying, but as spring unfurls its verdant features, it brings a promise of lighter days ahead. This should be no surprise for the season synonymous with renewal. Still, if there’s one thing to look forward to doing on the brighter horizons that await us, it’s slipping into a new outfit.
For what else would fit the time of year that sees us all flock to London’s parklands for evenings spent on the green, rooftop bars for sun-drenched cocktail hours and the countless wine bars that line the city’s coolest suburbs than an ensemble that reflects back what nature is providing? No one does this better than M&S. A high-street titan, the store delivers what can only be described as small luxuries, the bottle of rosé you might grab for after-work drinks or affordable sandals that can totally transform a tried-and-tested outfit.
This season, in particular, the brand’s pieces are underscored with a sense of freshness. Linens are balmy in hue and completely crisp, inviting you to kick off your Saturday mornings in high spirits or lifting your mood when leaving work early on a Friday afternoon. In the same vein, the colour palette is especially vibrant and permeated with a high-octane energy that will inspire you to share your look with those around you, be it on a weekend trip to an art gallery or on a mini city break during the next long weekend.
In short, these are pieces that encourage you to shed the last remnants of winter’s hibernation and get out into the world. They’ll enthral you with their effortlessness, enclose you with their elegance and leave you feeling like your best self again. At least, that’s how I felt after reviewing some of their best-selling pieces myself. From picturesque dresses to billowing blouses you’ll want to wear through to the end of the halcyon summer that’s in store, scroll below for the pieces that earned this fashion editor’s approval.
The Best Pieces From the M&S Spring 2026 Collection, As Tested by an Editor
1. Puff Sleeve Dress + Rope Sandals
Style Notes: British springtime is unanimously dress season. After months of piling on layers of knitwear, heavy coats and chunky boots, the warming weather is the opportunity to shed yourself of this cumbersome styling task and wear the most streamlined, simplistic silhouettes possible.
With a one-and-done appeal, this category will have you looking incredibly considered and put-together with minimal effort. This dress, in particular, delivers all those qualities in more. With puff sleeves reminiscent of the styles offered by prestige fashion brands like Aje, Zimmermann and Dôen, the billowing shape really does a lot of heavy lifting in making you seem like you spent a lot of time getting ready in the morning.
Featuring panels that run through the length of your torso, the cut itself is quite pretty in the way it skims the body, before protruding out again into a lovely drop-waist skirt, which is a hallmark feature of Matthieu Blazy’s latest autumn/winter 2026 Chanel collection. The contrast navy blue stitching also adds an element of dimension to an otherwise minimal silhouette, which is another feature that caught my eye when scrolling through the M&S website.
To tie into this textured stitching, I styled the dress with M&S’s paracord sandals. An extension of the rope accessory trend that first appeared on Miu Miu’s spring/summer 2024 show, the slightly nautical and technical accent felt entirely appropriate for the blissful occasions I’ll be wearing this exact outfit to.
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This dress is also incredibly generous with its sizing, as it's available in both petite, regular and tall sizings.
Incredibly comfortable, whilst also being chic.
2. Broderie Anglaise Blouse + White Jeans + Lace-Up Ballet Flats
Style Notes: For those moments when casual afternoons stretch into long evenings surrounded by your nearest and dearest, reach for this exact outfit. The broderie anglaise blouse brings a bohemian slant that will inherently make anything you pair it with seem more graceful and insouciant.
The decorative style is best complemented by something understated yet structural as a way to offset the delicacy and softness of the slightly oversized shape, hence why I reached for a pair of white jeans. Not only is the shade the most relevant to wear during the period, but the raw hem edge brings a sort of coolness synonymous with beachside living and coastal escapes. Of course, bringing this effect to the landlocked London is always desirable.
However, to inject the innate edginess and rebellion intrinsic to the city, I balanced out these romantic styles with an architectural footwear choice. A lace-up flat with hook lace fastening, the studs, ruching and sharp chiselled shape cancel out the ethereal and light effect of the top and bottom, tying it all together for an outfit that would suit an East London pub and West London gallery alike.
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Despite the cut-out accents, this shirt actually provides really nice coverage thanks to the ruched sleeves and longline hems.
I never wanted to take these off.
Your new favourite shoe, awaits.
3. Car Coat + White Shirt + Cigarette Jeans + Court Shoes
Style Notes: Don’t overlook M&S for office essentials, either. Outfitting you for any occasion, I find M&S a haven for those bare necessities that can sometimes scream unsexy, though they are certainly a necessary addition to any well-edited wardrobe. Of course, with the right attitude and paired in a specific way, these pieces can be transformed into something discernibly chic. Enter: this car coat, pair of cigarette jeans and sleek court heels.
This is the exact look that I’ll wear into the office and earn the envy of my fellow commuters simply for how thoughtful and polished I look. Fusing the credo of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's off-duty style and Charlotte York’s “gallerina” uniform from the early seasons of Sex And The City, this ensemble resonates with soft ease and sharp tailoring. The cornerstone of this look comes down to two crucial principles: opting for a lightweight coat and leaning into soft layering will always be a smart choice.
Of course, given this is the birthplace of brands like Burberry, With Nothing Underneath and Rise & Fall—all of which specialise in this—it should come as no surprise that this philosophy is adopted by modern professionals. Plus, with a slight kitten heel and refined exterior, this is the kind of outfit you can return home after a long day out and about feeling—and looking—as good as you left the house in.
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The epitome of chic.
A classic.
Buttery soft cashmere? Sign me up.
Fused with the perfect amount of slouch.
A lust-worthy heel height.