7 Easy Outfit Ideas I'll Be Wearing on Rotation This Month

From simple jeans outfits to elegant dress options, here's what to update your outfit roster with now that May is here.

With the seasonal shift comes plenty of sartorial confusion, and by the time May rolls around, we're all feeling pretty impatient. After months of sub-10-degree temperatures, haven't we earned the luxury of stepping out in breezy cotton dresses and strappy sandals? May is a tantalising time because we're almost in summer, but the weather remains unpredictable (in the UK that is—if you're living it up somewhere along the Amalfi Coast or on a balmy Greek isle, please don't rub it in).

But rather than lamenting the lingering clouds overhead, choose to celebrate that we're one step closer to sunshine. In wardrobe terms, this means adding warm-weather items into your day-to-day roster. It might just involve a minor adjustment here or there; a T-shirt instead of a long-sleeve top, a basket bag instead of a leather cross-body. Little by little, we can start slipping into a summer state of mind, and hopefully, the blue skies will follow. Who's with me?

To help you out, I've rounded up seven stylish outfits from Instagram that I think are just right for May. And I've made them all shoppable so the looks are even easier for you to recreate. Check them out now, thank me later.

What to Wear in May: 7 Easy But Elegant Outfits to Try:

1. Cropped Jacket + Straight-Leg Jeans + Loafers

@emmanuellek_

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

Style Notes: The Parisian style set is our most-trusted source of elegant and easy-to-copy outfits, like Emmanuelle's.

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2. Lightweight Coat + White Dress + Ballet Flats

@deborabrosa

(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

Style Notes: It's still too early to wear dresses on there own, but a lightweight coat like this one above will add a layer of warmth to your outfit without feeling too heavy. Pair with ballet pumps over sandals to keep it from feeling too high-summer.

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3. Jumper + Long Shorts + Boat Shoes

@erinoffduty

(Image credit: @erinoffduty)

Style Notes: May is the month when we switch from chunky knitwear to more lightweight iterations. It's the season to show some skin, so team your favourite knit with some shorts and on-trend boat shoes.

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4. Waistcoat + Poplin Skirt + Suede Flats

@ingridedvinsen

(Image credit: @ingridedvinsen)

Style Notes: A cotton skirt works whatever the season, but I'll be taking my cues from Ingrid and styling mine with a crew-neck waistcoat and suede flats this month.

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5. Short Jacket + Capri Leggings + Heeled Flip-Flops

@_livmadeline

(Image credit: @_livmadeline)

Style Notes: By now your bulkiest jackets is probably safely stored away, but we recommend carrying lighter styles with into the warmer season—this is Britain after all! Try wearing it with trendy capri leggings and heeled flips-flops for a 2025 spin.

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6. Oxford Shirt + Denim Skirt + Chunky Sandals

what-to-wear-in-may-254816-1682693996402-main

(Image credit: @sasha.mei)

Style Notes: Denim is something we wear year round but, personally, I think it comes into its own at this time in the year. In lieu of jeans, try a denim skirt—maxi lengths feel particularly on-trend—with a classic blue-stripe shirt.

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7. T-Shirt + Linen Trousers + Leather Flats

@marina_torres

(Image credit: @marina_torres)

Style Notes: I'll be honest, I've been wearing my linen since the end of March, but with the sun finally making an appearance, I'll be swapping out my jumper and loafers for a classic tee and leather flats to polish up the look.

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Freelance Fashion Editor

Bébhinn Campbell is an Edinburgh-based fashion and lifestyle writer and editor. She started her first blog at age 14 and went on to intern at publications in Berlin and London, including Dazed & Confused and Indie magazine.

A job at a fashion startup took Bébhinn from Ireland to Scotland in 2019, where she now works as a freelance journalist and copywriter covering everything from travel and interiors to styling advice. As a contributor to Who What Wear, Bébhinn always keeps her eyes peeled for emerging trends and looks worth writing about. She prides herself on her ability to cut through the noise and identify solid investment buys, exciting new brands and fresh takes on classic design.

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