April 19, 2022 at 06:00AM
Our We Try Before You Buy series aims to take the stress out of shopping and eliminate the number of post office visits you make each month to return failed online orders. We test new-season buys and styling ideas so you don’t have to. Here, we’re letting you know what’s actually worth investing in or styling tricks you can re-create with pieces you already own.
Not to be very British here and immediately turn the conversation to the weather, but this year, it feels like the change of seasons happened overnight, leaving me a little unprepared when it comes to spring outfits. If anyone else is wondering where all of their spring clothes are hiding and what exactly you wear when you don’t need tights, a scarf and boots, I’m here to help you out as ever with our We Try Before You Buy franchise. I think this might be my favourite yet, as our team called in as many samples of clothes, bags and shoes as we could squeeze into our office space in order to give you a rundown of the best outfit trends for spring.
The overwhelming result was that our editors are into colours right now. Instead of pastels or anything too sugary as you might expect for spring, we gravitated towards colours where the pigment is supersaturated, such as bright pink, orange, electric blue, red and grassy green. Several of us opted for bold colour pairings, such as green and blue and bright pink and orange, which is an easy way to make an impact. It’s not all about attention-seeking brights, though, as we’ve also tried some simple, easy spring outfits, such as a Breton jumper and jeans and comfortable knitted co-ords.
It’d take me an awfully long time to list out all of my favourite items from below, so I’d advise you just keep scrolling. I’ll give you a teaser and say there are amazing pieces from Celine, Rejina Pyo, Totême and Jacquemus alongside some beautiful pieces from Jigsaw, Reformation and & Other Stories. We might be talking about trends, but the key thing to remember when expanding your wardrobe is that you want to only invest in the pieces that match your own personal style and that you’ll wear again and again.
We tried on a lot, and we also loved a lot, so keep scrolling to see the 12 outfit trends we really rate for spring.
Hannah Almassi, editor in chief, says: “I like to dip into romantic trends, but I want to avoid looking too frou-frou, so for me, pretty, demure pleats with ruffled lettuce hems are a good option rather than floral, ruffled, flouncy dresses. This set from Marcela London is timeless and looks great worn solo, but for those colder spring days (and when I want to toughen the dreamy effect of bridal-white plissé), a tweedy, oversized jacket will be my go-to. This blazer will also be a winner with trousers, jeans, slip skirts and thrown over cute midi dresses.”
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Almassi says: “Co-ords are my automatic outfit choice when I don’t know what to wear but really want to look pulled together. They’re less serious than a suit but more directional than a dress. I’m here for all types of matching sets this season: ribbed and knitted, slinky and tailored, printed and fun… They are all allowed into my wardrobe, but it’s this ‘70s-feeling crêpe shacket and flares from Usisi Sister that sit at the top of the list. It’s such a joy to wear and will be just as good on a night out as it would be for a day in the office. I’m 5’1”, and these trousers are long on me, but for anyone taller, they are supposed to kick above the ankle like a crop.“
Maxine Eggenberger, acting assistant editor, says: "From experience, I know the best wedding guest dresses sell out early in the season, and I have a hunch this beautiful dress won’t be the exception. I rarely wear off-the-shoulder silhouettes, but this one has convinced me to do so on the regular. I don’t know if it’s the pretty puff sleeves or the full A-line skirt, but this midi gave me serious princess vibes. I’m even considering ordering it in white (for my upcoming holiday, not weddings). With a pair of block-heel sandals and the fanciest arm candy I could get my hands on, I’ve effectively assembled my dream spring-soirée outfit. Now, all that’s left to do is to wait for those invites to roll on in…”
Eggenberger says: “Gingham is the print I always reach for come spring, and as a classicist, I tend to favour the black-and-white iterations. The moment I spotted this co-ord in Reformation’s new-in section, I knew I had to try it. Bra tops were big on the 2022 runways, and I had a hunch this one would give my larger bust the perfect amount of coverage and support—and I was right. Before summer kicks into gear, I’ll be styling it with a linen shirt layered over the top, accompanied by my angular cat-eye sunglasses for retro styling flair.”
Joy Ejaria, social media editor, says: “This spring, I clearly have a thing for sky-blue dresses, as both of my outfits centre on a blue dress. This one is from Cecilie Bahnsen and has a magical cloud-like silhouette. I always thought one of these dresses would feel quite OTT for the day, but paired with my new trench and flat sandals, it feels surprisingly relaxed. These zebra-print tie-up sandals are from ASOS, and yes, I’ve bought them and plan on wearing them throughout summer 2022. The bold animal print will add interest to even the plainest outfits.”
Ejaria says: “As I said, bright-blue dresses are clearly my thing this year, and this fitted style is from COS. Thanks to the simple silhouette and block colour, it’s the perfect backdrop to style up with bolder accessories. First up, let’s talk about these shoes! Manolo Blahnik has given classic Birkenstocks a makeover, with sparkly buckles, and I’m obsessed. I love how a statement coat can pull any spring outfit together, and this one I found on the marketplace for small designers and independent brands Curated Crowd.”
Emma Spedding, editor, says: “I always love wearing this bright-pink colour and so was obsessed with this dress when it popped up on my Instagram feed. It’s a great choice for weddings, as it’s by the digital marketplace Curated Crowd, which stocks really unique, small independent labels. That means you’re unlikely to see another guest in this dress. I decided to really go for it with the colour and pair it with some bright-orange sandals from Russell & Bromley. Pink and orange are one of my favourite colour pairings.”
Spedding says: “I saw this printed blouse about two months ago, in the depths of winter, and instantly fell in love. It just screams luxury holiday to me, and so I knew instantly I wanted to borrow this for this story. I paired it with slightly loose-fitting Jigsaw jeans, a printed bag, a woven belt by Celine and a pair of bubblegum-pink platform shoes. Platforms have made a glorious comeback this year, and I love how they look with ankle-length jeans.”
Emily Dawes, affiliate editor, says: “My favourite spring trend year after year has to be stripes. They’re such an easy-to-wear classic yet they can make any outfit feel elevated. After trying this Totême jumper, I can totally see why everyone was so obsessed with it last year, and this updated light-blue version has gone straight to the top of my new-season wish list. Add it to some white denim and a timeless tan handbag like this Gucci dream, and you have my ultimate spring outfit for all occasions”
Dawes says: "I’m a sucker for a good suit when I want to look really polished, and I have a few great neutral options in my arsenal already. But this season, I’m looking to diversify and invest in a bright suit that feels a bit more joyful. This Jigsaw one is perfect, as it’s not too oversized like others on the market at the moment. (I’m only 5’2", so it’s easy for me to look swamped.) It’s smart enough for important meetings but also fun enough to wear for a summer wedding, so I know it would be a real hero piece in my wardrobe for years to come.“
Remi Afolabi, video content creator, says: "Lightweight knitwear takes over my wardrobe when spring comes around, so it’s no surprise that I was drawn to this multicoloured knitted co-ord from Le Ore. I think they’re a must-have for the days that I don’t want to think too hard about what I’m wearing but still want to look well put-together. The figure-hugging top and trousers create a really nice contrast paired with this structured linen jacket from Jacquemus. As the outfit is quite neutral in tone, I opted for a pop of citrusy colour with the mini ACNE Studios Musubi bag.”
Afolabi says: “The dopamine-dressing trend is still going strong, and I wanted to channel that in this vibrant, colourful spring look. The electric-blue Warehouse blazer and Bottega-green H&M trousers complement each other very well with the addition of the black accents.”
Next up, what to buy now.
Author Emma Spedding | Whowhatwear
Selected by CWC