As the work week winds down for a vast majority of us, we can revel in the fact that the weekend gives us two days to reset, recharge and indulge in some tlc. For some that comes in the form of breakfast in bed, pottering about the garden or – like us – treating yourself to a spot of retail therapy.
Of course, while many of us enjoy mooching around town, meandering into shops and tackling the snaking queues, it’s not personally our idea of fun on a busy Saturday morning, which is where online shopping comes in handy – a favourite past time of ours can be done in your PJs. This week, half way to payday, we’ve spotted some gorgeous garments from some of our favourite brands and celebrities that we will be sending straight into our shopping basket.
From Zara McDermott’s must-have ASOS trousers that are “perfect for the long-legged girlies” to the Bridgerton cast’s go-to lip balm, we thought we’d let you in on our weekend must-haves and what’s on our fashion and beauty team’s wishlist.
READ MORE: Frankie Bridge raves about wardrobe staple that’s ‘an amazing alternative’ to Skims
READ MORE: 10 best summer beauty essentials for 2024 to buy now ahead of the heatwave
So, if you’re in need of a wardrobe refresh – especially with the weather finally turning – or are simply looking for new outfits, skincare products or shoes for your upcoming holiday, below is a breakdown of the team’s favourite finds from the last seven days which is made up of everything we’ve bought, added to our basket, or simply can’t stop thinking about since laying our eyes on it.
Zara McDermott’s go-to linen trousers
With summer on the horizon, everyone is stocking up on their favourite linen trousers, including former Love Island star Zara McDermott, who just the other day shared her must-have summer staple – which is from ASOS.
Costing £30, the 27-year-old documentary maker raved about the fact that they were the perfect trousers for the “long-legged girles” – as she is 5ft7. She said: “I have been on the hunt for linen trousers that are long enough. I finally found ones that are the perfect length for me! I’ve just ordered them in three more colours.”
The Cotton On drawstring straight leg trousers in white linen from ASOS are a high-rise style, making them the perfect bottoms for a crop top this summer, and are super comfortable thanks to the drawstring tie around the waist. Still available in sizes four to 20, the trousers have been hailed as being ‘so comfy and flattering’. So much so shoppers have bought backups in ‘every colourway’.
Get them for £30 from ASOS here.
The White Company’s linen dress
Linen is always a summer go-to because the material is breathable and moisture wicking, meaning it stops you from sweating and getting too hot. But if you don’t fancy Zara’s trousers, then perhaps a linen dress will be the ultimate addition to your warm weather wardrobe.
The White Company’s Linen Flute Sleeve Midi Dress, is a quick and easy outfit, but also lightweight and breezy enough to keep you cool even when temperatures soar. Made from pure European flax linen, it has a light, floaty feel with the added bonus of a loose, oversized silhouette that’s perfect for staying comfortable in even the most humid of temperatures. It has a relaxed V-neckline and bib-style detail on the bodice which creates structure and shape without being fitted, whilst the softly gathered waist and flowy skirt make sure it stays super comfy to wear all day long.
To keep it looking chic and stylish, it also has voluminous flute sleeves which add a little hint of drama and accentuate the waist details, giving you a flattering shape despite how oversized and flowing it is. Oh, and how could we forget the best detail of all – side pockets. All in all, the perfect summer dress.
Amanda Holden’s ‘sassy’ green Nobody’s Child dress
It’s no secret that Amanda Holden is a style queen – and that she loves a deep, emerald green. On Wednesday of this week, her fans were blown away as she shared a video to her Instagram in which she modelled this stunning Nobody’s Child Zendaya mini dress, £99, that is “sexy” and “sassy”.
The open back of the adorable mini dress features a beautiful ‘gift wrapped’ style bow while the sleeves are dramatic with a large, bell puff design that is elasticated at the cuff. The A-line skirt is super-flattering and makes for the perfect summer party outfit.
Made from Birla Livaeco Viscosen, linen and nylon, the dress is incredibly lightweight, making it a great option for the warmer, summer months.
UKLash’s new hair serum
If you’re a bit of a beauty enthusiast, you might be aware that one brand that has been making waves in the industry because of its incredible lash serum that strengthen and lengthens your natural lashes is UKLash. Beloved by the likes of Molly-Mae Hague, the brand has now introduced its innovative new hair serum that claims to see an 85% hair regrowth in just three months – which is great if you’re after long, luscious locks for the summer.
Costing £29, the serum was formulated by biologists and is packed full of hair-loving hero ingredients that aim to promote stronger and healthier hair.
The non-greasy serum contains AnaGain (also known as pea sprout extract) which, being rich in amino acids, works to repair and protect your strands starting at the root. It’s also got powerhouse anti-inflammatory product turmeric which acts as an antioxidant to allow healthy hair to grow, as well as lemon fruit water which is rich in vitamin C and helps stimulate growth whilst preventing breakage and reducing hair loss.
Marks & Spencer’s leopard print summer dress
Within everyone’s wardrobe, a statement piece that celebrates leopard print is a necessity in our eyes. And we think this bold dress from Marks & Spencer, which costs £39.50, is a glorious option if you’re a bit of a print fan (as we are).
Our fashion writer Faith Richardson fell in love with the dress when she spotted in on the M&S website and said about it: “M&S’ leopard print midaxi is a perfect example of a dress that does it all. Everything from the print to the design to the fit means it can be worn for any occasion, whether it’s a Saturday morning brunch with friends paired with some platform sandals, dressed up with heels and statement jewellery for a wedding, or worn with a pair of colourful trainers and a bomber jacket for a casual date night.
“The dress has a regular fit that gathers at the waist before flaring out slightly into a loose skirt giving it a relaxed feel, whilst the puff sleeves and longer hemline make it look smart and chic enough for more formal occasions. It’s made from a lightweight material that’s airy enough to see you through the summer months, but you could just as easily pair it with chunky boots and a wool coat for autumn and winter.
“The midaxi length is universally flattering, falling to mid-shin on the 5’9” model, however you can also shop it in regular, petite and long lengths. The dress is also available in sizes 6-24, and has just landed on the M&S website as part of its new collection.”
M&S Summer Beauty Bag for 2024
If you are planning on placing a little order at M&S over the weekend, then there’s another deal you’ll absolutely want to know about. The high street favourite launched it’s hotly-anticipated and highly coveted Summer Beauty Bag 2024 on Thursday, and as it sells out year after year, you’ll need to be quick if you want one.
The bundle contains a selection of makeup, skincare and haircare and is worth over £170. Inside this year’s bag are 12 products including four full-sized items and eight deluxe samples, which are perfect for any summer trips you may have planned. It comes in as better value than last year, where there were 11 products with a value of £155, though there were six full sized products in the haul.
This year’s bundle includes beauty must-haves from big-name brands like Color Wow, Clinique, Pixi and more – but unlike other beauty boxes, you must first qualify to buy it. Similar to other M&S beauty bags, or their coveted Christmas advent calendar, this new offering is only available to shoppers who spend a minimum of £35 in-store or online.
The £35 minimum spend can include various departments, so you don’t have to stick to beauty. Customers can pick up clothing, homeware, or beauty to get their hands on the set. While it means you’ll initially have to spend at least £65, you’ll get over £200 back in goodies, including the item you purchase to meet the threshold.
Frankie Bridge’s ‘more expensive’ looking sunnies
The sun is finally coming out, meaning out sunglasses collection is getting a much-needed dusting and a welcome expansion, thanks to the high street bringing out a plethora of gorgeous and timeless styles – such as these cat-eye sunglasses from H&M that have been recommended by none other than style queen Frankie Bridge.
These glasses were shared in a round up of her ‘must-have’ styles for the summer and we are totally in love with them – as are shoppers, it seems, as they’ve garnered a near perfect star rating of 4.8 on H&M’s website.
One customer commented on the cat-eye tortoiseshell glasses and said: “Really lovely and super quality for the price … great colour and look much pricier than they were.”
Another remarked: “Its just what I expected. Excellent look, good shape, design. Not needed to buy expensive sunglasses. Just love it, best ever.”
The Bridgerton-approved lipbalm from Dr PawPaw
Having just dropped on Netflix, we’re all obsessing over the new season of Bridgerton and so when we found out that the cast members are fond of this Dr PawPaw £7.25 lipbalm, we raced to get our hands on it!
And while it works wonders in making your unbelievably smooth, soft and healthy, it’s not its only purpose. The balm, which was used throughout season one and two of the Netflix series, can also be used on your face, hair, body, eyebrows and even cuticles to help hydrate your skin. You can even use it as a moisturising face mask, as a primer for dry skin, or as a dewy highlighter on your cheekbones, making it truly a makeup bag hero.
Powered by papaya fruit, aloe vera and olive oil, the multi-tasking balm leaves your hair and skin soothed and well moisturised – no wonder the cast consistently have a fresh-faced glow.
It’s also fragrance free and has an impressive celebrity fan base, with A-listers like Alicia Keys, Emma Watson, Victoria Beckham, Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman known to be Dr PawPaw users.
Get it from Lookfantastic here.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer
This summer is all about that glowy, dewy, bronzed look as if you’ve just come back from the beach, and nothing helps you achieve that sun-kissed look like Charlotte Tilbury’s cream bronzer formula. Cream bronzers have previously been pigeon-holed into a ‘cakey’ category, but you can rest assured that the new breed of creamy formulas offer lightweight, silky coverage that leaves a natural-looking finish on the skin.
Loved by celebrities and beauty editors alike, this creamy bronzer is infused with finely milled pearls for an illuminated glow and silky polymers that ensure a soft-focus effect to the face and body. It’s enriched with hyaluronic acid and sunshine provitamin D3 to ensure skin is twice as hydrated in the space of an hour, according to the Hollywood MUA.
The sweat-proof and humidity-proof product comes in four shades ranging from fair to deep, and lasts up to 16 hours. It’s a glow-giver we can’t deny – there’s no wonder it sold one every 30 seconds on launch day and is backed by hundreds of five-star shopper reviews who say it’s ‘buttery and buildable’. The Mirror has hailed it as one of their top 10 summer beauty essentials – you can find the other nine here.