With the summer holiday season just around the corner, many of us will be planning a trip to the shops to pick up some new summer essentials. Every year styles change and, although most of us probably have a great range of clothes at home already, it can be nice to pick out a few new bits as a treat for summer.
One of the retailers launching an impressive range of items for the season is Marks and Spencer, with everything from shoes to hats on their website. We have decided to take a scroll through their women’s items and picked out our top favourite products, which we feel are the must-have items for your 2024 summer wardrobe.
Linen Rich Square Neck Midaxi Dress
Available in flame red or black, this square neck midaxi dress is sure to catch eyes this summer. The stunning linen dress is lightweight and breathable, making it the perfect choice for a warm sunny day. Whether you are planning a trip to the beach, have a barbecue lined up or an afternoon of shopping, this £39.50 dress is easy to wear and perfect for all occasions. It is a classic item that perfectly combines classic and contemporary styles, and is available in sizes six to 24 for a short, regular and long fit.
The dress already has 30 reviews online and an overall rating of four stars. One five-star review states: “Absolutely love this dress! Gorgeous bright red-orange colour, heavy weight linen blend that hangs really nicely.
“Love the tie back – it takes a bit of getting right – and the length (regular) is perfect. I’ve now ordered the black as this is great value for money and a classic style.” However, another customer had concerns about the sizing. Stating: “The dress was really pretty, but the size was too small despite following the size guide.”
Pure Cotton Printed Sarong
One of the most frustrating parts about being on holiday is what to wear when you’re having a pool day, not everyone wants to walk about in their swimwear or get fully dressed just to nip back to the room or the shops, or even to walk to the beach and continue lounging there.
This pure cotton sarong has a beautiful printed floral pattern and is part of the M&S X Sienna Miller collection. It costs £25 and is available in either the navy mix or the cream mix. It’s an eye-catching accessory that can be worn in a variety of ways, but is easy to wear and arrange to your preference, whilst still being lightweight and stylish.
A similar product is the Ayanna Leaf Print Sarong at John Lewis which is available in a lovely rust colour for £29. Or Matalan also has a few sarong options available, including a simple but effective design in black, blue, coral, navy or white for £6.
Denim Pleat Front Belted Shorts
For £35, M&S are selling a comfortable pair of denim shorts cut in a flattering paper bag shape. This stylish summer staple has a D-ring belt, is high-waisted, and also has subtle pleat detailing to add a tailored touch. There are also two practical side pockets, making it no surprise these shorts are part of the retailer’s easy-to-wear collection.
The shorts come in sizes six to 24, and are available in three different shades of denim. These include medium indigo and light indigo, or for £32.50 the shorts also come in Ecru. With 36 online reviews and an overall five-star rating, shoppers are obsessed with this item.
One review states: “Really nice shorts in soft denim with belt. Good length and flattering shape.” Another adds: “Love the fit of these shorts they are a great length and good quality.” A similar option to these is the belted denim chambray shorts for sale at Debenhams, these come in sizes six to 18 and cost £33.
Jersey V-Neck Blouse
Although it may be summer, many of us still have to work and it can be very tricky to find office wear that is comfortable wear in the summer months whilst still looking smart. M&S have launched a new jersey V-neck blouse which solves this problem, and is available in a subtle fawn or a bright blue for £25.
The popover blouse has a smooth jersey fabric for a comfortable feel, and the V-neckline can be left open or tied up for extra elegance. These blouses are perfect for the office and can be paired with a set of black trousers or skirt for that polished professional look, or they can be dressed down with a pair of jeans.
For £27.50, M&S also sell a similar version to this blouse in orange and black. Similar items that you may want to take a look at include a V Neck Roll Sleeve Top for £15.99 from New Look, which is available in several different colours. Primark are also selling The Edit Stripe V-Neck Blouse for £18 in sizes six to 20.
Tote Bag
No matter where you go this summer, if you are lugging around a big handbag you will not feel relaxed or if you have a rucksack you will be stopping every time you want to get something out of it. This £25 M&S tote bag is perfect to carry your essentials on a sunny day and is a spacious size without being too large, and it features two shoulder straps.
There is also a removable lining for practicality as well as an internal drawstring pouch that provides space for smaller items. This bag will go perfectly with your beach day outfit and the woven appearance gives a laid back and relaxed vibe. In addition to the natural colour option, the bag is also available in black, orange and green.
The bag has an overall rating of 4.5 stars, with one five-star review stating: “Great size for holiday and shopping colour perfect matches lots of clothes.” Another adds: “Love, love, love this bag. Quite a lot of room & the interior lining has a drawstring top..”
However, one customer warns: “Took on holiday but inner bag came away from main bag on day one , so had to keep arranging it to get my things out.”