The Beast from the East has left the country and as the first blue skies we've seen in some time begin to emerge, our wardrobe can finally get the spring makeover it deserves. We're packing away our weather-appropriate boots, bringing out lightweight jackets (hello trench coats!) and thinking about pastels, florals, and zingy brights.
Ahead, team Refinery29 have picked their favourite pieces of the season, from acrylic earrings to prairie dresses via made-for-Sunday basics and the coolest new kicks. Click through to find the fashion items our staff are coveting right now.
Georgia Murray, Fashion & Beauty Writer
There's nothing Ganni can make that I won't fall head over heels for. This Little House on the Prairie -esque floral dress is top of my wish list, and will be worn with trusty Dr. Martens at all the summer festivals.
Ganni Beacon Printed Smocked Maxi Dress, £235, available at Browns
As soon as I get home I'm straight into my PJs, but only recently have I graduated from an old hair-dyed T-shirt and joggers. This floral two-piece will make me feel more grown-up, I'm sure of it.
Oysho Long Mimosa Flower Trousers, £19.99, and Long Sleeve Shirt, £25.99, both available at Oysho
I love anything with eye detailing and as I've recently started wearing all my rings at once, this would be a sweet little stackable addition.
Ruifier Orbit Infinity Iris Ring, £75, available at Ruifier
I've been obsessed with Vicky McClure since her turn as skinhead Lol in This Is England. IRL she's a babe, too, and this boiler suit that she's created in collaboration with on of my favourite UK brands, Finery, is the perfect throw-it-on-and-go spring piece. I'll be wearing over a roll neck with converse for work, and with Doc Martens at the weekend.
Finery McClure Jumpsuit, £139, available at Finery
Sohini Gogel, Head of Delivery, EU
I adore this Parisian brand. I often call my friends "Cherie" as a nickname, so I love this. It's simple, cool, sexy and 100% organic cotton. The sweet cherry on the cake: they deliver to the UK.
Faubourg 54 T-Shirt Cherie, £31, available at Faubourg 54
I love a nice comfortable pair of sneakers and this new brand, Sko, even more, thanks to this white perforated pair. They can make a basic get-up look great.
Sko Baskets Stairway White Perf Gold, £58, available at Sko
This mini Cult Gaia classic is on my wish list. And you cannot go wrong with pink. It's a bit pricey, but I love the shape and how unique the bag is.
Cult Gaia Ark Clutch Bag, £353, available at Farfetch
Natasha Slee, Social Media Manager
I'm short-sighted but haven't made an investment in prescription sunglasses yet. (Bar that one time I bought some really expensive prescription Ray Bans online, got my numbers mixed up, and had to beg them to give me a refund on the resulting warped pair.) I have a gorgey pair of '80s mirrored Ray Bans that I love, but I can barely see two feet in front of me when I wear them. I love Cubitts for their one-price-fits-all mentality, whether you're after a bold Iris Apfel-worthy pair or something more demure. This brushed gold round pair is equal parts John Lennon and Mary-Kate Olsen.
Cubitts Guilford Sunglasses, £125, available at Cubitts
This might just be the perfect suit for someone over 5'11". Long line jacket (no weird tailored waist that falls in the wrong place), and wide-leg trousers that 'come up long'. Dreamy!
Never Fully Dressed The 54 Jacket, £69, and Pants, £59, available at Never Fully Dressed
I have a pale green pair in this exact style, and they are wonderful. Super comfy, sit just below my waist, and stop just above the ankle for that perfect cropped length for spring. White jeans are great because after a few years, just when you thought they were too grubby to be worn in public again, you can chuck them in the washing machine with some Dylon. Voilà! New jeans.
Arket Fitted Overdyed Jeans in Ecru, £55, available at Arket
Tamar Riley, Marketing & Audience Development Director
This colour will drag me out of my winter uniform of black, and it's warm enough to welcome the start of beer garden season.
Kitri Studio Mabel Pink Roll Neck Jumper, £42, available at Kitri Studio
I've had this saved in my bookmarks ever since we published an article on leopard-print coats. It's not too bulky compared to faux fur versions – perfect for layering.
Ganni Camberwell Coat, £225, available at Ganni
With lots of big birthdays and weddings this year, I'm hoping this will be perfect.
Ganni Tilden Mesh Maxi Dress, £230, available at Ganni
This will bring the sunshine to my Easter break, even if I am sat in rainy Margate. Halterneck styles are not my friend; this is a simple, well cut classic.
Three Graces London Asterea Triangle Bikini And Brief Set In Tuscany, £170, available at Three Graces London
Sheloa Nichols, Director of Content Production
I'm very much in genuine leather love with these Samsoe + Samsoe Burma trainers – not too brand heavy and green goes with everything, just like fresh-cut grass. Spring, where are you?
Samsoe Burma 9580, £169.95, available at Samsoe
This American Vintage Dalida jumpsuit is my second favourite purchase of 2018 so far (the first was a vintage cream blazer with pearl detail from the wonderful charity shop FARA in Islington, but I digress...). The jumpsuit fabric is heavenly, it's light and cool but the right amount of weight to drape your body just right. It's tightish in the bust (with cute crossover back straps) but loose in the legs and bum, so equally fetch and comfy. I see myself wearing this a lot with trainers and heels.
American Vintage Dalida Jumpsuit, £140, available at American Vintage
Dresses are my FAVOURITE – easy, comfortable, they show off your shoes... the list goes on. I was delighted at the great quality and fit of this very budget-friendly Mango floral wrap dress. Its '40s-style button detail mixed with a modern midi length is really fun and I love the colours.
Mango Floral Wrap Dress, £39.99, available at Mango
Sian O'Flaherty, Senior Branded Content Manager
Ridiculously expensive for a tee but what a motto.
Livincool Wavy Pink Logo Black T-shirt, £47, available at Livincool
I'm 100% obsessed with ugly, dad style, chunky trainers. Sadly my budget won't stretch to the Balenciaga Triple S so I'm going for these chunky Eytys bad bois. Desperate to wear these with a pair of tailored black trousers.
Eytys Jet Tumbled Trainers , £195, available at Eytys
This dress looks like Reformation but at a fraction of the price! I can't wait to wear this with a straw bag and slides come summer. A backdrop of the Amalfi coast wouldn't go amiss either (a girl can dream).
Mango Striped Linen Dress , £29.99, available at Mango
Fully aware I'll look like an extra from Blade Runner in these but I <3 them anyway. Très chic.
Le Specs The Last Lolita Sunglasses , £75, available at Mytheresa
I'm forever on the hunt for the perfect hoop earrings and I think I can finally say the hunt is over. Imagine these with a crisp white tee and straight leg jeans. Yum.
LUV AJ Baby Amalfi Tube Hoops, £28.69, available at Revolve
Rose Lander, International Co-Ordinator
I'm completely over all the warm things in my wardrobe now the Beast from the East has slunk off, and am lusting over a simple Uniqlo jumper to see me through the spring. This new powder-blue shade in particular is calling my name. Even if this one jumper won't magically transform me into a chicer, more Parisian, refreshed version of myself, I think it will definitely help.
Uniqlo Extra Fine Merino Crew Neck Sweater, £24.90, available at Uniqlo
My search for the perfect pair of high-waisted trousers (that manage to hug my waist without giving me vicious camel toe) continues, and this pair could well be the one. Besides, I'm hoping that investing in a bright red pair of bottoms means I'll have the perfect pair for my extensive collection of stripy T-shirts, because who really needs to wear anything else?
Zara Wide-Leg Trousers With Turn-Up Hems, £39.99, available at Zara
Kara Kia, Editorial Intern
I’m a sucker for a slinky slip dress, especially in radiant jewel tones like emerald. This satin dress from Mango is definitely on my to-buy list for spring. It is so versatile and elegant. It can go from day to evening, can be layered under a jumper for colder days and worn on its own for the warmer months ahead.
Mango Asymmetrical Satin Dress, £59.99, available at Mango
As an Aries myself, I would buy their entire collection if I had the coin to rep the coolest sign of the zodiac (arguably). For spring, I love pairing an oversized jumper with a flare mini skirt and trainers. The Temple Crew is yet to be released for Aries' SS18 collection but as soon as it drops, I'll be at the checkout.
Aries Temple Crew Sweatshirt, available soon at Aries
My sartorial plans for spring/summer include channelling my inner Jane Birkin with a beautifully sculpted basket tote. This gem is the perfect piece to put a little effortless Parisian vibe into any outfit. Made of natural bamboo and completely collapsible for easy travel storage – sign me up!
Cult Gaia Lilleth Small Collapsible Bamboo Tote, £190, available at Net-A-Porter
Anna Jay, Art Director
I'm obsessed with this powder blue, championed by the late Richard Nicoll. I feel like this turtleneck is going to be my all-seasons go-to, and a welcome injection of colour.
Weekday Beijing Turtleneck, £40, available at Weekday
The majority of my wardrobe is made up of timeless classics, which I'd prefer to spend a bit more on to ensure they stand the test of time, adding a few directional pieces each season. I love the shape of this boxy tee, plus this brand donates 90% of its profits to charities and the makers.
Ninety Percent Striped Oversized T-shirt, £40, available at Ninety Percent
I can't imagine a day where the temperature is over 10 degrees but when that time finally comes, I'll be cracking this out for both work and play.
Zara Wrap Skirt With Contrast Stitch, £29.99, available at Zara
Sadhbh O'Sullivan, Social Media Assistant
This ticks all my boxes – interesting print, treading the line of 'masculine' and 'feminine' and coming out 'hard femme', recycled materials. Ticks them so much that I actually already bought this suit and have been swanning around my flat in it. The pattern! The cut! The fit of the trousers! It's ideal. Gonna wear with a white polo neck, doorknocker earrings and fancy red boots as the ideal 'dressed up but not too dressed up' outfit. Also, both jacket and trousers work perfectly individually: jacket over my green Birdsong dress, trousers dressed down with a slogan tee and Converse.
Reclaimed Vintage Inspired Check Relaxed Blazer, £50, available at ASOS
Considering she's all the way in Australia, I have a Yippy Whippy problem – I already own three pairs of her earrings but I just want more. I'm not very good at wearing florals but this is the ideal way to herald spring IMO: bold colours, a wee bit of glitter, and something a bit playful.
Yippy Whippy Tulip Earrings, £20, available at Yippy Whippy
This slogan tee from Birdsong is perfect. Made exclusively for International Women’s Day, the limited edition tee is inspired by Maya Angelou’s seminal poem and is made ethically and sustainably by women based in London. It’s perfect for work or play.
Birdsong Still I Rise Embroidered Organic Cotton Tee, £26, available at Birdsong
Meg O'Donnell, Photo Assistant
I can't believe how long I've gone in life without owning a pair of dungarees? I am going to fix this little issue and buy these immediately! Such a winning item for this time of year as I can pair with a thin sleeved blouse for a sunny yet chilly day or with a large, colourful jumper for that classic British weather.
ASOS Design Denim Dungaree in Stonewash Blue, £42, available at ASOS
I'm off to France at the end of March for some countryside, cheese and wine. This bag is necessary for said trip. I will be teaming with a monochrome stripy top (of course, when in France), my favourite pair of light blue boyfriend-fit jeans and my Dr. Martens sandals in tan. Bring on the fromage!
Urban Outfitters Circle Straw Crossbody Bag, £45, available at Urban Outfitters
The colour, the fit, the hem! This is the most perfect shirt and has spring written all over it. Also, what a bargain?
H&M Blouse with a Flounced Hem, £19.99, available at H&M
I will wear this gorgeous number over a fitted shirt for when the weather is slightly cooler, and go for it on its own as the summer temperatures begin to creep in.
H&M Ribbed Top, £19.99, available at H&M
Jess Commons, Living and Wellness Editor
Hold the front pages everyone, I'm buying my first non-black item of clothing in five years. This dress even comes in black and white as well, and I still chose the blue and red one. What's happening? Have I finally had enough of black? Or is it just a really nice dress?
Stradivarius Stripe Satin Wrap Midi Dress, £35.99, available at ASOS
This blouse is exactly what I need to inform people that I am a grown-up, fully functioning member of society. It will work extremely well with a polo neck underneath or without when summer finally comes around. I also have a sneaking suspicion it would look smashing with a pair of jodhpurs and riding boots, a look I am fully up for trying if someone can lend me a horse.
Kitri Persephone Vintage Blouse, £85, available at Kitri
One of these days guys, mark my words, I will get a haircut and not only will I look slightly more sleek, my earrings will again be on show. Therefore, it is vital I invest in a marvellous new pair. Like these sun ray ones from Rachel Jackson London.
Rachel Jackson London Sunrays Hoops Gold, £95, available at Wolf & Badger
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