Top eight M&S buys to nab NOW from pretty summer dresses to the perfect pair of sandals

WHAT a year it has been for the British high street.

Boarded up stores, furloughed staff and retail sales being the worst in 25 years, the pandemic has made our usually bustling local high streets look like ghost towns.

M&S

This striped shopper is perfect for bagging up all the essentials needed for a post lockdown picnic[/caption]

• Cotton Blend Striped Shopper Bag, £25 – buy here

High street stalwart M&S has been hit hard with 600 of it’s stores closed during lockdown and 7000 job losses.

But it’s not all doom and gloom over at M&S HQ. One year on and the high street heavy weight is adapting and changing their business to get them through the pandemic and beyond.

Unflappable, reliable and the purveyor of a great pair of knickers, M&S’s decision to expand it’s business and invest in online and the overseas market can only help futureproof the brand.

Later this month they plan to launch small and carefully curated ranges from brands including Joules, Hobbs, Finery, White Stuff and many more to add to existing collaborations with Ghost, Damaris and Nobodies Child.

M&S

Ready yourself for a summer of staycations in this floral frock[/caption]

• Printed Puff Sleeve Midi Waisted Dress, £39.50, buy here

M&S

Make a stylish return to the office with a pop of pink[/caption]

• Satin Floral Blouson Sleeve Shirt, £39.50 – buy here

M&S

What’s not to love about linen?[/caption]

• Irish Linen V-Neck Midaxi Tiered Dress, £79 – buy now

These small but perfectly formed capsule collections by established brands and chosen by the M&S design team will add another dimension to M&S’s in- house collections.

Add all that to a stellar collections from, Autograph, M&S Collection, Per Una and Good Move and things can only get better for this high street stalwart.

We may be in for a summer of staycations planned but good old M&S have totally got that covered and customers won’t be disappointed.

M&S

Whether you’re at the beach or hitting the park, this bag is sure to become a style staple[/caption]

• Straw Drawstring Cross Body Bag, £29.50 – buy now

M&S

Make a statement with this seriously regal pair[/caption]

• Jewel Drop Statement Earrings, £12.50 – buy here

The Spring/Summer in-house collection was bursting with big hitters!

Picnic perfect dresses, get-it-done utility jumpsuits and soft but stylish co-ords.

Tailoring and denim took on a softer, comfier feel with linen blends and slouchier cuts, the perfect pieces for power-dressing from home.

With searches on the M&S site going up on swimwear, dresses and heels it appears that the future is looking brighter and we are all looking forward to dressing back up again.

M&S

This jacket is just light enough to throw on any summer evening[/caption]

• Denim Waisted Collarless Jacket, £35 – buy here

M&S

A slip-on sandal is the hero piece of any wardrobe[/caption]

• Buckle Flat Footbed Sandals, £22.50 – buy here