Jess Cartner-Morley's May style essentials: life-changing jeans and the ultimate holiday shoes
May is my favourite month. It looks great, for a start, with the best of the blossom and everyone wreathed in bank holiday smiles. If you're in the market for a little treat to celebrate, look no further. I've got the just-loose-enough new-season jeans and the snap-up-now holiday shoes.
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I've also got an absolute steal of a wedding-guest dress and a great dupe for my favourite White Lotus sunglasses. Plus, a couple of bits that I've snuck in just because I love them and I think you will, too. Happy best month of the year, my friends.
Lee Rider loose straight jeans
From £75 at Lee£95 at Anthropologie
I'm not going to sugar-coat this any longer, people. Jeans that are at all clingy on your legs look dated now. This is not about trying to look younger; it's about not looking as if you're stuck in the past. If you make one change to your wardrobe in 2025, switching to a loose jean shape should be it. I have found the holy grail of jeans for grownups, which look cool but not ridiculous. Lee, which at 136 years old has almost as much heritage as that other denim brand beginning with L, has a Rider loose straight jean in quality rigid denim and a generous but not floppy silhouette. Gamechanger.
Navy blue cape maxidress
£72 at Next
This dress is giving Roland Mouret. Or Roksanda. It has a covered-up drama that is very Claudia Winkleman on Strictly. One of my shopping bugbears is that most 'occasion' dresses – party frocks, wedding guest outfits – seem to assume a temperature of about 24C, which does not track with most British weddings, in my experience. This maxidress from Next comes in black, but I'd get it in navy, olive or burgundy to make it most useful for daytime or evening.
Jelly slip-on ballet pumps
£19.50 at M&S
Yes, I know it's only May, but I'm worried these will sell out. The Row's red jelly shoes, as worn by Jennifer Lawrence, are £860; these M&S jelly ballet pumps are £19.50. A jelly shoe is pure holiday nostalgia, but also practical – you can clean them under the tap and drop them in your basket bag. Get them now and you can slip them on for pottering around the garden while daydreaming about your hols. So much good stuff in M&S right now. I'm also close to pulling the trigger on the pure cotton halter neck midaxi beach dress (£39.50).
Stripe cotton shirt in blue
£45 at John Lewis
On the subject of holiday shopping, I'm seeing a whole lot of striped shirts being sold as 'beach cover-ups'. I am all for the idea of a striped shirt as a beach cover-up, but I'm pretty sure you don't need to buy a striped shirt specifically for this purpose. The striped shirt you already have in your wardrobe is perfect with jeans now (see number one, above) and – unbuttoned, with sleeves rolled up – on holiday, too. This blue John Lewis shirt is a great version if you are in the market for a classic.
Winnie sunglasses
£30 at the White Company£29.95 at Amazon
Do you remember the sunglasses Chloe wore on the boat … in the White Lotus series 3 episode where they go to the full moon party? With the pink Jacquemus swimsuit and sheer skirt? Well, I do, and I think about them at least twice a day. I think they're Oliver Peoples, but this shape is similar.
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Cherry bead earrings
£17.99 at Zara
A few weeks back, I wrote about how the era of the plain hoop and simple chain is over, and it's time to start wearing fun, colourful jewellery again. Lots of you were quite cross with me about this because gold-hoops-with-everything was a helpful style shortcut that took one decision off your morning to-do list. Sorry, but also not sorry, because I'm right, and also because, look at these! Adorable! Even if these aren't your bag, I recommend a whiz through Zara jewellery at some point. It is always at the outsize and eccentric end of the spectrum, which felt wrong until recently, and now suddenly feels right.
Ikesia sandals
£215 at Ancient Greek Sandals
I'm going to Greece on holiday next month. I am SO excited. A Greek holiday calls for the perfect Greek sandals, which I believe to be these. They're an investment buy – £215 – but just the right balance of chic and practicality. Ancient Greek Sandals are traditionally made in Greece in beautiful soft leather. I like a slingback – they stay on better – and I hate a toe hoop, which is a blister waiting to happen; but the brand has various shapes to suit what works for you. The Ikesias are available in black, tan and ivory.
Breah blouse
£105 at Sézane
I am a big fan of a blouse with a square neckline, which is a wearable way to show some skin without feeling exposed by lots of cleavage. You have to judge it right, though. I would avoid drawstrings or puff sleeves, which can tip it into tankard-of-beer-at-Oktoberfest territory, when the look we are aiming for is more café au lait in Paris. Sézane is a brand with a beautiful taste level. It just doesn't make naff clothes. This Breah blouse, in guipure lace made from recycled polyester, has a vintage feel and elbow-length sleeves.
Sparkly knitted cape
£108 at John Lewis£108 at Jigsaw
Those of you old enough to remember the pashmina will understand the solid-gold usefulness of a piece that you can wear over a fancy outfit to keep a chill off, without killing the vibe. This cape has the spirit of the pashmina, crossed with 2025's passion for knitwear that drapes around your shoulders. It could be the top half of a look all by itself, over a T-shirt and jeans. It can also be draped around your shoulders, like a shimmering stole, to take your party dress outside or after dark.
Embroidered fringed dress
£79.99 at Zara
I try so hard to be practical and useful for you wonderful people, I really do. To recommend Sensible Buys. Sometimes, though, there are pieces I want and desire and crave even if I can't pretend for a moment that I need them. I'm not going to make a logical case for this dress; I'm just putting it here because it's gorgeous and unusual and affordable and maybe now and again, that's enough.
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