SPRING STYLE REFRESH

We caught up with Instagram star Tina Abeysekara of @trashtotreasured fame at our new-season press show in London. From fresh florals to standout checks, these are her must-wear looks for the months ahead

The London look, sorted

“A blazer is a key piece in any wardrobe and easily adds polish to any look. When I see this blazer I immediately think ‘London’: the double-breasted shape, the military-inspired buttons, the standout check. It takes the beautiful elements of M&S’s tailoring expertise and softens them, with the frayed edges giving a more casual feel. Not only is it perfect for work but looks great at the weekend too. This is such a versatile piece and I’ll be keeping it in my wardrobe for years to come.

“My followers describe my style as ‘easy elegance’ as my key style concerns are comfort and feeling polished. This is where accessories really can sing. I’ve been wearing white shoes for years; I now see them as a neutral but they still add plenty of pop to a simple look. The magenta bag is a bit of a push on my usual style, but I really love the colour. It’s a great choice for spring and the gold ring clasp works really well with the gold buttons on the jacket.

“If you work in an office, I would swap the jeans for ankle-grazer pants in black or tan, or a gorgeous midi skirt. Add a white shirt if you go for the tan pants, or a light blue shirt with black pants to soften the overall finish.”

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Made from sustainably sourced cotton

Choose from berry or black

The new neutral heels

Meet our new Carrie jeans

A fresh take on florals

“I love that for spring M&S is taking a graphic approach to florals with big punchy designs taking over from more dainty prints. The print of this skirt moves the trend away from a purely feminine energy and looks great with white sneakers. The clean cut of the skirt blends the elegance of a midi skirt with a bang-on-trend print.

“I’ve paired it with a T-shirt made using cotton that’s 100% sustainably sourced. I have this particular tee in white and black multiple times over, as when I worked in an office it was the perfect partner to almost any look. The material moves with the body so you’ll feel comfortable all day. M&S works with the Better Cotton Initiative, which is incredibly important to me and makes doing the right thing for the planet even easier.

“On the sneakers there’s just a hint of leopard print. Animal print continues to be a massive trend – in winter we saw it all over skirts, knits, shirts and even boots! These sneakers are an easy way to play with the trend without having it take over the look. You’ll even be experimenting with a little print clashing! Simply swap in the heels from the look above and you’ve got the perfect outfit for Friday night drinks.”

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A punchy take on florals

Add a hint of leopard print

The perfect jacket for spring

Team with a plain tee

It's party season

“This is such a standout look for occasion season. Weddings are huge at this time of year and the key races are coming up too. When picking an outfit for these key moments, I look for a stand-alone, statement piece – something you can just throw on without needing to fuss over accessorising. This dress is sure to turn heads with its amazing magenta softened with a super-subtle lighter pink print. The elasticated cuffs also offer lots of versatility: you can attend a more casual affair by rolling the sleeves up or wear them full length at an evening occasion. The tie waist is also ideal for changing bodies, particularly if you’re pregnant as it will grow with you.

“I’ve paired the dress with these amazing yellow boots. I’m playing with colour this season and wore a yellow dress with purple heels earlier in the week. A yellow boot can easily replace a tan one in spring. They look great with jeans or a light denim skirt.

“The bag I’ve chosen is actually a cross-body, but I’ve tucked the strap in to create a more classic clutch. This is a great way to get more mileage out of your accessories. Simply let the strap out and swap the boots for sneakers to rock this look at brunch with the girls.”

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We spy the croc-effect finish

Not-so-mellow yellow

Layer up your colours

Get set for compliments

Interview: Ellie Spicer Images: Mikey Gayton Styling: Tamala Ayres and Tina Abeysekara