‘I absolutely love these £30 M&S tops, so much I purchased all three colours’

The linen-blend blouse is perfect for warm weather dressing and is giving us all the Parisian chic vibes

As a fashion enthusiast who also enjoys saving money, I’ve developed a knack for finding the most expensive looking pieces at high-street prices. And one retailer that consistently delivers wardrobe additions that punch well above their price point is Marks and Spencer.

I was doing my weekly browse of the ‘new in’ section and came across the prettiest summer-ready top, and it’s already proving to be a hit with shoppers. The retailer’s Linen Rich Lace Insert Button Detail Blouse is giving us all the cool Parisian chic vibes, and is already selling quickly.

Priced at £30 and available in sizes six to 20, the blouse is designed in a regular fit with a feminine square neckline, decorative button detailing and delicate lace detailing. The linen-blend fabric and sleeveless design make it perfect for heatwaves and holidays, and is said to bring a ‘touch of elegance to your warm-weather wardrobe’.

Designed with subtle shaping through the waist, customers have said it has a ‘flattering’ fit and boasts a more tailored feel than a classic linen shirt, making it easy to dress up or down. It comes in a chic chocolate brown shade, as well as marine blue and white, but the latter two are selling out quickly, with the best availability in the Peat hue.

The blouse has earned a 4.7 star rating out of five on the M&S website, based on almost 200 reviews. One said: “Fits true to size. Very flattering fit. Also bought in the brown colour which is also lovely.”

Others love it so much they’ve purchased multiple colours, commenting: “I love this blouse, which I bought in Dark Marine, so much that I have just purchased a second one in Peat. It is well made, pretty and fits nicely.”

A third echoed comparisons to French aesthetics, commenting: “Lovely top. Giving Sezane vibes. Nips in at waist too.” By comparison, the Celinda Shirt by Sezane is £100, with the M&S version appearing some three times the price.

For those who would prefer to cover their upper arms, this Boden Rae Linen Top is on sale for £55.30 down from £79. Designed to ‘go with everything’, it features box pleats which add volume ‘in all the right places’, a subtle V-neck and discreetly elasticated cuffs for comfort.

Back at M&S, another fan of the affordable blouse said: “I absolutely love these tops, so much I purchased all 3 colours. I’m a size 10 mostly but, thanks to some very helpful reviews I sized up and found the 12 a comfortable fit, still shapely without feeling restricted. They wash well and are easy to iron, not itchy and haven’t shrunk.”

The main bone of contention, however, is the sizing, which is a theme in a number of reviews which suggest it runs small. One said: “This is my perfect top! I bought in blue and have been keeping an eye out in the hope the white comes back in stock. It’s cool in the warm weather but can be dressed up with skirts or some with denim shorts. I read other comments about sizing up and I’d agree. I’m usually a 10 but the 12 was best for me.£

Another added: “A lovely summer top that is simple but cool and practical to wear. Fits really well and doesn’t show your bra straps.”