From summer-ready tops and dresses to affordable hair tools, here’s what we’ve been buying this week
Spring is underway and we have recently had days of unbroken sunshine that have sent our team into a shopping mood. This week, we are bringing you major spring energy with our latest must-haves from the high street, including a gingham dress from Next and a frill tote bag to complete the look.
The biggest news in beauty this week has been the launch of Laneige’s deliciously adorable lip serums, which are inspired by glazed doughnuts. For brow lovers, there’s also a new shade of Blink Brow Bar’s Eyebrow Pen. It’s all about looking sleek and radiant yet effortless this season.
Whether you have a holiday in the sun to jet off to or need to train for the upcoming London Marathon, our weekend wishlist has got all bases covered.
Nisha’s picks:
Apricot’s crochet top, £30
I picked this top up in New Look a few days ago. I am going on holiday next week and need some pieces that I can easily pair with linen trousers, denim skirts, and shorts.
I’ve never bought anything from the Apricot brand before, but the colourful print and crochet design caught my eye. It comes up slightly cropped, and as it’s crochet, it has lots of eyelets, so I’ll be wearing a bandeau or vest top underneath.
One downside is that it easily snags. I picked up three different tops from the rail, as some were already snagged in the shop. I’ve even packed it in its own little bag to prevent it from catching on other clothes in my suitcase.
It comes in small, medium and large sizes. There’s also a blue colourway print too.
Amazon two-inch curling iron, £39.99
I bought this two-inch curling iron at the beginning of the month so I could create loose, beachy waves. It’s quite challenging to find a two-inch curling iron, as they tend to be around 1.5 inches in width, so I was very pleased when I found this device on Amazon.
It also comes with a heat protectant glove, to save me from unsightly burn marks. It has a 30 second heat up time and has seven different temperature settings.
It is a whopper, though, and if you have thick or long hair, your arms can start to ache after a bit. As it’s new, I’m still getting the hang of using it, but I hope I reach Chris Appleton-worthy hairdos soon.
Next’s gingham dress, £42
Yellow, particularly butter yellow, is very on-trend for the spring and summer, and this floaty gingham bandeau midi dress from Next ticks all the right boxes.
It’d be lovely to wear on hot summer days and holidays abroad, thanks to its floaty style. Or you could even pair it with slingback heels for a spring wedding.
I can’t wait to wear it on holiday this summer with tan sandals and a rattan bag. It’s offered in sizes 8-24 in tall and regular lengths.
One drawback is that it is no longer available in petite lengths. Petite is typically for those 5ft4 and under, so if, like me, you’re slightly on the smaller side, it might need altering.
It’s also available in lavender and monochrome colourways.
Eve’s picks:
Dream Sister Jane’s Meri Jacquard Mini Dress, £145
I don’t know about you, but 2025 is my year of weddings and with a plethora of nuptials on the horizon, I’m in need of a bunch of wedding guest dresses. As soon as I spotted this sunshine yellow Meri Jacquard Print dress from Sister Jane, £145, laced with metallic silver and blue accent, I knew I needed it in my roster as an investment dress.
Perfect for a more casual vibe, with its mini length, the dress is quite a bold statement thanks to its puffball sleeves and voluminous skater skirt. While it’s not exactly figure hugging – although perfect for indulging in the wedding breakfast and snacks – its shimmering metallic accents make it an eye-catching stunner of a frock. Its relatively high crew-neckline is the perfect base for a delicate necklace that you can contrast with some dramatic golden earrings, while some blue heels will tie in gorgeously with the blue motifs in the dress. On a sunny day, these buttermilk yellow sunnies from Damson Madder, £80, would go wonderfully.
Joanie’s Margarite Spicy Margs Boxy Fit Slogan Tee, £35
As a big fan of graphic tees, Joanie’s Spicy Margs design caught my eye for being simple but effective – not to mention bearing the name of a delicious cocktail perfect for the summery weather. Combining a gorgeous colour duo, pink and green, the tee has a retro feel thanks to its font and is a fun addition to a pair of jeans or, when the temperatures heat up, shorts.
Made from heavyweight organic cotton jersey, the slogan t-shirt is a good option for these chillier April days, and would look good underneath a denim jacket with the lettering peeping through.
Its crew neckline makes it easy to style with necklaces, and its oversized fit is comfortable. It’s been described by one happy shopper as ‘wearing like a dream’, with their review reading: “Just got this top as a mothers day gift, it was on my list already and it doesn’t disappoint, fabulous quality fabric, great boxy shape, vibrant print, true to size and wears like a dream.”
It’s a popular choice amongst fashion fans as the top has already sold out i sizes M and L, but S, XL and XXL are still in stock – if you want a more snug fit, the S is equivalent to 8 and 10.
Next’s Tan Brown Suede Chunky Lace-Up Sandals, £45
With summer in our midst, sandals are definitely on my wishlist. And while I dream of purchasing another pair of Dr Martens (in particular, these Gryphon sandals), for my bank balance’s sake, I’ve found these lovely Next alternatives for much less that have been receiving rave reviews from shoppers.
Made with a Forever Comfort footbed, to keep your feet sore-free, the Next sandals feature a suede leather upper, an open toe and a back strap. Coming in both black and tan, the shoes are a great addition to summer wardrobes and will go with pretty much anything.
Shoppers seem to be loving their timeless style, with one saying they’ll be wearing them for ‘years to come’. “A stylish, comfortable sandal. Great quality materials and well made. Will be wearing for years to come,” they said.
“I love them! Very trendy & extremely comfortable. The suede is so soft. Lovely sandals,” said another although they added: “Generous fitting, but didn’t have to size down.” The sandals’ weight was a point of contention for some shoppers, who found the shoes a little too clunky, saying: “They are a bit heavy,” but adding how they are “nicely padded, so hoping they will be good for summer days out”.
Glow Hub’s new Hydration Hero Eye Wand, £9
We’ve all struggled with tired, puffy and dull bags under our eyes from restless sleep that rival that of Ikea. To combat this, Glow Hub has launched a new eye wand that is affordable and feels lovely and refreshing on the eyes. Costing £9, the Hydration Hero eye wand uses a ball applicator to evenly spread Glow Hub’s hydrating, cooling and de-puffing eye serum. For use twice daily after cleansing and before serums and moisturisers, the serum is made with squalane, three types of hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid, which help to ‘plump tired under eyes with hydration’ and ‘deeply pull in moisture’.
As someone who often wakes in the night, I was eager to get my hands on this wand and while I’ve not seen major results just yet (having only used it a few times), my eyes definitely feel more refreshed and bright as the roller ball is cooling on my skin in the morning and it helps reduce that puffiness (especially if you keep it in the fridge).
Nobody’s Child Yellow Floral Daisy Embroidered Frill Tote Bag, £54
When summer comes around, one bag-style that I see constantly is the trusty tote bag. It can store everything you need for a day out with room to spare and can even double up as a beach bag. One design that has launched recently is this lovely Yellow Floral Daisy Embroidered Frill Tote Bag, £54, from Nobody’s Child’s new collaboration with Elizabeth Scarlett, that can bring the sunshine on the cloudiest of days. Decorated with delicate pink and green floral motifs from the designer’s original watercolours and dotted with bold daisies, the bag features a frilly edge and think straps and is made from 100% organic cotton, which makes it lightweight but pretty durable and sturdy. See the whole collaboration with Elizabeth Scarlett here.
Tiffany’s picks:
Laneige Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum, £19
Korean beauty brand Laneige has just launched the most adorable lip product – the Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum – and we are obsessed with its doughnut-shaped silicone applicator.
With all shades inspired by the glaze doughnuts like maple glaze, raspberry jam and more, the colours are completely buildable with a glossy finish. Your pout will thank you and there will be no chapped lips moment with these. Laneige has added argan ceramides to nourish and strengthen moisture barrier, polypeptide to plump lips with hydration and polyglutamic acid to retain moisture for up to 12 hours.
From Peachy Coral and Rosy Maple to Cinnamon Sugar and Strawberry Sprinkle, you can find the selection at Cult Beauty, Sephora and SpaceNK at £19 each. My personal picks are Cinnamon Sugar and Peach Glaze.
Columbia Anorak, £65
With summer festivals fast approaching, Columbia’s most iconic style is back with lovely colours and remastered with designs that makes it an outdoor must-have. The Challenger II Windbreaker is a lightweight anorak with water and stain repellent finish.
The SS25 colours are inspired by the Oregon Outback and Alvord Desert with washed tones and mixed-gender colour palettes that compliment both men and women. One thing I like about the anorak is that it is packable – fold up the sleeves and hood and tuck them inside the kangaroo pocket at the front and it can zip up as a handy pouch that’s perfect for travel.
Sizes available from XS to XL and you can get it here, £65
Blink Brow Bar Eyebrow Pen, £25
The brow experts have done it again and this time, they have launched a new shade for those with darker hair. The Eyebrow Pen in shade Cardamom has an angled tri-tip applicator that takes all the hard work of individual hair strokes, giving shoppers an effortless makeup experience.
You can achieve different brow looks by using light or heavy strokes and the results are stunning. Customers said their brows ‘appear fuller’ and it helps ‘fill out the sparse areas at ease’.
At £25 each, the Eyebrow Pen is also available in light shades – Chai (cool blonde) and Clove (cool brown).
