6 Easy Outfit Ideas I'll Be Wearing on Rotation This Month

With the seasonal shift comes plenty of sartorial confusion, and by the time May rolls around, we're all feeling pretty impatient. After months of sub-10-degree temperatures, haven't we earned the luxury of stepping out in breezy cotton dresses and strappy sandals? May is a tantalising time because we're almost in summer, but the weather remains unpredictable (in the UK that is—if you're living it up somewhere along the Amalfi Coast or on a balmy Greek isle, please don't rub it in).

But rather than lamenting the lingering clouds overhead, choose to celebrate that we're one step closer to sunshine. In wardrobe terms, this means adding warm-weather items into your day-to-day roster. It might just involve a minor adjustment here or there; a T-shirt instead of a long-sleeve top, a basket bag instead of a leather cross-body. Little by little, we can start slipping into a summer state of mind, and hopefully, the blue skies will follow. Who's with me?

To help you out, I've rounded up six stylish outfits from Instagram that I think are just right for May. And I've made them all shopable so the looks are even easier for you to recreate. Check them out now, thank me later.

What to Wear in May: 6 Perfect Outfits

1. Light Layers + Wide-Leg Jeans + Mary Janes

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(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

Style Notes: The Parisian style set is our most-trusted source of elegant and easy-to-copy outfits, like Emmanuelle's. Throw a light trench coat on top if the temperature drops; I promise it will still look just as chic.

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2. White Midi Dress + Loafers

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(Image credit: @emmarosestyle)

Style Notes: It's still too early for strapless cotton dresses, but a long-sleeved option like this one will add a lightness to your wardrobe (and mood). Pair with loafers over sandals to keep it from feeling too high-summer.

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3. Cardigan + Cargo Trousers + Belt

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(Image credit: @monikh)

Style Notes: May is the month when we switch from chunky knitwear to more verstaile cardigans. It's the season to show some skin, so team your favourite trousers with a slouchy tee and an on-trend studded belt.

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4. Floral Blouse + Slip Skirt + Plimsolls

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(Image credit: @dawn.tan)

Style Notes: A cotton skirt works whatever the season, but I'll be taking my cues from Dawn and styling mine with a crew-neck knit and heeled ballet flats this month.

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5. Oxford Shirt + Denim Skirt + Chunky Sandals

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(Image credit: @sasha.mei)

Style Notes: Denim is something we wear year round but, personally, I think it comes into its own at this time in the year. In lieu of jeans, try a denim skirt—maxi lengths feel particularly on-trend—with a classic blue-stripe shirt.

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6. Printed Dress + Matching Jumper + Tote Bag

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(Image credit: @oliviamarcus)

Style Notes: By now your bulkiest knitwear is probably safely stored away, but we recommend carrying lighter styles with into the warmer season—this is Britain after all! Try wearing a printed dress and choosing a colour from within it to match to.

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Freelance Fashion Editor

Bébhinn Campbell is an Edinburgh-based fashion and lifestyle writer and editor. She started her first blog at age 14 and went on to intern at print and digital publications in Berlin and London, including Dazed Confused and Indie magazine.

A job at a fashion startup took Bébhinn from Ireland to Scotland in 2019, where she now works as a freelance journalist and copywriter covering everything from travel and interiors to styling advice. As a contributor toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , Bébhinn always keeps her eyes peeled for emerging trends and looks worth writing about. She prides herself on her ability to cut through the noise and identify solid investment buys, exciting new brands and fresh takes on classic design.

In her spare time, Bébhinn enjoys perusing Edinburgh’s best vintage shops, working through her out-of-control book collection and watching dog reels on Instagram.