April showers might be on the way but we can still look forward to some lovely spring fashion. From what we recently saw on the catwalks, the new season outlook will certainly not suit everyone, but hopefully the high street will offer us more palatable options.

Leggings

Demand for leggings is so high that designers have reinvented them with fabric technology that ensures a more flattering fit, giving a leaner, longer leg. Not just for hitting the gym with a pair of trainers anymore, we’re seeing leggings paired with blazers, long boyfriend-style shirts and baggy jumpers, often with a pair of high heels!

Prices for designer offerings are sky high; Gucci offers a ski-style version that hook under the foot for a staggering £640. Fortunately, Marks & Spencer offer a diverse range after customers snapped up over half a million pairs of their high waisted jeggings. Not surprising given the price tag of just £17.50.

Shorts

After a winter of hibernating, short shorts are probably not what many of us will be rushing out to purchase.

Short shorts, referred to as ‘micro shorts’, were seen sashaying down runways and could barely be seen under long jackets. Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Gucci and others all showed models with little left to the imagination. Personally, I hope this trend won’t be with us for long!

Sheer

Sheer was popular last year and continues to be so. We’re now seeing it with mesh designs, see-through knitwear, and see-through lace. On the catwalks, transparent sheer tops were shown with cropped blazers, while diaphanous skirts and dresses continued the sheer look. Of course, you can always put a slip or camisole underneath.

Ballet pumps

Thank goodness for this continuing trend, which offers style and comfort combined. Worn with anything from shorts to jeans and everything in between, pumps come in an amazing selection of materials and colours. Try to avoid the inexpensive plastic pumps, as they will make your feet sweat and often lend little support.

Evening pumps seen on the red carpet can look very dramatic in velvet and satin, often with a metallic finish. The Mary Jane style is popular – Zara has a pair in a leopard fabric for £49.99.

Sportswear

Sportswear is now popular everyday apparel for many. Marks & Spencer recently added Adidas and Sweaty Betty to its ‘The Sport Edit’ as part of its strategy to extend its sports brand offering. Director of Third-Party Brands, Nishi Mahajan, feels this expansion makes M&S more relevant to its customers’ lifestyles.

With other new brands such as Columbia and Regatta joining the company and adding to its diverse offerings, it’s clear that M&S has shaken off its ‘middle age shopper’ image, and is now attracting customers of all ages. Supermarkets have done similar in recent years, offering a vastly improved range of clothing in great new chic styling at affordable prices.