Shopping
8 things our fashion and beauty experts are buying this weekend
Having been spoiled with two Bank Holiday weekends in May, to have to work a full five days feels a bit unfair now, doesn’t it? If like us you’re in need of a little pick-me-up, we’ve got just the ticket for you in the form of our Weekend Wishlist.
Each Friday, we share the best picks from the high street from the likes of River Island, Boots, M&S and more. Whether it’s a new celeb-approved piece for your wardrobe, the latest beauty launches, or that always-sold-out viral product, you’ll find it all in our weekly round up.
Our team of beauty and fashion experts have trawled the new-in sections of your favourite retailers, spied on A-listers Instagram stories and set up alerts for restocks to help you work out where to spend your hard earned pennies this weekend. So what did we find this week?
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Now if you’re a fan of lightweight, cooling fabrics for the summer months, you’ll love this week’s edit. We’ve not only found a dreamy striped number from FatFace’s collaboration with Jude’s Ice Cream, but also a Frankie Bridge-approved favourite from M&S too.
On the beauty front, Laura Mercier has released a brand new setting powder that’s set to be an industry favourite, as well as a money-saving Sol de Janeiro fragrance set that will see you through the whole season. And since it’s Father’s Day next weekend, we’ve thrown some ideas in for that, too – as well as loads more.
So, here’s what we’re adding to our basket this weekend:
Frankie Bridge’s under £40 M&S dress
As she does every weekend, Frankie Bridge shared her latest high-street favourites to Instagram on Sunday (June 2). And our favourite holiday-ready pick was a stunning Marks and Spencer linen dress.
Priced at £39.50, Frankie’s Linen Rich Puff Sleeve Mini Smock Dress comes in a breezy regular fit. This fabric is a light and easy choice for smart or casual days, while its on-trend short puff sleeves create an ultra-feminine silhouette.
The 35-year-old said: “Not one for mini dresses usually in the summer but I love how this oversized, loose style makes me feel. I feel confident to have my legs out in this sort of style. I’m also someone who hates to be too hot so this airy fit is perfect! Would look cute with a big beach bag and sandals too!”
This style is available in sizes six to 24, here on the M&S website.
Drunk Elephant’s D-Bronzi drops
After months of being out of stock on every single retailer, the best-selling Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops are finally back in stock – and they’re on sale. Perfect for creating that gorgeous sunkissed look for summer, they’re currently on offer for £31.50 instead of £35 at Boots.
Described as sunshine in bottle, but without the damaging effects, our fashion and beauty expert Shani Cohen said: “With plenty of five-star reviews, it’s not hard to see why the drops are so popular amongst beauty fans, and having purchased them myself a few months back, I now can’t go a day without mixing these drops in with my moisturiser for a healthy glow.”
If you want similar glowing results, but don’t want to spend that much, plenty of more affordable brands have jumped on the bronzing drops bandwagon including Revolution’s Bright Light Bronzing Drops (£9.99) and Elf Cosmetics £12 Bronzing Drops. Or you can pick up the popular Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops for £31.50 down from £35 here – but be quick, as they’re bound to sell out.
Cat Deeley’s River Island skirt under £40
Cat Deeley regularly sports classy, elegant outfits boasting clean lines and tailoring, and her latest pick is no different. This week, the 47-year-old wore a dreamy Beige Long Tailored Maxi Skirt from River Island, priced at £38.
The skirt, made from 96 per cent cotton, is ideal for the summer months, with the breathable fabric working to keep wearers cool in the heat. Meanwhile the added elastane makes it more comfortable to wear all day. The tailored style of the piece is smart enough to wear for the office with a blouse, blazer and court shoes. But paired with a white vest top, linen shirt and sandals, you’ve also got yourself the ideal holiday outfit.
Costing £38, the skirt is currently in stock in sizes 6-18, and even comes in white, if you’d prefer. It’s concealed fastening gives it a more elevated feel, while the split hem adds a bit of sass. It even has belt loops so you can add your own accessories, too.
Sol de Janeiro Discovery Set
Sol de Janeiro’s fragrance sprays have been a viral success ever since the launch of the OG Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist in 2020, with some of the newer scents proving to be equally as popular. Usually £16 for a 30ml bottle, now, fragrance fans can get their hands on five bottles of perfume mist from the beloved viral brand for £8 each.
Priced at £40, the Sol de Janeiro Perfume Mist Discovery Set is ideal if you’d like to have all your favourites in a smaller format to take with you when going away. Alternatively, if you haven’t had a chance to try them out yet, but don’t want to commit to buying the full-size items, the bundle allows you to try out five of the fragrances for a snip of the price.
Our very own fragrance expert Jada Jones has previously tried the 62 scent and said: “’62 has to be my favourite of the full range, it takes everything you expect from a gourmand and puts it at an affordable price. When I wear this I feel like I’m a holiday dessert, good enough to eat and sunkis]sed. It’s a happy smell, I don’t think it’s possible to have a bad day while you’re wearing it. It’s a staple to any collection if you like a sweet scent.”
FatFace’s striped summer dress
FatFace has released a collection in collaboration with Jude’s Ice Cream and we can’t get enough of it. One piece in particular shoppers have been flocking to is the Maria midi dress, which is perfect for the sunny season.
The patterned frock comes in two lengths: short and regular. It has a retro-inspired design with a pleated skirt, a stripe pattern, thick shoulder straps and a back zipper. And the best part? It has pockets.
The stunning piece comes in a range of sizes, from a size six to 24 – but due to its popularity, some sizes are sold out.
The £69 item is comfortable and breathable, as it is made from cotton and linen, so you can wear it on even the hottest summer days. Want to add it to your warm weather wardrobe? You can buy it here.
Boots Mens Edit Grooming Box
Since it’s Father’s Day next weekend, why not treat your Dad, Grandad, Stepdad, or a father figure in your life? The Boots Mens Edit Limited Edition Beauty Box is worth over £118, but priced at just £38, not only saving money, but time in choosing a present for the occasion, too.
The kit features nine premium grooming and skincare must-haves – six of which are full sized – to help users upgrade their bathroom cabinet. Ideal for grooming gurus and skincare novices alike, the complete regime features everything from cleansers, toners and moisturisers, to everyday essentials like roll on deodorant and hair styling heroes.
Among the products, shoppers will find a selection of well-loved, iconic brands and products, like Liz Earle, No7, Bulldog, and Shiseido. One of the items, the Liz Earle Mens After-Shaving Moisturiser 50ml, is worth £25 alone.
But it’s not the only exciting product inside, with a face mask, serum and ingrown hair pads also waiting to be unboxed. If you want to know the full contents of the haul, you can read more about them here, or pick up the box on the Boots website.
Laura Mercier’s new Ultra-Blur Pressed Setting Powder
Keeping your makeup looking fresh and set in the heat is a challenge, but Laura Mercier has brought out a brand new beauty bag must-have to help. The brand is renowned for its cult classic Translucent Loose Setting Powder, but now, allow us to put you onto the latest Ultra-Blur Pressed Setting Powder.
This new addition promises to keep your make-up flawless for up to 16 hours thanks to its ultra-fine texture. Available in three universal shades to match any skin tone, it’s packed with amino acids, silica, and hyaluronic acid to ensure a silky, perfected finish and a comfy wear. It even comes with a sponge applicator neatly hidden within the compact, though you can also use your preferred make-up brush.
You can grab this gem from stockists such as Cult Beauty, John Lewis, and Selfridges at £44, but savvy shoppers can bag a 20% discount at Boots, taking the price down to just £35.20.
Mango’s £20 tote bag
If you’re after a bag that will see you through every summer occasion while fitting in all of your essentials for the day, look no further than this Mango Peonia Tote Bag, which is less than £20 at John Lewis.
Coming in at £19.99, the bag – available in tan, black and cream – boasts a boxy shape in a leather look fabric. It’s spacious enough to store everything you need for a beach day, but still smart enough to wear with your evening outfits, too.
Water resistant and easy to clean, it features an open top that adds to the relaxed aesthetic. And at that price, we’ll take one in every colour, please.