The five items you need to survive the tricky transition into spring

It’s all very well to prescribe florals for spring, but the truth is, getting dressed at this time of year requires more practical advice.

Take the Met Office forecast for the week ahead – it reads like a meteorological word soup: “Sunny spells and heavy scattered showers over the next few days. Windy on Thursday and Friday, but winds easing into the weekend. Feeling chilly in the brisk winds.”

The message? Prepare for anything. Of course, this is easier said than done, but there is a positive here: confusing weather makes for good fashion, because for many well-dressed people, layering is the secret sauce.

Take the fashion writer Leandra Medine’s “shirt sandwich”, or the notion of the “middle jacket”; these are ways to introduce another texture or colour into your outfit that is both practical and raises your style game.

You’ll need the right kit to make the most of this sartorial opportunity; each piece needs to be beautiful yet practical, and must also work well with the rest of your wardrobe essentials. You probably have some of them already.

If not, read on for the five items you need to navigate this spring in style.

The modern trench

Hooded trench coat, £200, Cos 

Lightweight, rain-proof and elegant, a good trench coat can turn whatever you wear underneath into a legitimate outfit. If you don’t already have one in your wardrobe, now is the time to invest as the high street is flooded with strong options. 

This one from Cos comes with a hood, which is handy when your umbrella falls apart in a gust of wind, plus the neck tie detail is very chic.

An extra layer

Wool folk cardigan, £175, Brora

If you’re not leaving the house without an extra layer, are you even British? Sometimes it can feel like you’ve stepped into a different microclimate just by crossing the road.

The answer? A jumper – or perhaps a cardigan – either way, consider it an opportunity to add a bit of personality and joy to your look. Follow the lead of so many at fashion week and embrace the preppy art of tossing it over your shoulders and knotting the arms when it’s not required.

Ankle-baring trousers or skirt 

Tapered trousers, £195, Me+Em

Free the ankle! It’s the gateway to bare legs. Yes, wide-leg, puddle-length trousers are stylish, but they’re best saved for days when there’s guaranteed dry weather. 

Instead, seek out cropped trousers and midi skirts, which have an added benefit in that they are the perfect way to show off a chic shoe, of which there are many to try this season.

A good flat shoe

Mary Jane flats, £98, Boden

There are some brilliant new shoe shapes to consider this spring, all of them flat, so you can let your personal taste, rather than comfort, be your guide. It’s a little premature for open toes, so look to Mary-Janes, ballerinas and loafers to lend a modern spin to your look. 

A do-it-all dress

Marais wrap-front dress, £129, Aligne

Because it’s good to have options. A utilitarian-style dress in a heavy cotton or denim isn’t too flimsy (so gust-of-wind friendly), and works well with an extra layer underneath if needed.