What to wear when the weather in May is miserable

I woke up this morning, looked outside my bedroom window and it was November; wet, windy and bleak. Dreadful weather is especially frustrating when the month is, in fact, May. How do you stay warm and protect yourself against the elements without reverting back to your winter woolies? Colour is key, denim is essential and trainers are a gift.

Choose a coloured knit instead of one in a dark neutral. It instantly looks fresher and feels more spring-like, but you’ll stay cosy. A shade like this gorgeous cornflower blue will work well with this season’s on-trend colours of biscuit and beige, making your whole outfit feel current.

Cashmere crew-neck jumper, €125 at arket.com

Add a fine-knit jumper to your wardrobe, such as this version below from Arket (it also comes in pink). I own a couple and they’re wonderful for layering under dresses or sweaters. Again, because they come in such pretty shades, they’ll brighten rather than deaden your look.

Merino fine-knit jumper, €49 at arket.com

Invest in a couple of loose-fitting coloured knits also, as they can be easily layered when it’s cold, but they’re equally good thrown over a camisole when the weather warms up.

Pink cardigan, €59.95 at Meadows & Byrne

When the weather is mixed, I rely on denim a lot because it always looks seasonal, even when it’s black, although I tend to go for white jeans at this time of year. I recently bought a terrific high-waisted pair in Topshop, I have a pair of white denim culottes from River Island, which I love, and a pair of cropped AG Denim jeans from Seagreen, which have converted me entirely to this premium denim brand.

White slim-leg jeans, Boutique, €76 at topshop.com

Step outside your white trainers comfort zone and choose a pair with colour and texture; they’ll bring life to the simplest, most understated of outfits. You can wear them comfortably in the rain without worrying too much about dirty marks, plus you can literally go anywhere in them and feel chic, so they’re a day-to-night option, which the flat black boots you usually wear in poor weather aren’t.

Superstar distressed velvet and leather sneakers, Golden Goose, €365 at net-a-porter.com

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