Jess Cartner-Morley’s June style essentials: capri pants, crochet tops and the return of the kick flare

Bridesmaid dresses that are actually great

• Rewritten £149

Roma dress, shown here in sage green

Rewritten is an independent, London-based, female-founded brand that has been making grownup, chic, affordable bridesmaid dresses that you actually will wear again for at least 10 years. The Roma dress in satin is one of its bestsellers. Fifteen colours – you can order a fabric sample before you decide – and sizes from 8 to 22. So if your wedding WhatsApp is popping off with mutinous subgroups, take a look. Great for parties too.

For more, read our guides to the best wedding dresses and the best wedding guest dresses

Provence-worthy summer top that doubles as a chic layer under a blazer

• M&S £34

Cotton blend pointelle knitted vest

Pale crochet is timelessly summery and chic, and you get a suggestion of skin, which adds a pleasing frisson without overexposure. I came across this as I walked through Marks & Spencer at Marble Arch to pick up food for a picnic. I was absolutely not intending to buy any clothes, but am v pleased with this.

… and a matching skirt that turns it into a Wimbledon-worthy outfit

• M&S £36

Cotton blend skirt

I know, I know, I was only supposed to be buying olives and strawberries, how did I end up with a whole new outfit? On the plus side, I now know what I’m wearing if I snag a ticket to the tennis.

Denim shorts that aren’t just for holidays

• Cos £65

Knee-length denim shorts

There is such a joyous, beach-life vibe about wearing denim shorts. But short cutoffs have a narrow catchment area, in terms of how many days you can wear them. These knee-length shorts have an elegant silhouette that gives them grownup polish. Get them in the washed-out black, and you can dress them up with a mule and a silk tank for evening or down with a T-shirt and flip-flops.

A very good, slightly dressy sandal

• Whistles £159
• John Lewis £159

Block heel buckle sandal

Why is it so hard to find sandals that look nice with skirts and dresses? I’ll tell you, since you ask, because this is one of my pet peeves. Too many sandals have a strap straight across the top of the foot, just below the ankle bone, and it cuts your leg off – visually, I mean – at a jarring point. A strap that runs diagonally across the top of the foot, like this one, keeps the shoe secure to avoid rubbing, but looks so much nicer.

A Pucci-adjacent beach treat

• Tu at Sainsbury’s £8
• Argos £10

Blue wave bikini bottoms

I love the Slim Aarons chic of Pucci’s trademark swirls in the summer. I’ve spent more time than is reasonable scrolling preloved Pucci on Vinted in the past few months. Definitely not actually Pucci, but with more than a wink in that direction, these retro-styled bikini bottoms are a steal. There’s a bikini top, too, for £14. Some sizes are sold out, but you could get just the bottoms and mix and match with a plain black bikini.

Just a really cute bag

• Monsoon £45
• Very £45

Wooden beaded shoulder bag

Wooden beads give this bag flair while keeping the vibe chill. The neutral tones will work with any outfit, and it’s a great size – small enough not to be a drag to carry, but big enough to fit your essentials.

A summery sock update

• Alo £34

Half-crew sock

I was in Los Angeles recently, and at least half the sleek wellness kids in the line for Hailey Bieber smoothies at Erewhon were wearing Alo. The California brand is really good at fancy laid-back weekend wear that’s a bit more elevated than your average athleisure. Case in point: these delicious socks.

A divine bowl (and a brand to check out)

• Westwing £99

Handmade marble bowl

My eternally stylish colleague Mel alerted me to Munich-based homeware brand Westwing, which has just arrived in the UK. The garden furniture is super chic and good value. I’ve fallen in love with this marble bowl, which is beautiful enough to be in a gallery and will look so elegant on a coffee table or mantelpiece.

The return of the kick flare trouser!

• Maje £229

Red capri trousers

These delicious trousers make me feel as if I’m Sophia Loren, on holiday on the Amalfi Coast. Enough said. They are part of a collaboration between French brand Maje and Barcelona-based stylist Blanca Miró. (Very into the mesh loafers also.)