M&S head of womenswear design shares advice for styling summer’s hottest knitwear trend
June 2026 Pointelle is a delicate knit technique characterised by small, decorative openwork. The soft and subtly sheer jersey fabric is trending with UK Google search volume surging 36% in the past year and 486,000 searches in the past month (Google Trends).
Lisa Illis, head of womenswear design at M&S, explains why pointelle is so big right now, and shares advice on how to style it:
“The openwork construction and cotton-rich composition of pointelle makes it perfect for summer because it is incredibly breathable. Its lightweight, perforated texture also makes it great for adding visual interest to a warm weather outfit without the bulk or weight of heavier knitwear.
“The resurgence of pointelle is no surprise given some of the other trends we’ve seen dominate over the past 12 months. Inherently nostalgic, it nods towards the ‘Cottagecore’ aesthetic. Plus, it is inspired by lace which, of course, speaks to the underwear-as-outwear trend.
“Although traditionally associated with lingerie and sleepwear and predominantly worn in winter, the best-sellers from our SS26 collection prove pointelle is no longer just for lounging and is ideal for summer. On our website in April, we saw demand for pointelle rise 245% compared to April the previous year (M&S internal data).
“Balance the dainty, feminine appeal of pointelle by styling it with something modern, clean and directional - think chunky accessories and structured tailoring.”
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