A Stylist Shares Her Go-To High-Street Brands & Pieces
Mastering the art of high-low dressing is all about having a discerning eye and an open mind. While I love designer fashion, my everyday style is a mash-up of brands – a realistic combination of everything from investment pieces to savvy high-street finds. In my opinion, great design is great design and so long as the quality is right, I'm in. The rules here are about wearability and longevity. If something makes my wardrobe work harder, or feels particularly special or timeless, then it's worth having. There are items I bought from H&M and Zara years ago that still have a rightful place in my wardrobe – high street doesn't have to be throwaway. Eveningwear, outerwear and accessories are where I tend to invest the most and these work as key 'elevators' in my wardrobe. The rest is a mix of well-considered, individual pieces from a broad spectrum of brands – you just need to know what they are and where to find them.
H&M For Knitwear…
If there’s one high-street name that does knitwear well it’s H&M – particularly sustainably-certified mohair. I've bought several jumpers from them over the years, mainly because the colour palette always feels contemporary and fresh. Boxy in shape and chunky in feel, they look far more expensive than they are and work well with simple satin skirts or leather trousers. They’re particularly useful for experimenting with colour blocking or clashing – the ideal effortless top half with a more adventurous bottom half. This season, it’s the wider-sleeve styles that look particularly elegant and elevated. I love the bold stripes, too – an ideal way to get the Gucci look for less. Finally, if you’re a neutrals girl, this long-line camel V-neck is about as classic as it gets. Belt it, put on a chunky gold necklace and style it with a long leather maxi coat and boots.
Mango For Jewellery…
I’m obsessed with costume jewellery – my collection is forever growing – and nothing elevates a look like a pair of bold earrings or necklace. Mango is my first port of call whenever I need to find luxe-looking jewellery for different styling jobs; it does gold statement pieces so well. Contemporary sculpted shapes, irregular pearls, hammered textures and asymmetric designs – all of it looks a million miles away from the high street, and far more like Alessandra Rich or Alighieri. I also love that the high street tends to sell these sorts of pieces in sets because, worn together, they pack a real punch. My advice would be stick to earrings and necklaces, though, as high-street bracelets and rings tend to discolour easily.
Warehouse For Dresses…
Warehouse has enjoyed a renaissance over the past few years, and I now scour its collections for feminine, vintage-inspired dresses every season. A weighty 70s-inspired denim dress I bought there a few years back is still a firm favourite. This season, it's the printed prairie midi dress that’s an absolute winner. If you haven't already got one and love that romantic, puffed-sleeve bohemian vibe, this is the piece for you. Just make sure you opt for cotton rather than anything too sheer or shiny – it’s the pretty pattern on a rich matte fabric that makes it look so much more expensive. Style it with cowboy boots now and make use of all those knitted vests and tabards.
COS For Tailoring…
If I'm after a blazer or more structured piece, COS is my go-to. For quality and cut, it’s hard to beat. Its contemporary interpretations of classic trouser suits look modern and expensive, and be it grey wool, brown tweed or black leather, the designs are minimalist but feel substantial. Look out for the COS Atelier designs – the satin-lapel tuxedo jackets look great with wide-leg tailored trousers. To make things look more modern, it's worth sizing up – particularly in jackets. An oversized blazer is a wardrobe essential, and you can always count on COS to produce high-quality garments that stand the test of time.
Zara For Jeans…
My favourite everyday jeans often come from Zara. It does something in almost every leg shape – nailing the classics like bootleg and boyfriend, while simultaneously delivering on trend-driven styles. In fact, Zara was one of the first high-street brands to revive the low-rise, straight-leg jean, and the wide range of washes and colours means there's something for everyone. Right now, I'm loving the longer-length baggy jeans which look more like Isabel Marant or Totême. Plus, if you're after a jean that looks a little more formal, Zara has a wide-leg pleated pair in a rich dark denim that look seriously luxe. Just remember Zara jeans often come up a little small, so size up if you’re unsure.
Finally, ARKET For Shirts…
There is nothing chicer than a perfectly crisp, cotton shirt. I love a striped one and wear it in so many ways – with leopard print trousers, paisley skirts, 70s-inspired flared jeans, and even as a beach coverup. They are an incredible layering piece and will never go out of style. ARKET does some of the best on the high street, offering up a variety of different stripe widths and colours (I'm having a real thing for monochrome at the moment) and the silhouette gives a boxy, modern look to it thanks to the great drop shoulders. Quality is everything though, and these definitely hit the mark.
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