hero-buys

There was a time in the not-too-distant past that our daily getting-ready routines consisted of dressing from the waist up for Zoom calls, but now, as events are firmly back on the agenda, we’re taking stock of the contents of our wardrobes, and let’s just say things are in need of a little refresh. If, like ours, your clothing collection is feeling a little lacklustre after two years indoors, there’s one place that has an extensive edit of the newest pieces straight from the runway and ready for your perusal: Harvey Nichols. Hands up if in the last six months you’ve stood in front of your wardrobe contemplating what to wear to the office or which shoes are best to wear to a dinner date. Never fear; the luxury department store has got y...

Although it would be nice to start my grown-up wardrobe afresh with one of everything from The Row, that’s far from a reality unless I win this weekend’s Lotto rollover. Instead, though, I am increasingly on the lookout for those premium pieces that feel and look luxurious, but still come in under the £500 mark. These investment buys still feel incredibly special, and they work hard making the rest of my predominantly high street wardrobe look expensive too. Of course, if you’re spending that much on pieces you want to be able to wear them forever, so it’s mostly minimalist, monochrome items I’m being drawn to, that I can guarantee won’t age.  As I’ve been scrolling through all the new-in drops recently, I’ve been bookmarking all the pieces that fit this description. Ma...

A great striped jumper is an invaluable wardrobe staple. I genuinely think my breton knits are my most worn items ever— despite having a closet full of pretty dresses and more. Not only do they add a certain level of French-girl chic-ness to any simple outfit—even if it’s just jeans and a T-shirt— they also work all year round. At least, they do when you live in the UK. In summer, I’m rarely without a striped jumper either tied around my shoulders or thrown in my basket bag in case of a rogue downpour or chilly evening, and in spring, autumn and winter they’re my layering saviour.  So, I hear you ask, if I’m such a striped jumper expert, where would I recommend buying the best ones? No, it’s not an insanely expensive designer cashmere brand, my favourite breton knits of all time have ...

When it comes to style, I’m all about excess. I’m going through an OTT phase in which even my wardrobe staples have to have something a little extra about them. Maybe it’s post-pandemic loungewear fatigue or the excitement of a new season, but whenever I’m scrolling online or browsing in-store, I find I’m always drawn to those eye-catching statement pieces. Just check my saved folder—it’s filled to the brim with feather-trimmed trousers and those rhinestone-clad influencers who always happen to know where the after-party is. If you’re like me and also find yourself weak at the knees for a little full-throttle glamour, I implore you to head to the Karen Millen Pre Fall edit immediately. With more sequins than Cher’s costume department, this ed...

Part sportswear, part utility, with a healthy dash of All Saints energy (that is, the girl group rather than the brand), this laidback style is one of the more surprising pieces to have reappeared in my Instagram feed lately, but as with any trend that champions comfort first–I’m here for it.  From the classic khaki to tonal tan, a wealth of cargo trousers have appeared on the high-street almost overnight, but the brand to truly give cargo trousers the luxe makeover they so desperately needed was none other than the Frankie Shop. As soon as the now sold out Jenna Cargo Pants dropped a couple of months ago, they were considered an influencer must-have. And, for those a little sceptical about the ubiquitous shade of milkshake pink, the brand also have...

Being that I’m a fashion editor, shopping comes with the job. I spend hours every single day scouring the contents of online retailers, trying to find the very best of what’s out there. Because of that, it can be painful to stay on track with my budget, which hinders me from buying many of the designer items that tempt me on a daily basis. Luckily, I’ve become pretty good at finding pieces that look expensive but really aren’t.  Here at Who What Wear, we don’t gatekeep, especially when it comes to lower-priced finds that pack a lot of punch. That’s why I’m sharing with you my running under-£200 shopping list, which includes everything from high street hero buys to luxury staples. Essentially, it includes exactly what you ne...

It’s hard to believe that the 2022 summer sales are already here (isn’t it still February?). But the time has come, and luckily for us, it’s looking pretty darn good. Of course, & Other Stories was at the top of our checklist, as it’s a brand we always rely on for stylish, expensive-looking staples at purse-friendly prices. And as if by magic, to coincide with the sun making an appearance across the country this week, the brand new sale edit is packed full of summer-ready wardrobe gems to bolster your current rotation—as well as timeless staples you’ll pull out season after season. As you can imagine, there are some really pretty dresses in this mix (think puff-sleeved minis and flattering wrap styles in pl...

Working at Who What Wear gives you a sixth sense about the products that will be sell-outs—it’s practically in our job descriptions to find cult items that are actually worth investing in the moment they land on new-in sections. One item we think is destined to be hugely popular this summer is a £59 T-shirt dress from COS. Not just because this effortless piece ticks all our boxes for a wardrobe hero— easy, comfortable and chic, but also because it was a sellout last year as well (so you could say we’re kind of cheating with this one). This season, COS has cleverly doubled down after realising our collective love for a simple but impressive piece and brought this dress back— in new colours too.   The dress has an oversize fit and falls on the calf, with...

It can be a challenge working as a fashion editor to keep perspective when you’re often surrounded by so many beautiful, luxurious items. Our wish lists include designer pieces we’ve seen on an influencer, runway or celebrity that we could only ever dream of owning in reality ourselves. Yes, there are some pieces worth saving for, and we’re all about investing in a few key, timeless pieces that will elevate your wardrobe for many years to come—a leather handbag or camel coat, for instance. But when it comes to our day-to-day wardrobes, the Who What Wear UK team have become experts in channeling that expensive taste to find the most premium-looking but affordable pieces out there.  Since we’re entering a new season, and the weather is warming up ...

Okay, I admit it— I have expensive taste. When it comes to building my closet as a fashion editor in my thirties, I tend to err on the side of minimalist tailoring and elevated basics which tend to look better in beautiful, expensive fabrics. Often I think to myself I could do with an extra few zeros on the end of my bank balance to be able to indulge my fantasy of owning a capsule wardrobe filled with brands like The Row and Totême.  But in reality, that’s far from a priority— and after almost a decade of working in the industry I’ve had to get resourceful with my shopping habits in order to find the most expensive-looking pieces for more affordable prices. Not to toot my own horn, but I’ve gotten pretty good at it— and I now know which stores are best for which pieces, and...

There never seems to be a great deal of logic when it comes to the shape-shifting nature of fashion silhouettes, yet one thing is clear: These changes always arrive as a point of rebellion from what has come before. Case in point: The oversized silhouette has had a long-standing reign over the runway over the last five years or so, manifesting in everything from smock dresses to wide-leg trousers. The oversized blazer has remained a particular favourite, embraced by minimalists and maximalists alike and translated in a plethora of ways by both high-street and high-end brands.  Yes, we are starting to see the body-con fits of the noughties start to creep in, but I believe the XXL blazer has well and truly secured its place in the f...

There never seems to be a great deal of logic when it comes to the shape-shifting nature of fashion silhouettes, yet one thing is clear: These changes always arrive as a point of rebellion from what has come before. Case in point: The oversized silhouette has had a long-standing reign over the runway over the last five years or so, manifesting in everything from smock dresses to wide-leg trousers. The oversized blazer has remained a particular favourite, embraced by minimalists and maximalists alike and translated in a plethora of ways by both high-street and high-end brands.  Yes, we are starting to see the body-con fits of the noughties start to creep in, but I believe the XXL blazer has well and truly secured its place in the f...