Lorna wears a blazer and T-shirt from Arket.
There’s a misconception that you can’t find classic wardrobe items on the high street—that the pieces are too trend-led and their appeal will fade when new sartorial movements come into play. However, we’re here to prove otherwise.
All of our favourite high-street brands are known for getting specific things right, whether that’s an entire product category, such as COS’s trousers, or a particular item, for example, & Other Stories’ wool-blend blazer. These are the items that are either available all year round or re-released every season, and it’s no coincidence that they’re also the brands’ bestsellers.
To save you time and help you identify these high street items that are genuinely worth investing in we’ve rounded up all the most expensive-looking pieces that tick the ‘classic’ box as well. And the list you’ll find below also happens to be perfect for helping you build out your autumn/winter capsule wardrobes. You’re welcome!
Style Notes: Many high street destinations do striped knits, but none compare with & Other Stories’ elite selection in our opinion.
Style Notes: Fashion people everywhere have been wearing COS trousers on repeat for years. The quality and fit is impeccable.
Style Notes: Our editors have proclaimed this Arket T-shirt the perfect style. Need we say more?
Style Notes: Celebs, influencers and editors everywhere know the best place to turn to for expensive-looking wool coats on the high street is Mango.
Style Notes: I’ve tried so many different brands for cashmere, from uber-luxury to the high street’s offering, and M&S are the styles that have lasted in my wardrobe the longest.
Style Notes: There are only a few high street items with good enough quality and longevity for me to recommend buying them even if you had an unlimited budget—but I would choose ARKET’s blazers over any other brand every time.
Style Notes: One of the pioneers of the now-essential straight-leg jeans, Weekday’s denim department never fails to impress us. The most popular style is undoubtedly the Rowe, which rival pairs five times the price. They’ve also introduced curve options in their go-to shapes.
Style Notes: Although their pieces are still an investment, if you’re looking for real leather wardrobe items that will last forever thanks to their classic design and luxury quality, we’d always recommend making your way to Whistles.
Style Notes: Some high-street brands are guilty of taking their accessories a step too far, be it with oversized zips or unnecessary branding. COS, however, opts for the pared-back approach, making its arm candy the most expensive-looking out there.
Style Notes: As fashion editors we take shoes very seriously. If you’re looking for comfort, style, quality and excellent value—you can’t beat M&S.
Style Notes: While puffer jackets have proven popular across the high street, it goes without saying that Arket’s puffer coat collection is the chicest of them all.
Style Notes: There’s so many classics sold at H&M, but it’s their knitted dresses we come back to year after year as being the best, with the most inclusive sizing too.
Next Up: The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week
This post was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
