May 28, 2020 at 06:00AM Whether you’re a shoe hoarder or a jacket fanatic, a dress lover or a bag addict, it’s safe to say that there is an independent brand to cater to your wardrobe needs.Thanks to word of mouth and the power of social media, theever-diversifying fashion industry is finally allowing niche labels to come to the fore. Big brands don’t have a monopoly over the landscape, as many customers are wanting to invest in original design and lesser-known styles. Sadly, some of these labels are being hit by the current crisis, and as a publication, we’re doing our very best to support the talent we love in any way possible. That’s why we’ve dedicated our end-of-month shopping gallery to these independent brands. Honestly, we were spoilt for choice, and we wish we could include every brand we came across online (although that would turn into a long article), but we managed to whittle it down to 49 summer-ready pieces. Of course, we understand that many of you are tightening the purse strings right now, but we would love for you to show your support by giving your favourite independent brand some airtime on social media, posting a nice comment on its feed, or even just giving it a like—every little bit helps! But if you happen to be in need of a little fashion-based pick-me-up this month, scroll down to see the pieces we’re loving this summer. Enjoy! Next up, the biggest spring/summer 2020 fashion trends you need to know about. Opening Image: @lucywilliams02 Author Joy Montgomery | Whowhatwear Selected by CWC
Tag: Who What Wear
7 Designers on What Makes a Really Great Pair of Shoes
May 27, 2020 at 03:55PM As you have likely heard countless times over the last few weeks, we are living in unprecedented times. Though that does not mean we should cease to seek joy in the small things, like say, for example, an exceptionally beautiful pair of shoes. In times like these, Who What Wear UK seeks to provide some light relief, and if Carrie Bradshaw taught us anything, it is certainly that shoes can spark joy. With this in mind, we spoke to seven designers—including Jane Frances of Dear Frances, Vanissa Antonious of Neous and Valentina Bezuhanova of By FAR—about what makes a really great pair of shoes, in an effort to understand how to curate a collection that will not only provide aesthetic beauty but also longevity and comfort. Of course, many of the designers below stressed the importance of investing in quality footwear and outlined the details which prove a shoe is well made—whether it be leather soles or hand-stitching. From It labels to fashion favourites, keep scrolling for seven designers’ advice on what makes a really great pair of shoes. “You either go for an amazing timeless black mule or you go for super special craftsmanship with colourful embellishments and statement pop of colour. You should invest in a handmade pair of shoes where the designer and shoemaker have left their heart and soul, and you recognize yourself in the little details—custom-made heels, hand-embroidered stones, special hardware… It’s all about the craftsmanship.” — Valentina Bezuhanova, cofounder of
Everyone I Follow In Fashion Is Wearing This One Uplifting T-Shirt
May 27, 2020 at 03:11PM As summer colours go, there are few shades that embody the radiance of the season quite like sunshine yellow. It’s a hue that can immediately put a smile on your face and conjure up images of cloudless skies and idyllic beaches. This week, the colour has taken up particular prominence on our social media feeds as editors and influencers prepare for the sunny season ahead, though there has been one specific yellow item that seems to be more ubiquitous than the rest: Frankie Shop x Camille Charriere’s Eva Padded Shoulder Muscle T-Shirt. From Alyssa Coscarelli to Ellie of Slip Into Style, and our very own US Editor-in-Chief Kat Collings, this particular Frankie Shop tee has certainly gained a fashionable following. However, we can’t say we’re surprised, as the item is not only on-trend for Spring/Summer 2020, it’s also a feel-good charitable purchase. Created in collaboration with Camille Charriere, 100 % of the profits of the Frankie Shop t-shirt will go to the Red Cross as a part of its #letthesunchainin initiative. Though, purchasing this mood-boosting tee is not the only way you can get involved. Frankie Shop recognises that it’s not about simply owning a new piece of clothing, which is why the brand has also committed to donating $1 to the Red Cross for every Instagram post which features the colour yellow alongside the hashtag #letthesunchainin. Keep scrolling to see how industry insiders are wearing the charitable tee and shop the item below. Next up, the biggest S/S
Trust Monikh—the Zara T-Shirt, £100 Sandals and Throw-On Outfit I’m Loving
May 27, 2020 at 10:18AM There are hundreds of thousands of influencers in the social ether, but only a handful who we religiously stalk in order to virtually steal the clothes off their backs. Our primary target is Monikh—the London-based styling and shopping guru who seeks out the very coolest buys from every corner of the retail world. From her inspiring tips on re-wearing her well-chosen investment items to hunting down the coolest high-street pieces, her Instagram feed @monikh and website are a veritable hotbed of things you’re going to want to purchase immediately (and will never regret). Each week, Monikh will share her new picks exclusively for you… I have been sticking to minimal staples recently, and this week I’m sharing with you three simple—but impactful—high summer pieces. I’ve stuck to a monochrome summer palette this week, with the Zara T-Shirt, sandals and throw-on outfit I’m living in at home. So what are you waiting for? Keep scrolling for my three summer buys. I love a two piece, its my absolute weakness I just cant say no! This knitted duo is soft enough to lounge in all day, while making you feel up and ready for work (if you’re currently working from home like myself). I’d wear this casually tucked into a pair of old straight-cut jeans. They come in different patterns every summer, and always sell out in record time. Buy them now and wear them day to night from now until September. These ethically made woven bags are
Our Dream Designer Brand Has Just Done the Coolest High-Street Collab
May 27, 2020 at 09:00AM It’s not often that a designer collaboration really makes us sit up and pay attention, but you know when 2020’s coolest dress brand joins forces with a high-street shoe brand that the results are going to be noteworthy. It’s fair to say that Cecilie Bahnsen is up there with some of the hottest brands to grace the style stage over the last 12 months. Instantly recognisable by its puff-ball silhouettes, air-light fabrics and general angelic whimsy, Bahnsen’s frocks have caught the imagination of the fashion crowd and helped lead the way in a new guard of Scandi designers. We have long been besotted. So you can imagine our excitement when we found out that it had created a beautiful capsule with Charles & Keith. Comprised of four flat shoe styles, the collection is inspired by classic Mary-Jane shoes and features Bahnsen’s signature upcycled quilted satin fabric including one pop of canary yellow. “Historically, the Mary-Jane was not just a shoe for girls. Right into the 20th century, little boys wore them too”, Bahnsen explains. “We made ours super feminine, more ‘lady’ than the shoes we’ve done before, working with patchwork and hand-drawn embroidery. It almost felt like we were morphing our dresses into a shoe.” These shoes might look otherworldly, but we have a sneaking suspicion that they will be a hardworking staple in your accessory capsule. We’ll be wearing the Anenome Mary-Janes with everything from smock dresses and denim to jumpsuits and tailored trousers. But don’t delay because if one thing’s for sure, they won’t be around for long. Scroll down to shop
11 Women on What to Wear to Increase Productivity While Working From Home
May 27, 2020 at 07:33AM Via government orders, anyone who is able to is being asked to work from home right now, and for many of us, it is a completely new experience. The temptation to stay in your pyjamas all day is rife, as is the desire to wear slippers non-stop and only actually style your hair for that one daily skype call your colleagues have initiated. In moments like this, there is high chance productivity might be waning, so we thought it would be best to consult a few experts and tap into the knowledge of women who have been working from home long before it was government-mandated. Whether they be freelancers, small business owners or working mums, the 11 women below have a wealth of understanding about what it means to be productive in a home environment and unsurprisingly, for many of them, it all starts with the way in which they get dressed in the morning. From having a specific pair of WFH ballet flats to pulling their looks together with a bold red lip—or even wearing a suit to the home office—here are the ways stylish women stay productive at home. “During normal times (which these are not!), I bounce between a coworking space called The Wing and my home office. However, even when I don’t leave the house for work, I make a conscious effort to get dressed as the morning routine keeps me focused and motivated. Styling my own outfits brings me a lot of
Scared of Prints? Here’s the Masterclass on How to Wear Them
May 27, 2020 at 07:00AM When it comes to Instagram, I am a repeat offender. I know what I like and tend to stick to the accounts I love the most. One influencer that I always go back to over and over for fashion inspiration is Nnenna Echem. The stylist and fashion editor first entered my radar a couple of years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Why? Well, she’s fearless when it comes to trying out new combinations of silhouettes or colours. But where she really shines is her ability to clash prints with bright colours like no one else. I decided to ask her what her best tips are and how she manages to pull it off every time. “When I first started to wear prints I remember that I didn’t like to mix different prints at the same time. But that was because I didn’t have a connection between the different parts of the outfit, so it didn’t look put-together. Today I can wear several prints. If the prints or patterns in your outfit don’t match, then you have to make sure that the colours in your outfit do. When I say match, I mean that the colour combination should match (e.g., pink and lilac, and mint green and sky blue). You can wear a pastel-blue blazer with zebra prints with a pink leo print skirt because the colours go well together.” “The more you experiment with colours and prints, the more you learn and discover new combinations. You should definitely
The Chic Coffee Table Books I’m Adding to My Basket Right Now
May 27, 2020 at 06:30AM I must admit that over the last couple of months, my spending habits have drastically changed. Whereas this time of the year would usually see me buying last-minute flights for a summer holiday, a new swimwear wardrobe and likely every SPF product under the sun, this year I’m rethinking my priorities. The truth is, before I spend money on anything that can’t be deemed a necessity, I mull the potential purchase over for hours, weighing up whether or not, given the current situation, my expenditure is worth it. With international travel, festivals and trips to the lido off the cards for a little while longer, I have found myself reinvesting my annual budget for such things elsewhere. Most specifically, in coffee table books. It sounds a little extravagant and niche, but hear me out. You see, spending so much time within the confines of my own home has somewhat limited my creative output. In an attempt to get my creative juices flowing once more, I have been looking at all of the different ways I can make my living space just that little bit more inspiring. And what better way to do so than with coffee table books that are just as chic on the inside as they are the out? Stacked on shelves, piled up high on tables and perched on my nightstand, there are coffee table books filled with some of the most inspiring images and words in every corner of my home. Keep scrolling for
This Affordable New French Skincare Brand Is Seriously Chic (and Seriously Good)
May 27, 2020 at 06:30AM Nothing gets a conversation going in the Who What Wear office (or should we say on Zoom calls?) quite like the topic of French skincare. From Avène and Bioderma to Nuxe and La Roche-Posay, some of the best skincare brands in the business consider France home. However, while such brands no doubt offer up some of the best formulas in the game (La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar range is, in my humble opinion, the best non-clinical range for breakouts that money can buy), I can’t help but feel like they have always lacked one simple thing. You see, everything about France oozes chic, except for their skincare. The clear-skinned, glowing results are of course chic, but the bottles themselves? Let’s just say they’re not the sort of thing you’ll want to keep out on your shelf. Clinical-looking and, frankly, a little boring on the eyes, French skincare doesn’t possess the same pretty exterior as some of its global beauty competitors. And we know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but is a great formula and a shelfie-worthy bottle too much to ask for? Enter Typology. Created by Ning Li, co-founder of Made.com, this new, Paris-based skincare brand is about to start making waves. First of all, let’s get the aesthetics out of the way because the products are, quite frankly, beautiful. The packaging is minimalistic in its approach but with an apothecary-style edge that is so chic I’m tempted to save empty bottles for decoration. Oh, and it’s
The Under-£100 High-Street Buys Bringing Us Joy This May
May 27, 2020 at 06:10AM Here at Who What Wear UK, we firmly believe that you don’t need to part with serious cash to get your hands on that perfect mood-lifting look, and with the high street offering up plenty of winning spring buys right now (thank you, Arket, Mango, H&M et al), giving your wardrobe a refresh just got a little bit easier. Add to this the fact that the high street is longer reserved for transient trends (and instead, developing its offering of time-tested staples) and you’ve got yourself a winning combo. Case in point: On our wish lists this month is everything from COS’ chic cami top and H&M’s puff-sleeve dress to Mango’s versatile linen trousers & ASOS’ very ’90s maxi dress. Together, they make the ideal new season capsule. So much goodness, so little time. So if you’re looking for that little sartorial pick-me-up, keep scrolling to see which hero buys we’re wanting to add to your basket this month. This linen maxi offers so many ’90s Friends vibes. Add to any summer ensemble. An expensive-looking top from the high-street brand of the summer. What we’re wearing on repeat right now. The back of this top is just as good as the front. Shorts are making a comeback for summer 2020. Just add chunky sandals and layered necklaces. Yep, Tevas are still making the rounds this season. Such a pretty shade of yellow. Who knew Nasty Gal could create such a winning smock frock? Chunky sandals are both comfy and cool. Such a pretty neckine. This tank with go with everything. A hard-working