April 25, 2020 at 06:00AM We might not be perusing the high street’s newly-stocked summer rails as we would usually this time of year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a bit of window shopping courtesy of our favourite high street labels, Topshop, H&M and Mango. This trio has really stepped up its game this season when it comes to beautiful, warm weather-ready pieces, that not only cater to our new at-home routines, but are also classic enough to stand the test of time and look above and beoynd their price tags. Many of our highlights are probably styles you already have at home, so if you’re trying to cut back on spending right now, feel free to use our edit as a jumping point to help pinpoint pieces in your pre-existing capsule. We’re thinking classic white tees paired with beige joggers and gold jewellery, utility jumpsuits thrown together with chunky sandals, and plenty of knee-grazing, floaty smock dresses. Neutrals are still hogging the limelight for 2020, but if you want to introduce some colour then try a pale yellow (see H&M’s dreamy wrapover blouse), or rusted orange (Mango’s puffed sleeved midi is perfection). So, whether you’re on the lookout for some fresh outfit inspo or in need of a new pieces to fill holes in your summer wardrobe, scroll down to see our edit of the best new-in buys from Topshop, Mango and H&M. Up Next: Your Guide to the Key Trends for Spring/Summer 2020 Author Joy Montgomery | Whowhatwear Selected by CWC
Tag: Who What Wear
43 Under-£100 Homeware Buys From H&M, Zara and More
April 23, 2020 at 06:00AM One of the things that I keep finding myself doing while in quarantine this month is falling into interior decorating holes. I’ve spent hours finding new homeware brands and cool interior design Instagram accounts for inspiration. I’ve also been getting lost on Pinterest. This is partly down to nosiness and a desire to see how other people are using their spaces, but also because I have an impulse to show more love to my home while spending so much time indoors. I’ve cleaned more than ever before and spent a whole weekend lovingly painting one door. Like many of us, I’m being careful with my spending, so the last thing I’d want to do in this period is make people feel like they need to spend more or feel pressured to make home improvements. As someone who has recently moved into a house, I know just how expensive interiors can be, and so I want to share some of the things I’ve found along the way. Ever since I got my moving date back in January, I’ve been on the lookout for home accessories with some personality that are under £100. My favourite places to shop have been H&M Home, John Lewis, Arket and Zara Home, as they are sites I regularly browse for ideas and escapism. Items that have stood out to me recently are Arket’s zebra blanket, H&M’s oversized ceramic vases, and Cox and Cox’s padded floor cushions. Monikh’s vase is from Zara
The 10 Sandal Styles We’re Spotting on Our Feeds This April
April 23, 2020 at 06:00AM From chunky hikers and minimalist slides, to lace-up kitten heels and sleek slip-ons, it might not be summer, but Instagram has been positively fawning over sandals this April. Of course, it helps that temperatures are rising to an unseasonable 23 degrees, but the early interest in open-toe shoes may also be due to our new house-bound contexts and a craving for more versatile styles. With loungewear seeing a surge in popularity, people seem to be looking for comfy sandals that not only can be worn around the house and to the shop, but also offer that design kudos that many still crave. Just look at The Row’s leather flip-flops, the ultimate fusion of luxe materials and low-key silhouette or Arizona Loves’ hiking sandals with a twist. Naturally, there is the odd heel (it’s all about the mid-height and wrap-around detailing), which people are using to give themselves a little boost for that #dressupfriday ensemble. So without further ado, I present the sandals we keep seeing on feeds right now. Summer will be here soon—we promise! Up Next: 6 Outfits You Can Re-Create Without Spending Any Money Author Joy Montgomery | Whowhatwear Selected by CWC
Your Guide to the Key Trends for Spring/Summer 2020
April 22, 2020 at 07:00PM In this new decade, throwaway trends are becoming increasingly passé, and we are all looking for clothes that will have a lasting impact within a capsule wardrobe. The spring summer 2020 runways were notably more commercial than usual, with a focus on classic legacy buys rather than whimsical and artistic creations, which could potentially fall into the fad or impractical category. Every fashion buyer I have spoken to about the fashion week in September used the word “realistic” as the overarching theme. Another buzzword for spring 2020 fashion is “wearability”—a word I am usually loathe to use to describe clothes, given it is their basic function, but it’s an adjective that keeps being used to describe the aesthetic for spring 2020. Pictured above: The Row. The headlining trends will all seamlessly transition into many of our wardrobes and stay there for the foreseeable future. One of the most in-demand items for spring, for example, is a simple blue Oxford button-down shirt by The Row, along with bodysuits, little black dresses and relaxed suiting. “Keep it simple but never boring,” is how Moda Operandi’s Lisa Aiken sums up the tone of this sensible season. “The large majority of the runway collections have been incredibly wearable, the brands have showcased the ultimate wardrobing heroes in a new and interesting way: the suit, the Bermuda short, the white shirt, the tank top…” says Elizabeth von der Goltz, Global Buying Director at Net-a-Porter. Pictured above: Jacquemus Behind this desire for more classic, timeless pieces is the topic
4 Spring Items I’m Actually Buying Vintage
April 22, 2020 at 02:03PM When I feel a new trend or microtrend coming on, the first thing I do is turn to secondhand options. Whether it’s a comeback of an iconic bag style—like the Celine Triomphe or Prada bowling bag or simply a trend I’ve spotted all over fashion week—looking to the past is my favourite way to get involved. While there’s a trend-driven intention in this style of shopping, I always feel more likely to hold onto my vintage pieces much longer than I would something I found on the high street. With each trend piece that pops into my head, I take a minute to consider how it might fit into my existing wardrobe. I also take time to research the best options across Etsy and Vestiaire Collective. I ensure the quality is up to snuff, make sure it’s made with long-lasting fabrics and inspect it for any damages. This is how I am able to determine whether or not my purchase will be a good investment. Once I go through this process, buying into a trend feels so right, especially since vintage allows it to be one of a kind. I’ve got my eye on a few pieces right now that I’ve generously decided to share with you, dear reader. Keep scrolling to shop my edit of the best trending pieces to buy vintage right now, plus all of my tips for how to find them. As fashion continues to reissue classic bags, the selection of
If You Want to Make Your Beauty Routine More Sustainable, This Is a Good Start
April 22, 2020 at 02:03PM There’s no denying that consumers are becoming more aware of their environmental impact. A report that was published by ZeroWaste in 2018 revealed that 120 billion units of packaging were being produced by the global cosmetics industry year on year. With statistics like that, it’s imperative and more important than ever that we consume beauty products mindfully. Thankfully, the beauty industry has been taking steps towards helping to create a cleaner and greener planet, with a host of sustainable beauty brands now available. But first, when we discuss sustainable beauty products, what do we actually mean? Typically, the term is used to describe products using environmentally-friendly formulations, ethical production practices or packaging methods and, for sustainable cosmetic products in particular, the use of natural ingredients produced from renewable raw materials. Thankfully, finding these products is getting easier, thanks to a host of brands that are already pushing towards a more sustainable and greener planet. Ready to revamp your beauty cabinet and routine? Keep scrolling… A beauty brand that has stood by their sustainable beliefs from the beginning, this brand never tests on animals, uses only sustainable plant ingredients and chooses recyclable or biodegradable packaging where possible. They stand as a business which is trying to minimise their impact on the planet through both its efforts in packaging and ingredients. Their hero product, The Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil is formulated with four key ingredients and is the ultimate multi-tasker. It deeply conditions the skin, improves firmness and elasticity as well as
I’ve Found the Chicest Sustainable Shopping Picks, All for Under £150
April 22, 2020 at 02:02PM Like any new term or concept, the idea of learning to shop sustainably can feel like a daunting prospect. I get it! For starters, there’s a bit more work to determining exactly when a product is more socially and environmentally sustainable than expected—there are varying degrees within this complex world. Supply chains are often opaque so even if part of something is made sustainably, you can’t be quite sure about it. And then with the term gaining traction among marketing campaigns, it can be easy to be led to believe something is super sustainable, when in fact, it is not. For shoppers newly acquainted with the concept of sustainable fashion, that can feel very overwhelming. Luckily, I am here to right correct those misconceptions. Because if you are like me and love charity shopping or finding small brands, you’re already a more sustainable shopper than you think. And, as sustainability becomes more popular, it becomes more accessible. There are now entire websites dedicated to sustainable shopping, such as Rêve en Vert and the Sustainable Department Store who source the best sustainable brands in the world and include a completely transparent section about each product’s sustainability. Shopping sustainably can also come across as expensive and exclusive, especially after years of being used to fast fashion prices. But as we continue to learn more about the energy it takes to produce the clothes and accessories we love, it will all start to make sense. While there are fabulous brands creating new
19 Sustainable Brands Our Editors Champion Every Day of the Year
April 22, 2020 at 08:00AM Sustainable fashion can be confusing. Is it vegan? Ethically produced? Environmentally friendly? Fair-trade? Is it a catch-all term for anything that relates to fashion that isn’t fast? The short answer is that it can be all those things. The long answer is that it’s much more complicated than that. Sustainable fashion pertains to the sourcing, production and distribution of the garment. The lifespan of a piece of clothing must be looked at from start to finish. It means understanding that organic cotton is better than regular cotton, as it doesn’t use pesticides or harmful chemicals that are bad for the skin. Also, manmade fabrics (such as polyester) are damaging to the environment, as they’re often made from plastic and are nonbiodegradable. While leather can be eco-friendly, it can still impact the environment due to the chemicals used to finish it. Then there’s the production: Are the clothes being made in an environment that’s safe for workers? For example, some synthetic dyes can be toxic to people using them during the manufacturing process and can cause health problems. Adding to this, another good question to ask is if the workers are paid fairly and correctly. Then, once made, how far is the garment travelling? What kind of carbon footprint in the brand creating? Elaine Welteroth in a Maggie Marilyn dress. All of these questions are vital if you want to know if a brand adheres to sustainable practices. And today on Earth Day it seems like a
This Body Care Range Is My Secret to Soft Skin, and It Smells Unbelievable
April 22, 2020 at 06:30AM Anyone that knows me even loosely knows that my love for body care products knows no bounds. I have a very strict routine that involves a nightly bath, body cleanse, shave, moisturise and massage (usually with a variety of different creams and serums) and a thrice-weekly scrub/exfoliate. Some might call it excessive, but for me, my body care regimen is a necessary daily ritual that helps me unwind before hitting the hay. By no means, however, am I easy to please when it comes to body products. Because I rely on my nightly routine as a means to de-stress, I am extremely fussy when it comes to the texture, scent and finish of the products that I use. I like my skin to feel comforted and nourished before slipping straight into bed. A drying body wash simply will not do, and don’t even get my started on the perils of a cloying body cream that refuses to sink in. It is because of this fussiness that when I find a body care treasure, you better believe I’m sticking with it. And that is exactly what I have done with L’Occitane’s Almond Collection. When I first stumbled across the Almond Shower Oil (£20) a few years ago, it was love at first sniff. The idea of a shower oil really didn’t appeal to me given that my skin is naturally quite oily and prone to congestion (especially on my arms and back), but from the moment I
Trust Monikh—Our Girl Just Found the Dream Dress in Mango
April 22, 2020 at 06:28AM 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’ve decided to make this week’s big three pure sunshine by sticking to pieces in a buttery yellow. This is a colour with the ability to lift your mood and bring the summer feeling indoors. My edit this week has one piece of sunshine to wear, one to hold, and one to lay with—what more could you want? In the must-have S/S 20 shape, the tone of this Mango dress makes it stand out from the rest. I’ve always got water, tea or wine in my hand, depending on the time. Staying hydrated is key, so you might as well make it as pretty as possible. These vintage handblown glasses are the absolute dream. I need one in every colour! Whether they’re thrown on the sofa or the bed, trust me—laying on these while binging on 12 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy