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Original poster

Best of the high street

20 replies

user1484167681 · 13/04/2023 19:46

I’m about to overhaul my wardrobe. Looking at the higher end of the high street, good quality that lasts but not designer prices. Where should I begin? I’m early 30s and haven’t really bought new clothes for about a decade… Hence not knowing where to start!

OP posts:
BHRK · 13/04/2023 19:48

Reiss, Me and Em, Hobbs, , Jigsaw, Sezane all good quality in my view

Original poster
user1484167681 · 13/04/2023 20:23

Thanks! Good tips. Need to find a way to get to them - was hoping they’d all have stores at Westfield (White City) for ease but apparently not.

OP posts:
Niftythrifter · 13/04/2023 20:48

Cos
& Other Stories

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 13/04/2023 21:16

Cos, Arket, &OtherStories are my favourites, plus the H&M premium range.

LeatherSkirt82 · 13/04/2023 21:55

Massimo Dutti, Karen Millen (though KM quality went down in the last few years but you can still find a gem).

minipie · 13/04/2023 22:08

I will add Wyse, Rails, Ba&sh, Baukjen, LK Bennett.

Some of these are at the pricier end but have good sales (Me&Em, Ba&sh for example)

In terms of where to go - Floral St area in Covent Garden has a lot of these brands. Kings Road has several too. If you want indoor shopping, Battersea Power Station has quite a few of these type of brands but tends to be smaller branches. Large John Lewises have a good range of concessions in this category too.

Original poster
user1484167681 · 13/04/2023 22:55

Thanks, this is all super helpful. I haven’t heard of either Wyse or Rails so will investigate.

OP posts:
youveturnedupwelldone · 14/04/2023 08:58

Uniqlo for good quality basics

GettingStuffed · 14/04/2023 09:43

Primark is always worth a punt. Last year I bought a t-shirt which looks ver high end and is well made. There is some crap but some gems too.

Usernamen · 14/04/2023 10:00

I’m the same age and have been going through this process over the last year!

I target these brands:

-Margaret Howell
-Reiss
-Maje
-Kooples
-Whistles
-Joseph
-Zadig & Voltaire
-Jigsaw
-Claudie Pierlot
-Free People
-Axel Arigato
-Sandro
-Gerard Darel
-Uniqlo
-All Saints
-Me+Em
-Sezane
-COS
-BA&SH

The best thing to do is go to the 3rd floor of Harvey Nichols or 3rd floor of Selfridges (if you’re in London?) where they have a concession for most of these brands.

Good luck! 😊

Usernamen · 14/04/2023 10:06

minipie · 13/04/2023 22:08

I will add Wyse, Rails, Ba&sh, Baukjen, LK Bennett.

Some of these are at the pricier end but have good sales (Me&Em, Ba&sh for example)

In terms of where to go - Floral St area in Covent Garden has a lot of these brands. Kings Road has several too. If you want indoor shopping, Battersea Power Station has quite a few of these type of brands but tends to be smaller branches. Large John Lewises have a good range of concessions in this category too.

I went to the Battersea Power Station for the first time a few weeks ago and it’s amazing! So many of my favourite shops under one roof and a fantastic champagne/cocktail bar (Control Room I think it’s called?)

I love that there are not many lower-end mainstream shops like there are in other shopping centres. It means that it never gets that busy.

Highly recommend a visit there, OP.

minipie · 14/04/2023 10:41

At the cheaper end I agree that H&M is worth a look. Zara and Mango have the occasional gem. I tend to just look for the clothes made of natural fibres in these shops. There is a lot of polyester to wade through, so shopping online is good as you can filter by material. La Redoute is also good if you filter, it’s online only.

AprillaCourt · 14/04/2023 11:04

& Other Stories is a definite for me with this brief. I've only found it relatively recently but it's the first shop in over a decade that I walk into & feel that every piece is stylish, even if it's not my style.

The irrepressible Zara of course.

I find the odd thing in Apricot, it's usually one great piece hidden among uninspiring others but it's pretty much always there if I look hard enough!

AprillaCourt · 14/04/2023 11:07

user1484167681 · 13/04/2023 20:23

Thanks! Good tips. Need to find a way to get to them - was hoping they’d all have stores at Westfield (White City) for ease but apparently not.

There's an Apricot at Westfield White City, as there is at Stratford, but no Stories I don't think, they're only in Stratford. Stories are on Regent St, Long Acre & Kings Road among others.

happyinherts · 14/04/2023 11:10

Don't dismiss M&S. Always worth a look, and they've upped their game recently.

Original poster
user1484167681 · 15/04/2023 12:40

I finally bit the bullet and went to Brent Cross for an initial foray… Ended up with two pairs of Levi’s jeans, and sports wear / knickers / one pair of jersey work trousers from M&S.

Have to say, M&S has nice looking stuff and I was particularly taken with a pair of pink suit / work trousers, but they weren’t lined so the pockets showed through on the thighs and the bum was not flattering at all. I will keep looking but so far the concessions in Fenwick for Reiss etc look the most promising!

OP posts:
Deathraystare · 15/04/2023 14:37

Well Hobbs and Reiss are at Westfield, dunno about the others.

Usernamen · 15/04/2023 15:32

Hobbs is really dull for a 30 year-old. In fact, it’s really dull full stop.

Original poster
user1484167681 · 15/04/2023 15:52

Haha, yeah, that’s probably fair… I’ll work my way through your list of suggestions!

OP posts:
Deathraystare · 18/04/2023 16:00

I am not sure if Jigsaw is at Westfield or not. I saw it in a shopping centre somewhere!!

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