4 tips for buying high street pieces that look high end.

14th March 2016

Had I spotted this top on another blogger, I’d have thought it was straight from the latest Tibi Collection and completely dismissed it and it’s high price point. However you will be happy to know that it’s not Tibi, in fact it’s not even designer and if by “high price point” you mean under £20, well then 1 out of 2 ain’t bad. Fashion is so very subjective, and for me it has never been about conforming to one area, price bracket or trend. I can often be found with the latest designer handbag sat directly along side a top which cost a few pounds and that is just how I like it. But I find just like buying the perfect designer accessory (which you can read about here) there are a few steps which I follow when meticulously choosing the perfect high street items to compliment your wardrobe. [lem_title]Keep it simple[/lem_title] When shopping for high street pieces I tend to keep them completely simple staying away from prints unless they are of an exceptional design and quality. Leaning more towards block neutral toned colours like whites, nudes and blacks as these colours are common across stores no matter how expensive/inexpensive they may be. I keep the cuts and silhouettes minimal and ensure there are no tell tale signs of where the item could have been purchased. This top from Boohoo being the perfect example, nothing about it suggests it cost £12 and that is everything I look for when purchasing high street fashion.   [lem_title]Fabrics[/lem_title] With regards to fabrics I look for heavier weights and tend to stay away from jersey as this is a fabric that I find often looks tired and cheap when used for anything other that basics like t-shirts a vests. Generally the heavier the weight […]

Had I spotted this top on another blogger, I’d have thought it was straight from the latest Tibi Collection and completely dismissed it and it’s high price point. However you will be happy to know that it’s not Tibi, in fact it’s not even designer and if by “high price point” you mean under £20, well then 1 out of 2 ain’t bad.

Fashion is so very subjective, and for me it has never been about conforming to one area, price bracket or trend. I can often be found with the latest designer handbag sat directly along side a top which cost a few pounds and that is just how I like it. But I find just like buying the perfect designer accessory (which you can read about here) there are a few steps which I follow when meticulously choosing the perfect high street items to compliment your wardrobe.

[lem_title]Keep it simple[/lem_title]

When shopping for high street pieces I tend to keep them completely simple staying away from prints unless they are of an exceptional design and quality. Leaning more towards block neutral toned colours like whites, nudes and blacks as these colours are common across stores no matter how expensive/inexpensive they may be. I keep the cuts and silhouettes minimal and ensure there are no tell tale signs of where the item could have been purchased. This top from Boohoo being the perfect example, nothing about it suggests it cost £12 and that is everything I look for when purchasing high street fashion.

[lem_title]Fabrics[/lem_title]

With regards to fabrics I look for heavier weights and tend to stay away from jersey as this is a fabric that I find often looks tired and cheap when used for anything other that basics like t-shirts a vests. Generally the heavier the weight of the fabric, the more expensive and high quality it appears. In the Summer months I look for structured cottons or floating chiffons whilst in the Winter it’s heavy knits and textures.

[lem_title]Mix it up[/lem_title]

The most fundamental part buying high street pieces is how you style them which is where those well selected designer classics really come in to play, providing the perfect base to feed in the high street essentials incognito. I am not one to opt for a head to toe designer outfit just as I don’t tend to wear all high street, choosing well rather than shopping purely by brand and price point because let’s face it sometimes even I am shocked by the price of that Gucci skirt when there’s one exactly the same on ASOS for £30, meaning your money can go further when it comes to trend dressing.

[lem_title]From the Catwalk[/lem_title]

As a whole, the Catwalk paves the way when it comes to seasonal trends so staying in tune with what is making its way down the runway from season to season will give your purchasing power a real competitive advantage. You will be able to spot the designer inspiration pretty quickly and get it into your shopping basket even quicker ready to bring the trends to your wardrobe for a much more affordable price tag.

What are your top tips for shopping well on the high street, let me know in the comments below.