One day in middle school, I wore the exact same checked, button-down shirt from Gap Kids as my friend that I shared pretty much every class with. (It was a very small school and yes, I wore Gap Kids until approximately age 15.) 25 years later, I still remember that day. This probably sounds ridiculous because it’s happened to all of us at one time or another, but who knows why we remember what we do.
My purpose in sharing this is that dressing like everyone else can be annoying for some, but it can also be hard to avoid when we all like to shop at the same stores—because they’re good. While I’m always fascinated by what the best-selling items from any given brand are, I also don’t want to show up wearing the same exact thing as my friend. So I’ve figured out a few simple tricks when shopping popular brands like Zara and Reformation. Read on to learn more and to shop pieces that you don’t have to worry about looking like everyone else in.
The good news about Zara is that there are hundreds and hundreds of items to choose from, and a small fraction of them go viral, so it’s pretty easy to avoid the viral pieces if you don’t want to wear what everyone else is wearing. It’s also a good idea to stick to the more trendless items that would be hard for someone to place.
You’re not imagining it—everyone is suddenly shopping at J.Crew again, and its most forward items have been popping up in my feed more and more as of late. Avoid items in the Best Sellers section and those that are almost completely sold out, and gravitate toward more under-the-radar (but equally chic) items.
I hate to say this because they’re so good, but if you want to look unique and shop at Reformation often, you might want to avoid the dress section. Dresses have always been the most popular category at Ref but they have so many other epic items, from denim to shoes to blazers. Mix and match those with your existing wardrobe and it’s unlikely you’ll see your clone when out and about.
Most of us admire The Frankie Shop for its excellent suits and outerwear especially (that’s what’s all over Instagram, after all), but there is so much more good stuff to choose from. I’ve found great skirts, sweaters, and even the random accessory from the brand—all just as great as the wildly popular blazers.
Mango is one of those brands that’s all over fashion-girl Instagram, and that’s one of the things I love about it. But if it’s a unique Mango look you’re seeking, you might want to avoid those popular pieces you’ve been scrolling through on Instagram. There are tons of other chic Mango items to choose from. I’m particularly fond of its shoes, jewelry, and vests (random, I know).
Next up, the designer items people are actually buying right now.