At Who What Wear UK, we have everything from the best T-shirts to the most sought-after designer bags on our radar, but it’s time to discuss what’s really in our own editors’ wardrobes. Whether it’s affordable fashion items or luxury investment pieces, we think long and hard about our purchases, so if something makes the cut, we want to tell everyone we know. So, if you’ve ever been curious about the pieces that fashion editors consider true staples, I’m about to spill the info on the items we really wear on repeat.
I asked our editors what their go-to pieces are, and compiled a list of things I want to buy based on their recommendations (and I’ve thrown in own my favourite item, too). So without further ado, from the perfect jeans to the dream dresses, these are the fully-vetted finds that are sure to become staples in your wardrobe too—that is, if you choose to bag them.
“Listen, I’m a self-confessed outerwear addict; I probably own more coats and jackets than I do anything else in my wardrobe. But even though I have plenty to choose from, nine times out of 10 I reach for my Toteme trench. It works with a tank top on warmer autumn and spring days, and is perfect layered up over knits in winter. Plus, it’s light to carry around if I need to take it off. Most importantly, it just makes everything else I’m wearing look chic (or at least acceptable for the outside world) when I throw it on, from my plain old jeans and T-shirt to my slobby tracksuits and weekend legging outfits. Why wouldn’t I wear it all the time?” — Emily Dawes, affiliate editor
“It seems an obvious thing to say, but the hardest-working items in my wardrobe are my jeans. There are few occasions I won’t wear them, because simply by switching out one pair for another, I can create a completely different aesthetic. Whilst cream mom jeans and a matching cashmere roll-neck may echo the quiet-luxury vibe of Natasha Richardson in The Parent Trap, a baggy, bleached low-rise pair with a tank top screams Y2K Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. The versatility of jeans is frankly undeniable—easily dress them up with cute kitten heels for dinners, dancing and everything in between; then wear the same pair the next day for the office with sneakers and a shirt. But what I love most about denim is its aloofness. One can never be a try-hard over-dresser in a pair of jeans, and for me, that is its biggest appeal.” — Rebecca Rhys-Evans, branded content editor
“I’m really not a fan of winter dressing, mainly because I don’t feel I look good in jeans and a jumper like most people do. So when the chill comes around, panic sets in. However, that all changed for me last year when I really found my groove and built a cold-weather capsule wardrobe around a pair of H&M knee-high boots. These knee-highs are just a classic black patent pair, but they really changed the game for me. Now I wear them nearly every single day of the week, normally with dresses or slip skirts with a chunky knit on top. These boots help make all my looks feel instantly chicer and more elevated, but most importantly, they make me feel good too. An instant confidence boost, they’ll long be one of my most-worn wardrobe staples.” — Poppy Nash, managing editor
“Ahh, the blazer, my fashion soulmate. With the power to effortlessly elevate any look, whether I’m heading to a work meeting or strolling into a cosy brunch spot on the weekend, its versatility is unrivalled. A true chameleon in my wardrobe, I prefer roomy silhouettes for a relaxed take on dressing up jeans, and equally, to give more formal pieces such as slip skirts and dresses a directional feel. From classic neutral shades to quintessential checks, invest wisely and your blazer will adapt to your ever-changing fashion moods. Timeless, adaptable and endlessly stylish, it’s my everyday essential.” — Maxine Eggenberger, deputy editor
“If I don’t know what to wear, I always reach for the same thing: a midi dress. It’s easily the item that I always feel most comfortable in, and many of them can be restyled to suit any given season. Take autumn for example—I’m now rewearing my favourite summer dresses with sensible knee-high boots. How’s that for versatility?” — Hannah Almassi, editor-in-chief
“It wasn’t until I looked back through my Instagram feed recently that I realised just how much my wardrobe relies on wide-leg trousers. Black trousers, beige trousers, linen trousers or even jeans; no matter the outfit, I always find the most flattering fit to be a pair of high-waisted, wide-legged puddle pants that can dress up everything from plain white tees to slouchy knits. Sure, I love dresses and I’m coming around to skirts, but there’s nothing like a pair of timeless tailored trousers to make me really feel put-together”. — Remy Farrell, shopping editor
“Comfort is key for me when dressing, and no matter what I chose to wear—be it trousers or dresses—I always finish off the look with a pair of trainers. Simple, white trainers are a classic, but I currently have my eye on the latest colourways of the Adidas Spezial too. The pop of colour will bring life to even the simplest of outfits.” — Joy Ejaria, social media manager
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