7 Brands Who Have Mastered Edgy Style (and What I'd Buy From Each)

If you read Who What Wear on the reg, you know just how much we love timeless and classic style over here. But as much as we go on and on about putting together the perfect polished ensemble, there’s also something to be said for adding a bit of an edge to your wardrobe. It can be as simple as a pair of leather trousers or as daring as a cutout dress—the amount of edge is totally up to you.

To help you bring a little toughness to your look and serve as a shopping guide if your style skews edgy, we've put together a list of the seven best edgy clothing brands right now that strike the perfect balance between subversive and stylish. The labels below bring a lot of look, if you know what I mean, so I took the liberty of curating a mini shopping list of what I'd personally buy from each of them. A few of these items are even residing in my shopping cart as we speak. Scroll down to see and shop them all.

1. Dion Lee

Dion Lee is the Australian label has the entire fashion world hooked (myself included). Each season, it offers a distinct fusion of tougher elements like sharp tailoring and leather alongside softer details like lace and lingerie-inspired boning. Signature pieces like corsets and blazers are not to be missed.

What I'd buy: Corset tops, creative knits, and cutout pieces

2. Christopher Esber

If there's one brand that's singlehandedly responsible for igniting the lace-up trend, it's Christopher Esber. There's something utterly and effortlessly cool about the way these dresses, tops, and skirts expose a bit of midriff. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a fan of the suiting, while Emily Ratajkowski and Zendaya have been spotted wearing its dresses.

What I'd buy: Cutout and lace-up pieces and summery dresses

3. Peter Do

An alum of Céline during the Phoebe Philo era, Peter Do launched his eponymous label in 2018 and earned the attention of retailers like Net-a-Porter and MyTheresa shortly thereafter. The collections include menswear-inspired silhouettes and innovative cuts that feel futuristic and forward-looking.

What I'd buy: Leather pieces and statement accessories

4. Anine Bing

Fact: Anine Bing knows good basics. The L.A.-based designer is the stockist of classic blazers, cool trousers, and graphic tees for a certain crowd of in-the-know women who prioritize the brand's quality staples. Bing is also a big fan of leather separates and a muted neutral palette that place her line towards the edgy end of the spectrum.

What I'd buy: Reinvented basics, graphic tees and sweatshirts

 5. Acne Studios

With its signature moto jackets and brilliant balance between feminine and masculine, the Stockholm-based label is an obvious choice for this list. Unlike the all-black ensembles that might come to mind when you think of edgy style though, Acne Studios is a master at creating unisex-friendly color palettes that somehow still read as tough.

What I'd buy: Leather jackets, layering tops, and colorful pieces

6. Marine Serre

What I'd buy: Second-skin tops, utility-inspired separates

If you follow a certain set of influential people in the fashion world, you've definitely seen versions of Marine Serre's stretchy tops with their smattering of crescent moons printed all over. Aside from these second-skin tops (which are definitely on my wishlist), look to the brand for utility-inspired staples and other basics emblazoned with their signature logo.

7. The Range

When we talk about special basics, The Range is one of the first that comes to mind. Easy, versatile, and cool, their collection includes the kind of seasonless, day-to-night pieces that capture New York’s cool vibe.

What I'd buy: Special basics

Up next, peruse these 30 spring finds only a true Nordstrom stalker would know about (hint: it's me).