Let's Cut the Crap: Here's What You Should Actually Buy on the High Street

Once upon a time there was no better “hobby” than whiling away a Saturday afternoon in the fitting rooms down your local high street or shopping centre. Fast-forward a decade (or two!), and time just isn’t so disposable anymore—real adult life gets in the way, and shopping is less a leisure pursuit and more an activity sandwiched between a gym class and a trip to the bank.

Which is why we’ve compiled this guide. Planning with military precision can take the headache out of the process—and what's even more useful is knowing exactly where to head when you're on the hunt for a specific piece. If you discover each store’s strength (like the fact that ASOS's swimwear is off-the-chart good right now), you too become the oracle. Knowing exactly where to find that investment-worthy coat or the place to try on the best selection of jeans will make your new-season list an easier thing to achieve in next to no time.

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(Image credit: @meganellaby)

On Megan Ellaby: & Other Stories jacket and Zara top.

We’re lucky in the UK that we have unlimited access to a roster of brilliant, affordable brands—including Scandi favourites H&M and & Other Stories, Spain’s Mango and Zara, and our very own Kurt Geiger and M&S.

So we’ve collated our insider knowledge to deliver you exactly what each high-street fashion store does best. Enjoy!

& Other Stories: For Spirit-Lifting Dresses

Topshop: For the Best Jeans

ASOS: For a Huge Range of Cool Swimwear

Warehouse: For Vibrant Prints

Related: 14 Under-£100 New-Season Pieces That Make Up My 2024 Capsule Wardrobe

Weekday: For More Adventurous Denim

Kurt Geiger: For Ankle Boot Obsessives

H&M: For Knockout Knitwear

Marks & Spencer: For Trusted Lingerie

Mango: For Unbelievably Good Jewellery

Jigsaw: For Grown-Up Coats

Zara: For Fancy Footwear

Related: I Swear This High-Street Brand Is Serving Up the Best Dresses This Autumn

Boden: For Affordable Cashmere

AllSaints: For the Ultimate Leather Jacket

River Island: For the Best Sandals

Whistles: For Longlasting Occasionwear

Uniqlo: For Savvy Layering

Related: I've Just Found 11 Spring Outfits You'll Want to Wear This Weekend

Urban Outfitters: For Cool Streetwear

Cos: For Expensive-Looking Handbags

Office: For Mid-Heels a-Plenty

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