These H&M Items Sold Like Hot Cakes This Year

If H&M wasn't on your shopping radar before 2020, chances are that it absolutely is now. Even in the face of a harsh retail market, the high street mega brand has had a knockout year, and seemed to have a knack for designing the pieces we actually wanted to wear in that precise moment, before we even knew we needed them in our wardrobes. Many of these items were so in-demand, they proceeded to sell out faster than banana loaf baking tins. 

Now, listing every H&M best-selling item of 2020 would likely take hours and would require the entire Who What Wear team to down tools and pour all their energy into it. So we decided to take a sartorial walk down memory lane to revisit the cult H&M pieces that you can still buy a very good homage of.

From the £50 boots that look significantly more expensive to the beautiful two-piece that's been reinvented in dress form, keep scrolling to see H&M's best-selling items. Then, shop the closest thing to the originals.

COLLARED KNIT

Let's start with a product that's still in stock, shall we? When we spotted this collared knit on fashion stylist, Hannah Lewis, we assumed it would be found on the likes of Net-a-Porter or MatchesFashion. In actual fact, it's H&M, and comes in two gorgeous colourways. 

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PUFFER COAT

Sadly, Aïda Sané's H&M quilted puffer coat sold out in record time back in November, but the brand has thankfully followed it up with some equally excellent outerwear options. 

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AIRY CO-ORD

At the start of summer, you couldn't scroll through Instagram without seeing this blouse-and-skirt co-ord. While the top is sold out everywhere, we were shocked to discover the skirt is still available in most sizes. We also love H&M's new puff-sleeve blouse and dress, which were clearly inspired by this airy duo. 

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KNEE-HIGH BOOTS

Expensive-looking boots are hard to come by on the high street, especially for a mere £50. Cue H&M's knee-highs—a pair of boots so luxe, we'd never have guessed they were so affordable. We love how they're wide enough to tuck our jeans into, too. 

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KNITTED DRESS

None of H&M's knitted dresses hang around for long. In our experience, they're cut better than any others you'll find in the same pricing category, which might be the reason for their in-demand status. Below, you'll find our current favourites, all of which we're predicting will sell out fast. 

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SMOCKED CO-ORD

Another co-ord that H&M got so right was this smocked set, which put smocking details on the map this summer. The brand continues to champion this detail in the form of blouses, skirts, and even dresses. 

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PUFF-SLEEVE DRESS

Escapism came in the form of this bright and breezy H&M midi dress this summer, when the style set wore it for picnics in the park and visits to the seaside. This exact frock is long gone, but there's a host of puff-sleeve iterations to be had online right now—even one in a gorgeous and super-similar hot pink shade. 

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Next Up: This It Bag Will Be the Most In-Demand Accessory of 2021