There’s no escaping the fact that this summer is a bit of a weird one. But with lockdown easing slightly, there are plenty of reasons to be joyful. We can now spend time in parks (socially-distanced, of course) and even with loved ones in gardens. Soon, pubs might actually be a possibility. Still, at Who What Wear, we want to offer a bit of escapism, and while we’re all scaling back how much we’re shopping, whether for environmental, ethical or economic reasons, there are some items of clothing that are simply happy. I asked some of my favourite fashion people what they love for summer right now, and they all chose fun, pretty and colourful pieces. It’s not going to transport you to a BBQ with all your nearest and dearest, but it might put a smile on your ...
Gwyneth in Ralph Lauren at the Oscars, Rihanna in Giambattista Valli at the Grammys and Villanelle in Molly Goddard. What do these three women—real and fictional—have in common? Iconic pink dresses. While colors like black or red are usually associated with more standout looks, the pastel or vibrant shades of pink are still a knock-out. My theory is that it’s a more joyful, fun hue. If, like me, you’re prone to loving a pink dress, then have I got great news for you: H&M has just dropped what might be the ultimate pink frock for the summer. This might be a little hyperbolic, but trust me when I say this dress is incredibly good. It’s oversize. Tick. Has puffed sleeves. Tick. And has a neckline that is ideal for layering necklaces. Tick, ...
Minimalism is really having its moment this season. Thanks to The Row and Bottega Veneta, the pared-back approach to dressing has really taken hold in 2020. However, and perhaps this is more of a personal problem, is that I always struggle to keep this aesthetic looking interesting. Sure, I can dabble with a white-shirt–and–black-trousers combo, but I can end up looking a bit like a waitress. The thing is, I’m not a die-hard minimalist, so I haven’t honed the skills needed to really understand what it takes to make basics look super cool. And right now, with plenty of us working from home, basics are a must. So how do those who favour the above style keep it looking interesting when working from home? I spoke to four of my favourite minimalist Instagrammers and they all told me t...
As someone who’s worked in fashion for quite a few years, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked for wardrobe advice. One area in particular that people want to know about is which colours suit them. While I always think you need to just work out what you love and go from there, I do know that there is one colour that suits everyone. A few years ago, my colleague and Editor-in-chief of Who What Wear UK Hannah Almassi wrote a piece on how red, and in particular primary red, is actually the most universally-flattering colour and suits all skin tones. Despite this, I’ve had a lot of people tell me that this colour isn’t for them. While I’ve always been a fan of the hue, I hope that any red naysayers will be encouraged to opt for it...
We are living in unprecedented times, and while summer’s past might have brought with them the yearn to travel and the excitement of planned vacations, this year things are a little more uncertain. While we may not have tickets booked to tropical locations or plans for basking in the sunshine on a Mediterranean island, there’s no reason we can’t still make the most of our holiday wardrobes. From bucket hats to basket bags and kaftans to maxi dresses, many of the items we consider hero pieces while vacation, tend to get neglected in our everyday lives. Though, this summer, without the promise of a vacation ahead, I’m advocating to change that notion. Whether it be swapping your usual canvas shopping tote for the raffia bag you take to the beach or...
With summer sales currently in full swing, it can be easy to get caught up in the hype. Items are discounted significantly and every website seems to have a more enticing promotion than the last. Though, this year, I’ve made a deal with myself to resist the temptation and only invest in sale pieces I believe will truly stand the test of time. Enter Joseph, the British label known for making quality wardrobe essentials with a contemporary feel. From tailored blazers and linen skirts to knitted T-shirts and silk dresses, season after season, Joseph expertly crafts items that are sure to stay in your closet for years to come. And luckily, many of these forever favourites are currently included in the brand’s much-anticipated up to 50% off summer...
With an increased global consciousness around fashion and sustainability, it’s never been more important to champion brands that are doing their bit for the environment. From the use of recycled materials to zero-waste garment construction, so many labels have created innovative ways to minimise their impact. And while there are several elements to ensuring a brand is sustainable, today we’re focusing on brands that are helping to reduce waste in the fashion industry. Including Cro-Che, a newly launched brand that has waste mitigation built into its ethos; MaisonCléo, the buzzy French label beloved by influencers; and Ilk + Ernie, which purchases surplus fabric, below are three labels that know what it means to put sustainability at the foref...
With an increased global consciousness around fashion and sustainability, it’s never been more important to champion brands that are doing their bit for the environment. From the use of recycled materials to zero-waste garment construction, so many labels have created innovative ways to minimise their impact. And while there are several elements to ensuring a brand is sustainable, today we’re focusing on brands that are helping to reduce waste in the fashion industry. Including Cro-Che, a newly launched brand that has waste mitigation built into its ethos; MaisonCléo, the buzzy French label beloved by influencers; and Ilk + Ernie, which purchases surplus fabric, below are three labels that know what it means to put sustainability at the foref...
Look, I know there are a lot of sandal styles to be excited about right now. There’s the chunky (a continuation from last year’s iteration), the velcro or “dad” and, the most 2020 of them all, the heeled flip flop. But there’s another contender for coolest sandal style of the year—the rope. Consider these the exact sort of style of shoe you’d wear if you spent May to September on Ibiza. They’re slightly boho but with a cool edge. I remember first spying this style of footwear from Isabel Marant—the queen of bohemian-meets-rock-n-roll—and I still love them. Of course, Marant still has versions in her latest spring/summer 2020 collection but there are other designers who have mastered this sandal too. For example, Valentino has a black and ...
When it comes to minimalist’s whose aesthetic we admire, it’s hard to go past Marianne of Smyth Sisters. The influencer regularly posts enviable pared-back outfits that feature expert tailoring and neutral colour tones. She also has a special talent for finding expensive-looking staples on the high-street, which makes her one to watch when you’re in the market for an affordable gem. Recently, she’s been sporting a pair of padded leather sandals which easily look as if they could pass as designer, but just so happen to be from & Other Stories. The flat sandals feature an on-trend slingback silhouette, velcro closure and padded straps making for a comfortable summer shoe that can be perfectly paired against a myriad of outfits, including silky...
Unless you’re a die-hard jeans-all-year-round kind of person, then I bet you have a couple of summer dresses lurking in your wardrobe. Or, you might be someone who wears dresses all the time and can’t think of any reason as to why you’ve ever wear trousers. What I’m saying is if you seriously hate dresses, then look away now for here you will only find frocks and that’s it. At Who What Wear we pride ourselves on knowing a lot about dresses—we write about them enough and spend hours looking at the latest collections—so it makes sense that we should use our knowledge of all the best versions out there to create up-to-date edits of frocks that you’ll not only love but will also wear for a long time. Today, I’m writing about floral summer dresses ...
Currently, we are right in the midst of the hottest week of the year in the UK. It’s our first real heatwave of the summer, and as you can imagine, people are looking for any way to stay cool as the mercury rises. While we may not all be in close proximity to a body of water, or have an air-conditioner at our disposal, Instagram is providing plenty of warm-weather friendly outfit options. In fact, one particular summer top trend seems to have gained popularity amongst the fashion set, though ironically, it doesn’t actually involve a top at all. From London to Cophenhagen, Toronto to Oslo, influencers everywhere are embracing the scarf as a top trend, folding printed silk squares in half to create diamond shapes that are fastened at the back. It’s a simple ...