Who What Wear

September 17, 2021 at 05:00AM I can only speak for myself, but up until about five years ago, I didn’t wear vintage jewellery. It used to be the kind of thing I’d only buy in a panicked fashion when I needed a bejewelled headband for a ’30s-inspired murder-mystery costume. Ideally, it had to be inexpensive, as it was a one-off, and I’d never wear it again.Thanks to plenty of trends coming back around (from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s), as well as people being more mindful about shopping sustainably (myself included), the vintage jewellery market is booming. And plenty of fashion editors I know are shopping at various places for key pieces. One major destination for the fashion crowd is Susan Caplan. The eponymous brand was launched in 2008, and it now boasts one of the biggest vintage jewellery collections in the UK.Pictured: Susan…

September 16, 2021 at 08:00AM While most of us are still desperately clinging to the final weeks of summer, industry experts have their sights firmly set on the season ahead as they make their predictions for the biggest autumn trends in the worlds of beauty and fashion. And with so many trending hairstyles emerging in 2021 already, I was particularly keen to find out what’s in store for our strands as we head into autumn. “In summer, we all love to experiment with our hair, trying out different styles from braids to beachy waves and opting for shorter haircuts that are less maintenance,” says Callum Standen-May, creative stylist at Bond Shoreditch. “However, in autumn, some of us can find it difficult to find the right hairstyle or cut that will continue to look healthy throughout the colder months.”All of the experts that I spoke to stressed that adding a nourishing hair mask or strengthening treatment to…

September 16, 2021 at 08:00AM Personal style can be mastered at any age—there is no magic number or milestone birthday that can claim to be the pivotal point. Some lucky fashion lovers manage to find their signature look early on and hold onto it throughout their lives, adjusting and updating it ever so slightly to suit the changing times and trends. For others, understanding the outfits and clothes you feel most comfortable in can be a more arduous and experimental process.Whichever camp you reside in, there’s no denying that as you get older, your tastes and wardrobe needs change. For example, aged 33, I now realise that all of the cheaper, trend-ticking items I bought on the high street in my 20s haven’t stood up, so I’m endeavouring to buy less and buy better. My mum, who is in her 70s, is still…

September 16, 2021 at 08:00AM When it comes to this time of the year, it’s totally normal for skin to seem seriously dull. In fact, beyond looking a little lacklustre, it could possibly be feeling tight, dry and sore. If there’s one thing that the beauty world is certain of, it’s that cold weather is rarely good news for your complexion. And don’t I know it. Despite the fact the summer months had my skin radiating an out-of-this-world glow, the start of winter had me sporting a drab, lacklustre and seriously distressed face.At the start of the season, as I emptied out the contents of my makeup bag in the search for any kind of illuminating product to pour over my face/bathe in, I couldn’t help but wonder if my skin would ever get its glow back. Sure, I could slather my cheekbones…

September 16, 2021 at 08:00AM I’ve already waxed poetic about the classic clothing items you should never purge from your wardrobe (like a blazer or skinny jeans), and that story generated so many conversations that I felt it might be helpful to expand into another wardrobe staple: shoes. While shoe trends come and go, there are some styles you can let go of with little chance you’ll want to wear them again (I’m looking at you, wedge sneakers), and there are other styles you’re guaranteed to regret within months of tossing them.Now I’m not talking about shoe styles that are totally thrashed. If you’ve worn a pair of shoes out past the point of repair, then, by all means, get rid of them. But if it’s one of the styles I’m about to discuss, do yourself a favor and replace them with a new pair…

September 16, 2021 at 08:00AM Marks and Spencer is one of our favourite places to shop for long-lasting wardrobe staples and has a strong track record of every day turning basics into cult items, whether it’s a grey jumper or a beige wrap coat. I am most impressed by M&S’ footwear department, and wear a pair of ballet pumps at least nine days out of ten, as they are the comfiest shoes I own. I’ve had them for over a year now, and they just keep on going…These £35 pumps have a high cut and a gentle V towards the toe, which make them appear more elevated that the classic almond toe. There’s something a little Phoebe Philo about this silhouette, no? I personally stick to a plain black pair, but there are many other colours and finishes to choose from, like woven silver or soft suedes. Going into autumn 2021, there…

September 16, 2021 at 08:00AM For the majority of my life, I haven’t had a particularly loving relationship with my hair. I always deemed it flat, fine and lifeless, and I longed for the sort of waves and curls that bounced as I walked. For the entirety of my pre-teen and teenage years, I experimented with countless hair trends (from an inverted bob with fringe to a scruffy shag) in an effort to find a style that complemented my limp, straight strands.But as I entered adult life, I realised it was time to admit defeat and embrace the cards I was dealt. So since the age of 18, I have mostly sported the same long hairstyle. And while I’ve spent a lot of time resenting my hair, I recently realised that, when it’s healthy, it really works. In fact, my super-long, sleek hair has sort of become my most defining beauty characteristic.Nowadays, my long…

September 16, 2021 at 06:09AM There’s something so incongruous about writing about autumn/winter fashion trends when the temperature gauge is hitting 20º outside. But such is the nature of the fashion world: We’re always one step ahead of the game. However, now that autumn officially begins in a couple of weeks time, there’s a part of me that is enjoying the prospect of cooler climes and the cosy layers and fabulous coats that come with it. I’ve always been a cold-weather dresser at heart. So allow me to be your shopping guide through the sartorial maze that is the autumn trend lineup. As always, I've shopped out each look with designer, high-street and vintage options, and so if you’re a pre-loved novice, maybe take the upcoming season as a chance to dabble in second-hand. I’ve done all the work for you. My selected trends hail from the…

September 16, 2021 at 06:07AM Like so many, my shopping habits have changed vastly over the past 18 months. My second-hand intake has gone up by about 100%, and I find that I have more willpower than I previously did when scouting out the various new-in sections I browse daily—which I only do as part of my job, of course…Ordinarily, I’d have a wish list as long as my arm filled with shoes and dresses to wear to weddings, pieces I want to pack for holidays and a handful of chic items to wear to work. Now, aside from the four weddings I have on the horizon, for which I’ll be wearing outfits I already have in my wardrobe, I haven’t felt the insatiable need to buy anything new. Still, on the cusp of a new season, I thought I’d perhaps take a look at the latest collections from…

September 16, 2021 at 06:05AM Welcome to The Great Try-On. With autumn on the horizon, we seized the opportunity to try on some of the best autumn pieces from some of your favourite brands, documenting the process along the way. We believe that the most foolproof way to shop online is to see an item IRL and to read candid reviews, so we hope that this leads you to some successful purchases.I am a Zara fan through and through. Yes, I am a fashion editor, and stalking Zara’s site is technically a part of my job, but do I also browse Zara in my free time? Yes, of course I do. Beyond the approachable price point, which typically results in an obnoxiously full online shopping cart at any given time, Zara always manages to have exactly what I am looking for. Whether it’s the latest…