My First Arket Order: Try On & First Impressions

At long last Arket have expanded their international shipping to include us here in Australia.  We tend to get left behind here by a lot of high street brands, so it’s a big deal to finally be included!  It’s a brand I’ve wanted to try for the longest time after seeing a lot of European-based bloggers regularly sport their pieces.  If you haven’t heard of Arket, they launched in 2017 as part of H&M’s group of brands (which also include COS, & Other Stories and Cheap Monday) and offer high-quality minimal basics with a focus on ethical and sustainable practices.  The price points reflect this as Arket sits on the premium end of the high street scale.  

For my AU friends, Arket offer free shipping on orders over $200 USD.  You can get a 15% discount on your first order if you sign up to their mailing list which is well worth doing.

After browsing their online store for months, I finally placed my first order and I thought I’d share my first impressions on the quality of the four pieces I ordered.

#1 – Asymmetric Knit Top

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Asymmetric knit top in beige and black styled with Everlane jeans, Dior slingbacks (preloved here), Gucci belt, Celine bag, Ray Ban sunglasses

Despite it being Spring here in Australia, I just couldn’t resist ordering this knit top.  And even without trying the style on, I ordered the piece in both colour ways – black and beige – with my fingers crossed that they would work.  I took a size XS, not really confident on my decision, but I referred to the size guide on their website which thankfully turned out to be reliable.

The neckline on this top is unlike any I’ve seen before – it’s sharp, asymmetric and highlights your décolletage – a very stylish feature.  One thing to note is that the sleeves on this top are quite long and I feel like they bunch up a too much on my arms to wear the sleeves full length, so I prefer wearing the top with the sleeves rolled up. In terms of fabrication, the top is made from 14 gauge wool that has been certified according to the Responsible Wool Standard.  It’s a ribbed wool, which naturally comes with a bit of give.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CE41HxgshWi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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I went to purchase this top on three different occasions but each time I visited the site it was sold out, so you can imagine my excitement when it had been restocked on my 4th attempt!  It’s incredibly popular and the black has sold out again, but I’ve linked the pieces just in case they do re-stock once again.   

Shop the Asymmetric Knit Top

#2 – Crew neck tee

White tee styled with Nobody Denim jeans, Dior slingbacks (preloved here), Celine bag, Ray Ban sunglasses

I’ve only ever heard positive reviews of Arket’s crew neck tee, and given the range of colours it comes in, I decided to give it a go for myself to see whether it lives up to the hype.

I ordered the tee in a size S in white, as I wanted to achieve a more relaxed fit. My first impressions of this tee are all positive – the fabric is 100% cotton and it looks and feels noticeably smoother than the other cotton tees in my wardrobe (due to the fact that Arket uses a custom-knit which is more compact). I’m also a fan of the ribbed piping around the crew neck which elevates the overall look. I’d be keen to add more colours to my collection, particularly in khaki and navy. At $20 USD (~$27 AUD) a tee, it’s not hard to see why these have been so popular. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that this is now my favourite white t-shirt!

Shop the Crew Neck Tee

#3 – Boat-neck strap top

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The last piece I purchased was this boat-neck strap top which I ordered in a size S. I love how it looks on the models and the modern and minimal neckline is totally my vibe. Unfortunately, it’s not the most flattering top on me. I ordered the size S and I feel like it comes up a tad big on me. The neckline isn’t as fitted as I would like and the arm holes are larger than I would like. With the right size, I do think the high neck line and overall cut of the top could be very flattering. Returns aren’t the easiest from Australia so rather than faffing about with an exchange, I’ll be administering some hand sewing to see if I can take in some of the parts of the top that are loose.

The top is made from a pima stretch organic cotton and has the same noticeably smooth quality that I described of their crew neck tee. Provided you don’t make the mistake I made and pick the right size, it’s another reasonably priced basic, coming in at $20USD (~$27 AUD).

Overall impressions

Overall, I’m very pleased with the pieces I picked up and I’m looking forward to incorporating them in more of my relaxed ensembles given I’m still working from home for the foreseeable future.

Have you placed an order with Arket? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on their pieces if you have! I hope my first impressions of my first Arket order were helpful to any of you who have been browsing their store for a while.

Thanks again for stopping by.

P.S. Three fashion risks anyone can take and a fantastic dupe for The Row’s Bare Sandals.