We’ve all got our go-to places when it comes to adding something new into our wardrobes. The websites we visit to draw styling inspiration, the brands we rely on to fill in gaps in our wardrobes and the people we hold in high regard to get honest opinions.
Over the years I’ve kept a running list of my favourite brands and online stores, both for my own shopping ease and as a resource for this blog! It’s a curated list of brands that I know and love where I’ve had positive experiences with their pieces and would happily recommend to you all.
Having a few go-to stores up my sleeve has gone a long way in helping me shape my personal style. I mix both high end and high street in both my workwear and off-duty style. I’ve listed my favourite places to shop below (and where available, a discount code for you to take advantage of!)
Workwear
The Fold London
A contemporary brand that has regularly featured in my outfit for the office has been London-based label, The Fold, known for their impeccable tailoring and quality craftsmanship. The Fold’s founder, Polly McMaster, comes from a background of financial consulting and private equity (both very male dominated fields) and was dissatisfied with the inferior quality of woman’s workwear available at the time.
I’m a big fan of their Clever Crepe Capsule Collection that’s high performing but low maintenance. I’ve got a few of their navy separates from this line that I mix and match for the office.
Karen Millen
For a treasure trove when it comes to all things workwear (and the best tailored dresses on the high street), Karen Millen is a bit of a no-brainer. And if there is one workwear piece that I have raved on about repeatedly, it’s the Karen Millen Forever Dress. It’s the quintessential power dress that checks every box when it comes to corporate dress.
Reiss
Premium high street label Reiss is one of those magical places full of high street gems with an aesthetic not dissimilar to luxury designer fashion. The quality of their pieces is up there with the highest, particularly in comparison to other high street brands. Some of my most rewarding workwear favourites have been Reiss purchases – including my Lara dress and Lorna knit.
Sarah Flint
For the perfect work pumps that are designed to be stylish and comfortable, Sarah Flint’s Perfect Pumps are my go-to. I’ve personally never experienced this level of quality in a heel before and I find Sarah’s heels are, hands down, the comfiest in the market thanks to their anatomical arch support, wider toe box and a steel rod that runs through the stiletto heel for maximum support (and no wobbles). You can read my comprehensive review of her hero staple, the Perfect Pump, here.
You can use the code ‘SARAHFLINT-CCVIRGINIA1‘ for 15% off.
Sarah Lloyd
For core workwear classics, it’s hard to go past Australian-designer Sarah Lloyd. She enjoys a strong customer base of professional working women – so you can rest assured she knows exactly what we’re looking for when it comes to those hero workwear staples. Her jackets are particularly standouts for me because of the signature cut and the silhouette she creates – the shoulders are more structured and waists are more tapered than you would normally find on the high street. These tweaks make her jackets unbelievably flattering and in my opinion, definitely worth the investment.
You can take advantage of my exclusive discount code ‘WVW20‘ for 20% off full price items from Sarah’s collection.
Scanlan Theodore
For years, I’ve relied heavily on crepe knit pieces for the office (particularly their navy separates!) and while other brands have their own take on the tightly woven knit fabric, Scanlan Theodore’s crepe knit is the original and the best.
Core wardrobe staples
Arket
The home of my favourite tees and premium casual basics. 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.
Their classic crew neck tee is derived from organic cotton and is my favourite t-shirt ever.
The Curated
The Curated is a carefully sourced collection of timeless luxury pieces. Its founder, Nicola Harlem, is originally from Australia but runs her label from Norway, where she lives with her family. The brand is focused on sustainable luxury with a overall minimal aesthetic. All their pieces, from their coats to their cashmere knits, are priced fairly and reasonably given the high quality materials.
I’m a huge fan of the label and I personally own the Tailored Coat and the Modern Coat. You can read my review of the Modern Coat here.
Everlane
Everlane is my go-to for stylish wardrobe basics. Their pieces are exceptionally well made and are often derived from natural and organic fibres. The overall aesthetic of their pieces is minimal and elevated and they’ve got most categories covered when it comes to wardrobe staples – basics, denim, outerwear, shoes, bags, accessories and activewear.
Their ‘ReNew’ line deserves to be highlighted and is testament to the brand making excellent progress in its commitment to no new plastics in their supply chain. They’ve already actively replaced synthetic fabrics with renewed alternatives (including from recycled plastic bottles).
Mango
For a high-street retailer, Mango’s pieces are very well made. I particularly love their neutral range of pieces and have some winning coats, knits and trousers to my collection over the years. While there is no bricks and mortar store in Australia, their online store has a very friendly returns policy.
Marks & Spencer
A great place for wardrobe basics and workwear pieces that are both accessible and stylish. And when it comes to suits and tailoring, Marks & Spencer have a tonne of options available. The workwear section of their online store is a treasure trove of accessible pieces and is constantly updated with chic options if you need a refresh. And despite, their high street price tags, the quality of their suiting and tailored pieces goes far beyond.
I’m also a huge fan of their trench coat which is a hero staple from their line complete with its water-resistant Stormwear fabric.
Nobody Denim
Not only do they produce my favourite denim jeans, Nobody Denim runs a sustainable business. It’s committed to crafting its garments from Melbourne, Australia and guarantees an ethical workplace while reducing waste. I’ve relied on their skinny jeans for years – both their Cult skinny jeans (mid-rise) and their Siren skinny jeans (high-rise). Their straight/slim cuts are also fantastic – my favourite is the Kennedy and Bessette.
Shoes
Everlane
While I’ve already featured them above in my wardrobe staples category, given the number of Everlane shoes I’ve got in my collection, I felt it worthy to mention them here too. They’ve got a huge selection of shoes to choose from, particularly when it comes to comfortable and stylish options for off-duty.
Sarah Flint
Aside from the magical Perfect Pumps that I love for work, Sarah Flint’s collection is complete with boots, flats and sandals for off-duty style as well. Her considered approach is evident in her shoes as she equally prioritises comfort and aesthetics. While the shoes are not inexpensive, 80% of her shoes are part of her core collection and have been designed to transcend seasons and trends. I’m a huge fan of her “Perfect” line – they are the most comfortable luxury shoes I have ever experienced. She enjoys incredible customer loyalty as a result.
You can use the code ‘SARAHFLINT-BAWHATVEEWORE‘ for $50 USD (~ $65 AUD) off your first pair of shoes.
Luxury handbags & accessories
24S (24 Sèvres)
Home of some of the most coveted high end designer brands such as Celine, Dior, Fendi and so much more. 24S is one of the rare places where you can shop Celine and they’re always so well stocked.
Farfetch
A luxury marketplace connecting retailers from around the world on one easy to access platform. From designer to contemporary brands, Farfetch is one of my favourite places to shop and draw inspiration from.
Matches Fashion
One of my favourite destinations when it comes to multi-brand online stores. Matches is home to a huge offering of designer, luxury and upper high street labels. I’m constantly creating wishlists from the inspiration I draw from their new-in sections!
Net-a-Porter
The ultimate destination when it comes to online luxury stores. I build up a wish list over time and take advantage when they have seasonal promotions or the items go on sale. I also pick up all my Charlotte Tilbury make-up bits from there as it is always very well stocked.
Selfridges
Selfridges is a fantastic online store which offers both luxury and contemporary labels. It’s one of my go-tos when I’m searching for pieces from some of my most loved brands like Reiss and The Frankie Shop.
Senreve
Senreve bags are made in Italy from the most durable of leathers. Founders Coral Chung and Wendy Wen had built successful careers in consulting and investment banking before creating Senreve following their realisation that luxury brands weren’t keeping the needs of professional women in mind when designing their handbags. The overall aesthetic of the bags is minimal, with subtle branding and considered design features making the bag a very practical option for daily use.
You can take advantage of my exclusive discount code ‘WHATVEEWORE‘ for $50 USD (~ $65 AUD) off any purchase over $300 USD.
Trading In Style
If you’re based in Sydney, it’s worthwhile following @trading_in_style_ over on Instagram. They curate daily edits of pieces they sell on consignment and their range is always incredible and seasonally curated. I purchased my Celine Sangle from them and have sold a couple of my bags through them too as I’ve found the ladies to be very straightforward and easy to deal with.
Vestiaire Collective
For the best range of pre-loved designer items from around the world, Vestiaire Collective is a treasure trove. I don’t consider myself to be a seasoned expert in the world of designer bags and shoes, so I tend to stick to the reputed sellers that offer authentication services and/or an authentication guarantee as part of the buying process. I’ve shopped at Vestiaire Collective several times and have always had a positive experience.