London's most stylish people reveal the high-street shops they love

Jumpers from Gap, Kurt Geiger boots and J Crew for shirts. London’s style leaders spill their secrets to Lily Worcester
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Lily Worcester23 March 2017

Caroline Issa - fashion director, Tank Magazine

‘With Christophe Lemaire [ex-Hermès artistic director for womenswear] heading up Uniqlo’s Lab studio, I’ll always pop in to see what they are up to. I get Thomas Mason shirting from J Crew as it has some nice feminine flourishes, and I live in striped tops from Boden — they layer perfectly with anything.’

Susie Lau - Founder, Style Bubble

Swan Gallet/WWD/REX/Shutterstock

‘For a fun take on catwalk trends (as opposed to straightforward copies), I like Asos and Topshop. For sturdier capsule wardrobe pieces, I like Whistles. With & Other Stories and sites like Finery as well as the recently revamped Warehouse, you can also find more distinct pieces that aren’t necessarily about throwaway trends.’

ASOS T-shirt with gingham print bandeau, £16 (asos.com) 

Henry Holland - Designer and founder, House of Holland

Dave Benett

‘Topman does a really well-fitted suit — they basically have the Saint Laurent fit for the same price as a Saint Laurent button. For people with skinny legs they are vital.’

Charlie Casely-Hayford - Designer and Co-founder, Casely-Hayford

WireImage

‘I’m pretty minimal in my wardrobe. I wear a suit and boots every day with a black jersey Cos T-shirt. I’ve got around 30 of their classic styles on rotation because the cut is so good and finding the perfect black T-shirt has been a lifelong search.'

Roberta Benteler - founder, Avenue 32

‘Topshop Unique dresses are really well cut and the accessories look like expensive designer pieces; their Selfridges concession has a great Unique selection. Zara on Kensington High Street has massive changing rooms with really good light.’

TOPSHOP purse £16 (topshop.com)

The best spring knitwear- in pictures

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Bay Garnett - Contributing Fashion Editor at British Vogue

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‘I get my thermal vests and socks from M&S. It’s a long-standing habit. And one I like. Good quality and the staff are helpful. I never set out to shop but will pop into various stores when I need to. Zara and H&M do clever takes from the runway; I’m always surprised by how good they are.’

Candice Lake - Photographer, Contributing Style Editor at Vogue Australia

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‘My absolute favourite thing to buy in bulk is the Uniqlo HeatTech thermals. They are very fine and virtually invisible under a shirt. I have one in every colour. Go on a Monday or Tuesday morning as it’s the best time to beat the crowds.’

Hikari Yokoyama - Creative consultant

Dave Benett/Getty Images for Top

‘Go to Kurt Geiger for boots you’ll wear almost every day. Don’t buy anything because it’s cheekily cheap — ask yourself would you still have to have it if it was twice as much? Does it fit you properly?’

Sarah Harris - Fashion features director, British Vogue

Darren Gerrish/WireImage

‘When it comes to the high street, I rarely shop in the women’s departments, preferring the menswear. I love Banana Republic and Gap for grey, navy, black and camel cashmere sweaters. The women’s styles often come with an added detail — like a fanciful neckline or a slightly puffed shoulder, which I would never wear — whereas the men’s styles are straightforward and classic with a simple crew neckline.’

Anna Barnett - chef and cookery writer

Dave Benett/Getty Images for Sma

‘My go-to shop for the past 10 years has been Cos. It sells reinvented classics and also creates pieces that have a firm finger on the pulse of ever-changing fashion trends. The upshot is that no one ever thinks it’s a high-street piece. Whether it’s a standard knit jumper with bell sleeves or an Issey Miyake Pleats Please-style loose-fit smock, Cos has it covered.’

Camille Charrière - Influencer, fashion journalist

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‘The H&M space in Selfridges always has the newest studio and trend pieces that seem to be sold out or unavailable everywhere else. In my experience H&M pieces last the longest. They also have the best changing rooms because the staff let you bring in so much and the mirrors go all the way round.’

Agi Mdumulla​ - Designer and Co-founder, Agi & Sam

Getty Images for Converse

‘Dr Martens Church Monkey boots are my must-have from the high street. I have a good selection that lasts for years. I had a red velvet pair at one stage — those were questionable

DR MARTENS Church Monkey boots, £120 (drmartens.com)

Laura Jackson - broadcaster and co-founder of Jackson&Levine

Nick Harvey/REX/Shutterstock

‘I love & Other Stories — you get a sense of uniqueness that you don’t always find on the high street. I also love River Island’s Style Studio in its Marble Arch store — there’s a bar in there, which is a good start!’

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