It feels like we’ve been talking about winter for a long time now. Ever since the Autumn/Winter catwalks showed last February (yes, that long ago), what to wear for colder weather has been on our minds. Yes, there’s still a chill in the air—but such is the the nature of this industry that we end up always ahead of ourselves. And so our minds, along with the new-in sections are already starting to look forward to spring. Can you really blame us?
It’s all about layering at this time of year, and making smart swaps to ensure your wardrobe transitions well between those colder moments and milder ones. The beginning of the year is also the perfect time to refresh those key buys like trench coats, blazers and denim, to ensure you’ve got all the building blocks of a great spring wardrobe in place (before the best ones sell out). But these pieces will also see you through to autumn and next winter, too.
Light knitwear is invaluable, especially cardigans that are a bit more breathable than a chunky knit. It doesn’t hurt to start thinking about spring shoes, too, as they can be the first early switch you can make to your favourite winter outfits. As a result, we’re suddenly finding ourselves obsessing over loafers and ballet flats rather than heavy boots.
The best bit about February? Fresh new season drops are arriving from both the high street and designers, which means a whole host of new inspo and ideas for how we want to dress for the year ahead. There are three high-street brands in particular, though, that we on the Who What Wear UK team always turn to first when it comes to refreshing buys: Arket, & Other Stories and H&M. And needless to say, they have seriously impressed us in 2023 already.
Key buys inevitably sell out further into the season, so now is the best time to snap them up, and there’s plenty here for you to choose from. We’re turning to expensive-looking classic separates, mostly—from bretons to black trousers—but there’s a few statement pieces and hero dresses added in for good measure.
Keep scrolling to see and shop our edit of the best February buys from Arket, & Other Stories and H&M…
Up Next: The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week
This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
