As an editor at Who What Wear, I typically spend a lot of time looking at new-in products, so every month, I update this story with the pieces that have caught my eye or that I have saved to my wish list. This summer instead of holidays or weddings, we’re dressing for drinks or picnics in the great outdoors, so this month my wishlist is filled with walk-for-miles sandals, throw-on summer dresses and linen separates.
As several warehouses and stores have shuttered, the fashion industry faces huge challenges and strains that pose an inevitable threat to businesses, reflected in the number of flash sales launching every single day. Many of us won’t be shopping in the same way this year, but even a like on Instagram or a message of support can provide a boost for these brands. I certainly don’t want anyone to feel like they have to buy more right now in a time of such heightened worry, but at the same time, after working in the fashion industry for nine years, I also want to support the brands that I really love and treasure.
So whether you’re looking to buy, browse or discover something new, keep scrolling for the summer buys I love from fashion brands I always champion and think are worth investing in, from the high street to designer labels.
Keep scrolling to see the 20 summer items I love.
I own this bag in the polka dot print, but am eyeing up this pink leather version.
The pretties face masks I ever did see.
These sleeves are just so beautiful.
Arket does this tank top in several colours.
There is a matching top to this too.
Kate Middleton wore a dress in this print.
A fashion-girl favourite.
& Other Stories is my favourite place on the high street for knitwear.
I’ve been considering this dress for a long time.
Shrimps, I love you.
Wear now with sandals, and in autumn with a boxy blazer.
Trust me—leather blazers will be big news this autumn.
Not technically a summer buy I know—but I’ve been eyeing this up.
This collar is just so pretty.
Another dream Rixo dress.
& Other Stories does the best knitwear.
I’ve been searching for the perfect pair of everyday shorts—and think I’ve found them.
I love the stitching on these jeans.
Our columnist Monikh has this top, so of course I want it.
Simple but so good.
I love that this has a swimming costume vibe to it.
Arizona Loves are my favourite sandals.
This would look amazing with a white T-shirt or silky camisole.
Horror Vacui is one of my new favourite brands.
This comes with a pair of matching shorts too.
I’m all for dressing like a picnic blanket.
For this week’s heatwave.
Can’t forget the matching bottoms.
Equal parts practical and stylish.
I’ve been eyeing these bags up all summer.
These also come in black.
SPF dressing at its best.
I love this sugary pink.
Rooper handbags are almost all sold out.
The perfect summer shorts.
Beach or no beach, I love this bikini.
This shade of green is my favourite this year.
I have been admiring Rhode’s Ella dresses for years.
I love these school-girl shoes.
Amsterdam-based label Wandler is perhaps my favourite handbag brand of all—I bought the Hortensia bag several years ago and it is one of the most special items I have.
Desmond & Dempsey creates luxury pyjamas in the most beautiful hand-painted prints—the shirts are so good you’ll want to wear them in the day too.
I won’t need to introduce Who What Wear readers to Ganni—no-one does printed throw-on dresses better than this Copenhagen-based power house.
Faithfull the Brand creates clothes for adventures, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear them at home too—the dresses and midi skirts all use vibrant colours and prints that will give you that holiday feeling.
Veja launched in 2005 and has quickly become a cult label leading the way when it comes to sustainability, both in terms of transparency and introducing innovative technologies.
When Oxford Street re-opens, I’m heading straight to Liberty, which I would say is my favourite shop in London. This Liberty print eye mask is a fancy addition to bedtime.
Budapest-based brand Nanushka creates beautiful, timeless clothes that feel simple and timeless, but still have an unmistakable aesthetic.
If I had to pick one brand to wear all summer, it would have to be Albus Lumen.
When it comes to sandals, I think Swedish footwear brand ATP Atelier make the best ones out there. The leather slides and flatform flip flops are my personal favourites.
This year I went to Copenhagen Fashion Week for the first time and the brand that put the biggest smile on my face was Stine Goya. No-one uses colour quite like her.
Self Portrait has become one of the most popular brands out there for formal dressing, and this powder blue midi dress is an example of just how beautiful its designs are.
It isn’t just small, independent brands that are being impacted in this time, as Oxford Street and high streets up and down the country have temporarily closed. I remember when & Other Stories first opened, and my colleagues and I had a preview and said, “Oh, this is going to be good.” Seven years later, and it remains my favourite high-street store.
Rhode is another “destination” label, with lightweight dresses and kaftans designed with the beach in mind. The Ella mini was one of the most popular dresses of 2019 and continues to be a hero for the brand.
At Rixo’s spring summer 2020 presentation they teamed up with Christian Lacroix to reimagine archive pieces—it’s all pure ’80s glamour.
In June 2019, within seconds of the model walking through lavender fields in Provence during the Jacquemus show in this neon pink blazer, images of the moment exploded across the world. To me, this is the definition of a happy jacket.
Palones is a new British brand that follows sustainable practices, and is relatively affordable.
Put simply, Rejina Pyo designs clothes that women want to wear—and even Meghan Markle has been spotted with the cult Nane bag.
Staud is one of those cult brands that has managed to maintain its hype, especially in the accessories department, and these ballerina pumps are
Affordable clothing brand Kitri was launched in 2017 by South Korea–born ballerina turned fashion expert Haeni Kim. The designs are often simple and classic, but the use of colour, print and silhouette make them feel truly special. Kim is also one of the kindest and most graceful people I’ve met in my time in this industry, deserving of every success.
This is a new brand that I’ve fallen for. Sandal brand Arizona Love transforms Velcro sandals into feel-good footwear with scraps of beautiful fabric.
Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey, founders of London-based label Rixo, are two of the warmest and most generous women you could ever hope to meet, and they know how to create dresses that make you feel good. This month, they are also donating 10% of profits from rixo.co.uk to Age UK.
I always look forward to Shrimps on the London Fashion Week schedule because it is filled with so much joy. Hannah Weiland launched the label in 2013 and creates princess-like dresses and playful accessories that you can’t help but smile at.
I want to wear everything Australian brand Albus Lumen creates. It makes the most beautiful, easy-to-style pieces that, despite the simplicity, always feel really distinctive.
I love beautiful dresses, and one of the most special items I’ve ever bought was a Zimmermann floral midi dress (bought with a voucher, a discount, birthday money, and a chunk of my savings). I’m sure that will be the only thing I’ll ever be able to buy from Zimmermann, but the beautiful Instagram images and dresses always make for happy scrolling for me.
Berlin-based shoe brand Aeydē was launched in 2015, and I think it creates the most beautiful, luxurious flats, heels and ankle boots.
I have a horoscope pendant necklace from Misho, and I get a compliment on it every single day that I wear it. All of the pieces look like vintage treasures to me, as founder Suhani Parekh is inspired by architecture and sculpture.
London-based designer Olivia Rubin is another favourite. She is the queen of feel-good fashion, making dresses and cardigans in rainbow hues and floral prints that always make me happy.
I will always remember the first time I got a ticket to Preen by Thornton Bregazzi at London Fashion Week, and ever since, it’s been a highlight for me. I love the ethereal prints and the London edge that always comes through with unexpected styling.
Alighieri is a brand that the fashion industry has truly fallen for, as the gold pendants and pearl jewellery feel truly special. In this period, they are asking friends of the brand to write a letter and poem about something that is giving them light—and they are making me smile every time I see them posted on Instagram.
British brand Chinti & Parker creates the most beautiful cashmere, and this month, it has created this special NHS sweater and will donate 100% of the profits to the charity Meals for the NHS.
I have never been a natural vintage shopper (I’m not good at the hunt), but the Instagram account Lucia Zolea has really made me fall in love with vintage.
This is another London Fashion Week brand that I always look forward to seeing what it does next. Founded in 2012 by Natalia Alaverdian, the brand creates classic dresses and suiting with a touch of the unexpected.
Arket is another of my high-street heroes. I think the quality and cut for the price is truly brilliant and love how it creates items you will treasure for years, slowing down the trend cycle.
Art Dealer is a new, small brand that creates beautiful dresses inspired by vintage designs. I wore one of the silk wrap dresses to my 30th birthday. It is donating 50% of all profits to the Italian First Aid.
Ghost had something of a comeback recently, as the once-overlooked bridesmaid dress brand had a revamp and now creates the most beautiful midi dresses for £100-something.
This comes with matching trousers too.
Pair with chunky boots for maximum impact.
This co-ord is the perfect spring outfit.
Yep, you read that right— Who What Wear now does shoes.
There’s a matching skirt too.
Summer, is that you?
& Other Stories does the best underwear.
The prettiest pastels.
This looks so luxurious.
Polo shirts are one of my favourite of the spring 2020 trends.
I’d wear this with jeans and sandals.
This is the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.
I am a big Wandler fan.
I love the square front.
One of the coolest rings I’ve seen in some time.
I’d wear this with high-waisted, straight-leg jeans.
