The Classic High-Street Items That Deserve a Place in Your Forever Wardrobe

There's a misconception that you can't find classic wardrobe staples or sometimes even just expensive looking items on the high street—that the pieces are too trend-led and their appeal will fade when new fashion movements come into play. However, we're here to prove otherwise.
All of our favourite high-street brands are known for getting specific things right, whether that's an entire product category, such as COS's trousers, or a particular item, for example, Other Stories's mock-neck jumper. These are the items that are either available all year round or re-released every season, and it's no coincidence that they're also the brands' bestsellers.
To save you time and help you identify these high street items that are genuinely worth investing in we've rounded up all of the most timeless finds that tick the "classic" box as well. And the list you'll find below also happens to be perfect for helping you build out year-round capsule wardrobes. You're welcome!
The Best High-Street Classic Items to Wear on Repeat:
1. OTHER STORIES JUMPERS
Rachael wears a striped jumper from Other Stories.
Style Notes: Many high street destinations do excellent knits, but none compare with Other Stories's elite selection in our opinion.
Shop Other Stories Jumpers:
2. ARKET BLAZERS
Emily wears the Arket blazer.
Style Notes: There are only a few high street items with good enough quality and longevity for me to recommend buying them even if you had an unlimited budget—but I would choose ARKET's blazers over any other brand every time.
Shop Arket Blazers:
Looking to take your blazer looks further? Why not add camel into the mix.
3. COS TROUSERS
Yatri wears COS wide-leg trousers.
Style Notes: Fashion people everywhere have been wearing COS trousers on repeat for years. The quality and fit is impeccable.
Shop COS Trousers:
The front seams make this pair look so expensive.
4. ARKET CREW-NECK T-SHIRT
Lorna wears a t-shirt from Arket.
Style Notes: Our editors have proclaimed this Arket T-shirt the perfect style. Need we say more?
Shop Arket Crew Neck T-Shirt:
5. MANGO WOOL COATS
Mona wears a coat from Mango.
Style Notes: Celebs, influencers and editors everywhere know the best place to turn to for expensive-looking wool coats on the high street is Mango.
Shop Mango Wool Coats:
6. M&S CASHMERE
Monikh wears a jumper and trousers from Marks Spencer.
Style Notes: I've tried so many different brands for cashmere, from supremeluxury to the high street's offering, and M&S are the styles that have lasted in my wardrobe the longest.
Shop M&S Cashmere:
A soft layering piece you'll rely on on cooler days all year round.
If you told me this was three times the price, I'd believe you.
7. ARKET JEANS
Louisa wears jeans from Arket.
Style Notes: Straight, flared, wide and more, Arket takes jeans seriously with a style to suit all preferences. What's more, the styles come in a range of colours and washes so you're sure to find a pair to treasure forever.
Shop Arket Jeans:
8. WHISTLES LEATHER JACKETS
Marisa wears the Whistles leather jacket.
Style Notes: Although their pieces are still an investment, if you're looking for real leather wardrobe items that will last forever thanks to their classic design and luxury quality, we'd always recommend making your way to Whistles.
Shop Whistles Leather:
9. COS HANDBAGS
Brittany wears the COS leather crossbody bag.
Style Notes: Some high-street brands are guilty of taking their accessories a step too far, be it with oversized zips or unnecessary branding. COS, however, opts for the pared-back approach, making its arm candy the most expensive-looking out there.
Shop COS Bags:
10. M&S SHOES
Danielle wears shoes from Marks Spencer.
Style Notes: As fashion editors we take shoes very seriously. If you're looking for comfort, style, quality and excellent value—you can't beat M&S.
Shop M&S Shoes:
11. ALINGE TAILORING
Ellie wears an Aligne blazer.
Style Notes: While cinched in blazers have proven popular across the high street, it goes without saying that Aligne's blazer collection is the chicest of them all. This pretty pale yellow currently sold out (I hear it's on it's way back), however there are plenty of elegant colours and patterns on offer in the meantime.
Shop Aligne's Tailoring:
12. H&M KNIT DRESSES
Lydia wears a knit dress from H&M.
Style Notes: There's so many classics sold at H&M, but it's their knitted dresses we come back to year after year as being the best, with the most inclusive sizing too.
Shop H&M Knit Dresses:
13. Zara Bodysuits
Aida wears a bodysuit from Zara
Style Notes: A bodysuit is arguably the most versatile item you can have in your closet. Available in a myriad of different cuts and colours, it will act as the basis for your wardrobe all year-round. There are plenty of options on the high street however, Zara has consistently been releasing styles that rival much more expensive brands for awhile now.
Shop Zara Bodysuits
This post was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Maxine Eggenberger isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK’s Deputy Editor and has over fourteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and authoritative content forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, talent interviews self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their search and keyword planning, works closely with the fashion and beauty team on strategy and continues to pen many of her own articles. Prior toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, Maxine's contributed to publications including Grazia, InStyle Marie Claire, Elle and Look, amongst others.
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