I Test-Drove The Frankie Shop's New Arrivals, and What the Hell—They're Awesome

Welcome to The Great Try-On. With fall on the horizon, we seized the opportunity to try on some of the best fall pieces from some of your favourite brands, documenting the process along the way. We believe that the most foolproof way to shop online is to see an item IRL and to read candid reviews, so we hope that this leads you to some successful autumn purchases.

I felt like I won the jackpot when our senior editor Allyson Payer told me I was the lucky editor who would get to test-drive The Frankie Shop's new arrivals. It's a fashion person's brand (industry insiders are very loyal followers), but the brand's minimal-cool aesthetic is approachable to a wider spectrum of people, too. I also love how the brand feels perfectly current but steers away from super trendy. In other words, once you find your perfect The Frankie Shop piece, you'll want to wear it for many seasons to come. Speaking of your ideal item, read on to see if any of my favorites from my test-drive just might be yours too.

The Frankie Shop Nerea Vest

My review: When you think of a leather vest, a moto vest might come to mind, but wow, this is so much better. The design is understated and sleek, and the fact that it's in leather adds a touch of edge. I want to wear this now and can picture still being into it 50 years from now. It's the kind of thing Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen would wear. It's pretty roomy, so you could easily fit a chunky sweater or even a coat underneath. I also liked that you can zip it from the top and the bottom, so you can leave just a little bit zipped at the bust. 

Shop the Nerea Vest:

The Frankie Shop Cassia Blazer, Vest and Trousers

My review of the blazer: One thing I love about The Frankie Shop is that its cuts are always on point. When it comes to blazers, that means perfectly oversized and slouchy without overwhelming you. The materials are punching above their weight, too. They clearly look more expensive than they are. The thing about this blazer, though, is that you have to get the matching vest. I'm sorry— I don't make the rules. The three-piece suit just happens to be the look right now. It's sold out in the beige, but I think the darker color looks excellent for autumn. 

Shop the Cassia Blazer:

My review of the vest: 2021 is the year of the suiting vest. If the shrunken ones feel too '90s (I do think they are harder to pull off), may I suggest an oversized blazer vest like the one I'm wearing? As for styling, I decided to really commit by adding an extra vest underneath. Why the heck not?

Shop the Cassia Vest:

My review of the trousers: These trousers are the bomb: high quality and very on-trend. I swear everyone wants baggy trousers right now. That might be why they're sold out, but The Frankie Shop is known for its trousers, so the brand has lots of other great options. I'm 5'4'', and they'd work best with a heel so they aren't dragging. I'm wearing a size medium here and would normally take a small, so they may sit higher on the waist in your correct size.

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The Frankie Shop Noa Vest

My review: Here's yet another faux-leather vest, and it won't be the last one. This one's most compelling feature is the funnel neck. I found it looks best half unzipped and flipped up a little. It's a bit oversized, so I like the look of pairing it with skinnier pants to play on the proportions. And just like all of The Frankie Shop's vegan leather, the quality feels super luxe. 

The Frankie Shop Ines Vest

My review: This cargo vest has it all: pockets, epaulettes, and quality vegan leather. There are about a million ways to style it, but I am partial to how it looks over a trench coat. Like the other vests, it definitely runs oversized. The black is an easy choice, but I'm also quite smitten with the army green.

Shop the Ines Vest:

Shop more The Frankie Shop picks: