I Have The Row Taste on an H&M Budget—Here Are 26 Summer Buys Under £100 I Love

Hi, I’m Emily, and I have expensive taste. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a preference for the finer things in life (a fact my parents have always lamented). It’s probably why I ended up working in fashion in the first place after being attracted by the beauty and luxury of it all. The thing is, like most of us, I don’t have the budget to indulge these habits often, and although sometimes I might be tempted, I’m not about bankrupting myself to own a full designer closet. Instead, I admire from afar and choose my moments to invest in capsule pieces that will elevate my wardrobe most effectively—a classic designer handbag, for example, or a beautiful dress that I know I’ll wear again and again. 

For my day-to-day wardrobe, though, over my 10 years of working in the industry as a stylist and editor, I’ve had to get really good at finding expensive-looking pieces at more affordable prices. My taste is very classic and mostly minimalist (my dream closet would be full of The Row and Totême), and luckily, this aesthetic is surprisingly easy to replicate on a high-street budget. You just have to know where to look, and I’m now an expert at spotting items that have a similar effortless luxury to them. 

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(Image credit: @femmeblk)

I love Lydia's minimalist summer style.

If this all sounds familiar, I have a feeling you’ll be a fan of my weekly column where I scroll through all the new-in high-street collections and share with you the most expensive-looking pieces I can find. But today, I’m here to apply my talents to the latest summer drops in particular. The weather has suddenly gotten warmer (finally!), and lighter evenings are upon us. Summer officially starts in just a few short weeks, and I don’t know about you, but it’s got me thinking about which pieces I can add to my existing closet to make it feel exciting again and warm-weather-ready.

So below, I’ve compiled an edit of the 26 most premium-looking summer pieces I could find for under £100. Not only do they all feel elevated enough to satisfy expensive taste, but they’re also easy, fresh pieces that will revitalise your closet for the months ahead with as little effort (and budget) required as possible. Keep scrolling to see for yourself.

Shop My Under-£100 Summer Picks:

This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Up Next: 6 Elevated Staples That Will Make All Your Summer Outfits Look Polished

Emily Dawes
Affiliate Editor

Emily Dawes is the very definition of a fashion multi hyphenate. An editor, stylist and writer with over eleven years’ worth of experience in the industry, Emily is known for her impeccable taste, elegant outfit choices and being able to spot the next big thing in fashion from a mile off. Our readers loyally trust her advice and shopping suggestions; so much so she began her own column documenting the most expensive-looking pieces on the high street, which has become a top-performing piece of content for theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing brand.

Emily has worked forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK since 2020 in a myriad as roles, spanning from contributing editor and branded content editor. Now, she holds the position of affiliate editor and is responsible for the brand’s overall affiliate strategy, ideation and content execution. Working closely withBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK’s affiliate manager, Emily has been instrumental in securing and nourishing brand partnerships, surpassing her goals as standard. Leading the team in tentpole shopping moments including Black Friday and Peak Trading, with Emily’s guidance and leadership, teamBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing is in a stronger affiliate position than ever before.

Prior to joining theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing team, Emily served as YOU Magazine’s acting fashion editor where she managed the fashion team and oversaw all fashion content output for the fast-paced weekly title. Emily is a stylist in her own right, having worked with a slew of VIP clients including writer and television personality, Elizabeth Day, as well as styling and art directing several celebrity cover shoots for glossy print publication, Grazia. Her adept fashion knowledge means brands regularly sought out to work with her as a consultant: previously she has developed marketing and content plans for brands for Cocoon and Edge of Ember. Before entering the industry, Emily obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Studies with International Study from Nottingham University. Fun fact: Emily spent a year studying in America which saw her join a sorority during her time there.

When she’s not working or tracking down the chicest, new-in items to share with our audience, you’ll find Emily bestowing her East London home with her stylish flair, reading everything from the classics to cowboy romance novels and escaping to the country with husband, baby boy and dog, Roo, whenever she can.

Emily is currently on maternity leave.