I Popped Into Zara After Work and Left With an Entire Wardrobe—Here's the Damage

Welcome to Let's Get a Room, a series where editor Eliza Huber heads to the dressing room to try on pieces from your favorite retailers, buzzy items, and new collections. Think of this column as a detailed guide to the pieces that are actually worth buying and the ones that, unfortunately, looked better online—no returns necessary.

If you know me, you're probably already aware of my slight obsession with Zara. Ever since a store opened at my mall in the Chicago suburbs back in high school, I've been hooked. So, of course, now that I live in New York City's biggest shopping hub, I frequent Zara's SoHo store on a frequent basis. And this last time, I decided to document it. 

With a new season approaching, I couldn't resist popping in to see and try on all the fresh arrivals I'd already bookmarked in the Zara app. And I must say, this latest drop is one of the brand's best—no question. From tube tops fit for fall and winter to moto boots that are destined to garner you compliments galore, see all the pieces I test-drove at Zara during my most recent post-work drop-in. I have a feeling you'll like them as much as I did.

I spotted this top a few weeks back in one of my pop-ins and fell for it immediately but resisted purchasing for a reason I can't now think of. It reminds me of structured strapless tops available at luxury brands like Khaite and Toteme but costs under $50. I paired it with a matching pencil skirt and wildly gorgeous $90 knee-high boots that you will 1000% regret not buying. 

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Whenever I spot a piece marked "limited edition" at Zara, I know that the quality is going to be a tier or two above everything else—this dress included. What you can't tell from the pictures is that it has a second lining inside that closes with a bunch of bra clasps to provide support and almost a corset-like feel. In other words, you can party and dance as much as you want without the fear of this tube dress moving an inch.

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The number of DMs I received about these engineer-style boots when I posted an image of this look on Instagram is wild. Styling-wise, I love the idea of pairing more grungey, rugged footwear with a sleek, feminine slip dress. It's so easy but looks so elevated and balanced.

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Shades of brown in the fall and winter are a must if you ask me, so when I saw these two cocoa-colored pieces, I had to test them out. Again, this strapless top is giving definite Khaite vibes, especially when I paired it with a rugged, distressed leather jacket that was just the right amount of oversized. 

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Every time I stop at Zara, I have to take a ride downstairs to the menswear department, where Zara Origins lives. Origins is a line of elevated basics for men, including cashmere sweaters, suiting, wool outerwear, and more. I've been obsessed with it ever since it launched a few summers ago and rely on its contents for my wardrobe staples. Can you blame me? Look at this camel coat, navy cashmere crew neck, and these poplin PJ pants. They're all so good. 

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Thanks to celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Paloma Elsesser, and Bella Hadid, cargo and parachute pants are trending hardcore on TikTok and Instagram. Knowing that, when I saw Zara's take on the trend, I had to test it out. I paired a khaki-colored pair with a button-down sweater-vest and fell in love practically immediately.

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Speaking of vests, waistcoats are all anyone's been talking about lately, myself included. So, I naturally had to find one at Zara to add to my wardrobe. This black style is perfectly tailored and looks beyond sleek and sophisticated paired with a pencil skirt, boots, and this men's camel coat. 

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Coming Up: I Haven't Done aReplica Store Deep Dive in Forever—35 Items I Can't Believe I Found