7 Items Our Editors Would Never Buy From Zara and 7 They Definitely Would

Hold up—there are actually items Who What Wear UK editors won’t buy from Zara? I know—we can barely believe it ourselves, but it’s true. Just like everyone else, we have pieces we find ourselves gravitating towards and others we tend to avoid. And today, we’re here to share exactly what we prefer not to buy from the Spanish retailer. Admittedly, while “don’t-buy” lists are significantly shorter than the “must-buy” lists, the reasoning behind each editor’s answer is worth hearing out, especially if you're on the fence about purchasing one of the items for yourself.

Now, we aren’t saying you shouldn’t be shopping for these at Zara. (Heck, some of the items our editors would rather not buy might be your favourite Zara section, and that’s okay—we all have our preferences and opinions.) Truly, in this situation, there’s no right or wrong answer, because at the end of the day, you know we're bigs fans of the brand, so who are we to judge? We just thought it would be interesting to find out what these knowledgeable editors steer clear of when it comes to shopping affordably at Zara.

That said, we're not in the way of being unnecessarily negative, particularly when you might like shopping the items we prefer to swerve, so we thought we'd balance this out by charting the items our editors love to buy from Zara. This, naturally, was significantly harder to whittle down. Read on to find out which items our Who What Wear UK editors would never buy from Zara, then continue on to discover the items currently on their wish lists.

Hannah Almassi, Editor in Chief

Would Probably Not Buy From Zara: Co-Ords

Loves to Buy From Zara: Trend Pieces

“Zara's co-ord selection always used to be a key destination when I was shopping on the high street, this season doesn't seem as strong but there are plenty of other areas taking my attention… Mini seasonal updates like accessories or basics in key colours, prints or with a subtle change in silhouette to help bring my older items to life!”

Shop Zara Trend Pieces:

Poppy Nash, Managing Editor

Would Probably Not Buy From Zara: Shorts and Skirts

Loves to Buy From Zara: Blouses and Blazers

“I am a pretty big Zara fan but if there's one thing (or two!) I avoid when shopping there it is shorts and skirts. I often find that the sizing is really off with these pieces, and they never fit me very well on the hips or tummy. I'm not one to shy away from a short hemline, so don't mind the lengths, but in general I always swerve the brand's shorts and skirts. There's nothing worse than an ill-fitting, uncomfortable piece of clothing that knocks your confidence. I tend to buy blouses and blazers from Zara, the latter of which are always considered some of the best on the high street!”

Shop Zara Blouses and Blazers:

Florrie Alexander, Acting Affiliates Editor

Would Never Buy From Zara: Skirts

Loves to Buy From Zara: Knitwear

“Whilst on my daily scroll of Zara, I often come across beautiful skirts that I'd happily recommend for other people, but personally, I'm more of a trouser person. Any skirt that does make its way into my wardrobe has to tick all the boxes and at 5"2', the midi length styles tend to hit me at an awkward place. Instead, all my attention is on knitwear right now. September has arrived and my wardrobe is calling out for an injection of cosy wool pieces to keep me warm over the coming months, and Zara has so many chic styles that I can't get enough! From simple jumpers to knit cardigans that can pass for jackets, the knitwear section is where you'll find me.”

Shop Zara Knitwear:

Maxine Eggenberger, Deputy Editor

Would Never Buy From Zara: Swimwear

Loves to Buy From Zara: Shoes

“In all honesty, there are very few items I won't buy from Zara—the only thing I can think of is swimwear, which I seldom buy from any high-street store. With my larger bust, Zara's swimwear is a complete no-go, as I find it grossly lacks in support. Zara shoes, however, are another story. I don't know who the buyers of each department are, but my bank balance owes them a debt. Zara has brightened up my footwear line-up tenfold.”

Shop Zara Shoes and Bags:

Remy Farrell, Fashion Editor 

Would Probably Not Buy From Zara: Trousers

Loves to Buy From Zara: Jeans (Yes, Really!)

“Despite what others say about Zara denim, I'm very into it. I'm an "in-between" size and find that the brand's jeans fit me better than most on the high-street retailers (by which I mean avoiding the dreaded gap at the back). I do have a few caveats to ensure that they fit my frame though: They need to be straight-legged and high-waisted to fit properly, but Zara often hits the mark. Conversely, I find it hard shopping in Zara's general trouser department, as even though I'm 5ft6, all the styles come up incredibly long. I know I could get them tailored, but I feel strapped for time as it is. I think I'll stick to Zara's ankle-grazing jeans, thank you!”

Shop Zara Jeans:

Rebecca Rhys-Evans, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor

Would Never Buy From Zara: Knitwear

Loves to Buy From Zara: Bags

“Upon my recent visit, I'd say I'd never buy knitwear from Zara—I really try to invest in quality fabrics when it comes to my cosy autumnal pieces. I find that synthetic fibres make me so hot on my commute to work, so when looking for knitwear I tend to buy cotton, wool or cashmere only. Most of Zara's knits tend to be a blend, at best, this not only makes me sweat but also never lasts as long! What I do love from Zara is their bags. Especially those fashion-forward occasion bags that I won't be getting out every day. They hit the mark in terms of 'trend' but obviously don't carry the designer price point.”

Shop Zara Bags:

Brittany Davy, Editorial Assistant

Would Never Buy From Zara: Jeans

Loves to Buy From Zara: Coats

"I must admit I'm not a huge denim fan as it is, so on the odd occasion that I do splurge on a pair of jeans, I have to be majorly impressed with the size, fit and shape. I find Zara's denim sizing hard to navigate which often leads me to get frustrated and give up. One section of Zara that never disappoints me however, is the coats. Whether I'm looking for a classic trench, a cool leather bomber or a new wool coat in a trendy shade to brighten up my minimalist wardrobe, Zara has some of the chicest options on the high-street. Not to mention the quality is always unmatched."

Shop Zara Coats:

This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.