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.
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:
There's a good chance these will sell out as the weather gets warmer.
I don't wear much colour, but this tangerine dress might just win me over.
The dress all my fellow editors own and love.
Nothing says summer quite like linen.
You can't go wrong with a simple white tee.
A fun way of incorporating knitwear into your warm-weather wardrobe.
Ideal for beachside drinks.
This silhouette would look so good with wide-leg trousers.
Such a good skirt for all occasions, from the office to weekend brunches.
The colour of the season.
This will quickly become a wardrobe hero you depend on.
Updating your accessories is an easy way to make your favourite outfits feel fresh.
This dress is begging to be brought on holiday.
I get Reformation vibes from this pretty top.
This whole set is divine, and it comes in sizes 4 to 30.
Zara releases these slides every year in a variety of wearable shades.
Don't forget to stock up on lightweight staples.
A fast way to make your outfit ten times more polished: swap your jeans for these flowy culottes.
On cooler summer days, reach for this trendy cover-up.
Maxi dresses are my new summer obsession, and I think this one looks so expensive.
Breezy shirts were made for summer—this striped iteration is so chic.
These could easily pass for designer.
Elevated basics like this are essential, whatever the season.
I love the slightly boyish fit of these shorts.
Scoop up the whole co-ord ahead of your next getaway.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
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