& Other Stories is the one-stop destination for all your summer wardrobe staples
They say you shouldn’t have favourites, but when it comes to the high street, & Other Stories takes my top spot every. single. time. It’s one of those brands I always end up going back to - the kind of place where you pop in for one thing and suddenly find three pieces that feel very much like they were missing from your wardrobe.
While it’s long been my go-to for chic workwear – think: structured blazers, barrel jeans and practical yet chic leather work bags – I’ve realised its summer collection is just as good. If not better. We’re talking cute summer dresses, bright statement accessories, cotton shirts galore, linen trousers to keep you cool, and sculpted denim jackets for when the sun inevitably disappears – because, well, we live in London.
As fashion and beauty writers, sometimes we need a little time away from our screens. So, naturally, I dragged my colleague, Shani Cohen, our local & Other Stories on our lunch break to try on the new summer collection – purely for research purposes, obvs. We went in with a few pieces in mind and came away with a few too many bags. Welcome to our & Other Stories Dressing Room Diaries.
Our & Other Stories favourites, at a glance:
The Rachel Green look
“If Rachel Green popped into & Other Stories, this is absolutely what she’d leave with,” says Shani. “The 90s-coded black midi skirt was easily one of my favourite pieces of the day. Me and skirts have a bit of a love-hate relationship - they usually gape at the back or basically fall down - but this one instantly won me over thanks to the elasticated waistband.
“The length was spot on too, sitting just below the knee, so not too long and not too short. I tried it with about three tops, including this yellow ruched beauty, and it worked every single time. To add to the 90s feel, I styled it with these black strappy leather sandals which were not only super comfortable, but helped dress up the outfit. It’s giving date night, but make it cool girl-coded.”
Save when you shop with these & Other Stories discount codes at checkout.
The summer dresses
“The summer dress: the foundation of a strong mid-year wardrobe, and in this department, & Other Stories excels," says Sophie. "I tend to opt for a midi, the mid-length modest option working for both the office and an evening spent in the pub. I'm a big fan of the asymmetric cut — and contrasted with self-tie bows, it somehow manages to be both a little grunge and hyper feminine.
"I should say that I tried a size 42, which is equivalent to a UK 14 and my usual size. Sadly, she comes up a little small, so size-up if you're between or generous in the chest. In terms of styling, I went bright — specifically, this suede bag (described to be red, but more pumpkin) and oversized aviators? The perfect low effort, high-reward look that's high-temp-friendly, too."
"However, that wasn't the only one-piece I almost took home. If Glastonbury was making a comeback this summer, I know we'd see Sienna Miller wearing this silk number with harness boots and a leather jacket (a classic festival outfit) thrown over her shoulders.
“I loved the relaxed, seamless cut — and despite its lack of craftsmanship, it falls perfectly. In fact, I rarely feel this classy… or tall. I mentioned it in the fitting room, but if my boyfriend is planning to propose this summer, this is what I want to be wearing, likely with simple black flip flops for comfort, lashings of gold jewellery and an oversized raffia tote.”
The denim jacket
“Literally me in jacket form,” says Shani. "Cinched waist? Tick. Strong shoulder pads? Tick. Denim? Tick. Summer isn’t always kind to us, so a chic lightweight jacket is non-negotiable - and you best believe I’ll be wearing this one on repeat.
“In contrast to the sculpted silhouette of the jacket, I decided to style it with a pair of wide-leg parachute pants - I love the balance of something fitted on top with a baggier shape on the bottom. They were super comfortable and lightweight, but as a 5ft 3 girlie, they did drown me a little at the leg, even with the drawstring ties at the side. A petite option would have been very welcome.”
The statement summer top
“A statement summer top if I ever saw one," says Shani. "This is what I’d throw on when it’s 23 degrees in London, and I want to stay cool but still look effortlessly stylish. The stripes, the ruching, the fanned high neck - obsessed.”
The new wave shirt
“It started on the runway, and now we're seeing all our street style leaders embracing the new wave of the white shirt — cinched and finished with a peplum or waist-tie,” says Sophie. "But & Other Stories has redesigned the wheel again, removing the collar and cropping this pink poplin shirt instead. I shouldn't be surprised, considering & Other Stories does this every season, but I couldn't believe how luxe it looked — and while it's not cheap, it's certainly more affordable than similar styles I've spotted on the runways (think Loewe and Miu Miu).
“In terms of styling, I opted for one of my favourite colour combos of all time: baby pink and chocolate brown, the latter of which I'm declaring as a summer hue. For too long has it been confined to the colder seasons. To lift it further, I opted for this white linen bag — which isn't yet on site and that needs rectifying immediately.”
The white midi skirt
"A bit of context: I'm a Pinterest outfit planner, always working on a board of looks I can't wait to recreate next season. Having started my summer research in January, the one item I knew I'd have to invest in was a white midi skirt — she's whimsical, ultra feminine and a great alternative to Bermuda shorts for the office.
“I hadn't planned on pairing these two pieces together. It was very much a happy accident, but one that resulted in me heading straight to the checkout. Without the waist-cinching belt, there'd possibly be a little too much material — but the cowl neck perfectly balances with the volume of the skirt. To finish the look, I'm thinking chocolate raffia ballet flats, or a kitten heel for a holiday evening out.”
“I tried a similar combination with this navy pleated skirt — the detail was insane for the sub-£150 price point —, but it was a little too close to my secondary school uniform for my liking. However, that drawstring blouse with some satin trousers would be a delicious (and comfy) evening look.”
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