Designer vs High Street: Get the High-End Look For Less this Season

Be spend savvy this season with five of the best designer lookalikes on the high street

Words Joy Montgomery

Everyone loves a bargain, and there’s nothing more satisfying than discovering a piece on the high street which is a designer doppelgänger. It’s good to invest in a high-end piece every now and then, but sometimes we simply want to enjoy a transient trend without having to remortgage the house.

In recent years the great British high street has got better at offering shoppers high-end looks at purse-friendly prices. This means we can all enjoy the fruits of the new fashion season whatever our budget. No one need know what’s really on the label…

With summer in sight, we found four of the best new season designer dead ringers on the high street. From embellished slippers to statement asymmetric raw hem jeans, we’ve got SS17 covered.

PIHAKAPI VS WHISTLES

The khaki shacket is fast becoming a staple in the wardrobes of industry insiders. Offering a utilitarian twist to any ensemble, Whistles’ jacket offers all the clean-lined appeal of Pihakapi’s high-end iteration. Pair with a breton top, cropped flares and retro trainers for chic weekend casual. DESIGNER: PIHAKAPI painted flower back jacket, £464; farfetch.com HIGH STREET: Whistles utility jacket, £119; whistles.com

ROCHAS VS & OTHER STORIES

The bucket bag is the accessory trend that has come up trumps this season and Parisian fashion house Rochas has delivered on both style and practicality with their Borsa Bel bag. & Other Stories’ interpretation comes in at a snip of the price without compromising on looks. DESIGNER: ROCHAS Bucket Bag, £605; avenue32.com HIGH STREET: & Other Stories Bucket Bag, £69; stories.com

MAGGIE MARILYN VS ZARA

Denim is no longer the wardrobe’s hard-wearing underdog. With a little help from designers such as Marques Almeida, it has been given the runway treatment. Maggie Marilyn’s show-stopping flared jeans are a case in point. Get the look for less at Zara – simply tuck in a plain white tee and you’re good to go.DESIGNER: MAGGIE MARILYN Flared jeans, £275; net-a-porter.com HIGH STREET: Zara denim trousers, £39.99; zara.com

SANAYI313 VS KG KURT GEIGER

Sanayi313’s ‘Ragno’ slippers are the stuff of dreams. Beautifully embroidered using traditional techniques, they come in a rich navy and bottle green. However, if you want to dip your toe in the slipper trend without the £800 investment, head over to KG Kurt Geiger. These fashion blogger-approved slip-ons scream designer with their quirky lobster embellishment. Get them before they go.DESIGNER: SANAYI313 Slippers, £800; net-a-porter.com HIGH STREET: KG KURT GEIGER Mules, £130; selfridges.com

MONSE VS MANGO

This cooler-than-thou look from it-brand Monse combines two key SS17 trend: banker stripes and the deconstructed shirt. Mango’s blouse is a seriously good high street copycat, made wearable through delicate shoulder straps. Set to be a summer staple.DESIGNER: MONSE Double Stripe Shirt, £1,059; boutique1.com HIGH STREET: Mango Striped blouse, £25.99; mango.com