You’ve probably heard of celebrity stylist Angie Smith from her work in the past with household names like Holly Willoughby, Eva Mendes, Davina McCall and Rochelle Humes. Smith has a gift for making her clients look effortlessly chic, usually on an affordable budget. She’s an advocate for shopping the high street—often mixing high and low pieces in her styling and her own wardrobe—and her talent for uncovering the most expensive-looking finds is unrivalled. So I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear she’s our new Who What Wear UK columnist, here to share with you her expert shopping picks for the season ahead while sharing some of her styling wisdom along the way. All I’ll say is, ready your wallets. Keep scrolling to see her winter wardrobe picks below…
I’ve been a stylist and brand consultant for over 20 years now, and I’m a strong believer in buying less and wearing more. What I’ve found from my experience re-working clients’ wardrobes is that after editing them down to a smaller capsule, it becomes a lot easier to pull outfits together because you can actually see what’s in there.
When shopping for new pieces, it’s important to be practical and think of all the outfits you could wear them with in your existing wardrobe. But most importantly, you have to really love new pieces to justify adding them into your rotation. When you wear them, they have to make you feel good—really good. They have to be comfortable on your body; I’m a strong believer in buying the size that feels and looks the best on you—in some shops that might be a 12, in others an 18—it really does not matter. The pieces that I include in my monthly edits here will be ones that can be easily styled up in multiple ways, and will still be relevant years from now. We’re talking true wardrobe classics, and every month I’ll be showing you where to find them.
This is the one where I talk about the pieces that will be absolute game changers in your life. Sure, there are lots of pieces I see on a regular basis that I’m like “oh, thats nice”—but what are the pieces that can actually change how you get dressed? That can reduce the time it takes, and improve the way you feel in your outfit? Wouldn’t it be nice, for example, to have a coat on hand that you just know will keep you warm enough on your commute, or en route to your night out; one that also always (and I mean always) looks perfect with your outfit, whatever the look? I’m talking one versatile coat, that takes up the space of one coat (those with small wardrobes, I see you). What about a bag that you can wear with pretty regular neutral basics, but somehow has the power to elevate that whole look to a designer status? You get the idea, and let’s just say if you keep scrolling you’re in luck. Now, let’s get on with this month’s edit…
I am completely head over heels for this waistcoat. It’s so chic and has so much style mileage going for it. For day, layer over a fine knit turtle or crew neck or simple white T-shirt. For evening, style with the matching tailored pieces from Aligne (trousers or a long skirt), or mix it up with a contrasting tone. I’m thinking a long, off-white silk maxi skirt or good blue jeans for a more casual vibe. It would also look great belted at the waist, and I can confirm it works with most of the bottom halves in my wardrobe—giving a near perfect style mileage score.
Pouch power is basically the power of having a bag like this with the ability to make a simple black or monochrome evening look feel instantly elevated to designer status. Would you think the rest of the pieces on model are all from ARKET? No, I didn’t think so.
Free People’s sellout ‘Filter Finish’ top is back and in full stock right now. This is a great piece to have in your wardrobe due to its sheer versatility (excuse the pun). Whether you wear it over a simple bra with high waisted trousers or as a glimmer of something under a blazer, it’s one of the coolest ways to add sparkle to your evening wardrobe whilst keeping your look chic.
If you don’t already own a black wool coat, take this as your nod to invest. They really do work over any style of look for evening, and the more contrast the cooler you end up looking. Think something like a long, pale yellow silk dress with lace trim + heavy black coat = MEGASTAR. This one by Mango ticks all the boxes, hence why it’s selling so fast… chop, chop!
Think Phoebe Philo but without the price tag. This versatile style of jumper is a key piece when the weather gets cold.
Denim plays a big part in my wardrobe with, I’d say, at least 85% of my autumn/winter looks revolving around jeans. I’m a big fan of Citizens’ Ayla jeans (I’m not the only one) and this new black pair is a recent and very welcome addition to my wardrobe.
The easiest way to introduce a pop of colour into your wardrobe is with a bag, in my opinion. If in doubt, keep the style of the bag classic and go bolder with the colour.
It doesn’t really matter on the style—flat, chunky, heeled, ankle or knee-high—opt for whichever works for your own wardrobe and lifestyle the best. For me they have to be flat, chunky and really comfortable.
A warm, comfy and fun coat is essential for making you actually want to leave the house on cold winter weekends—whether it’s to walk the dog or run some errands. All this style needs is some leggings, socks, trainers, and preferrably a longline, oversized sweater that covers your bum.
A leather bomber jacket will never go out of style. However, I’m not sure I will ever wear one that isn’t oversized again. In the same way as denim, there is something so effortlessly cool about wearing a piece that looks like you’ve shopped it from the menswear department. This jacket by Reformation has exactly the right look. Wear it over, well, absolutely anything to elevate your look in a very non-try-hard way.
A knitted co-ord is one of the most comfortable ways to look like you’ve made an effort. There are lots of sets with trousers in the mix at the moment, but I think a skirt always feels a bit more elevated, especially with some great boots or loafers. Just make sure you get the fit right and it skims the hips rather than clings. Then, just add thick tights.
This cardigan and skirt also come in navy, green, black, beige, purple and stripes.
My current favourite is by RE/DONE. It’s next-level soft and the collar sits at the perfect height to add a contrasting under layer to your winter knits, flannel shirts and wool blazers that need pepping up.
This jumper is giving me Khaite or Gabriela Hearst vibes in spades, but at a very affordable high street price tag. Style it simply to let it do all the talking and you have yourself a laid back look that feels and looks ridiculously chic. This is the statement jumper for minimalists.
I always think that if you feel like your outfit is wearing you then throw on some trainers, or in colder months biker boots—they will instantly dress your look down a notch and make it feel effortlessly cool.
Is this not the most perfect plaid shirt you ever did see? And if blues and greens are more your match then check out the other colour way.
Just a pair of really good boots. This colour would work well with all those lovely classic autumn tones as well as indigo and black denim. I’m thinking I’d wear them with flares or wide-leg jeans or cords and a turtleneck for a ’70s feel. And I’m really feeling that square toe.
I am such a huge fan of this coat. I tried it on when I was at the press preview recently and it’s cut so well. It definitely feels like it should have a designer price tag attached. I also love how the colours in the check work just as well with smarter pieces as they do dressed down with your weekend wardrobe.
I have a blazer like this in my wardrobe and love how it instantly pulls together a very average jeans and T-shirt look. The tones in it also mean that it goes with nearly every shade of denim, and it’s super flattering on the skin.
One of the pieces that I wear a lot when it gets colder and I have to go out-out (and need to look like I’ve made an effort) is a column style maxi skirt. Add a white silk shirt, a black bustier or basically any going out top and you have an overall look that has the same silhouette as a dress, but with added style points.
A pop of red is one of this season’s biggest trends, and I love the idea of wearing it subtly by layering a red T-shirt under a crew-neck jumper or sweater so you just get a little flash of it. Keep it feeling modern by mixing it with camel, navy, grey and brown.
Chunky cream jumpers don’t get much better than this one. I love the versatile mock neck design that makes it easy to style in a casual or more pulled-together way. I’ve been wearing mine on repeat with white denim and chunky black boots.
Finding an effortless-looking bag that fits a laptop is hard, trust me. Sézane have nailed it with their camel ‘Gabin’, though. It’s lived in, a beautiful colour and exudes laidback chic.
This wool jacket has SO much style mileage in it. I love how it looks like an oversized blazer but it’s warm! Buy one size up and basically wear over anything and everything. The cool thing about a black blazer or coat, for that matter, is that contrasting and styling it with the unexpected always works. If you’re wearing it with darker tones make sure you play with the textures within your look to give it dimension.
When it’s not quite cold enough for a jacket this is exactly the sort of shirt you want to be layering with. I love the warm tone to this brown. I’ve been wearing mine with both jeans and track pants.
I’m a big fan of a jumper dress. I discovered them whilst I was pregnant and now I always circle back for more. This style would look cool worn over a crew neck T-shirt—a great styling tip if you are busty and want to make a neckline feel a bit more modern.
I’ve worn a St Christopher for over 20 years, and I’m a little bit superstitious now about mine. I love how you can also wear this style back to front to make it look like a simple gold disc if your outfit is more minimal.
Up Next, The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week