A New Spring with ARKET: an edit of their spring '22 collection and how to wear it

Today I’m talking about a brand that I’m very excited to collaborate with for the new season! ARKET is a brand that I’ve worn and admired for a long time - you might have noticed that I link to quite a few of the items on my Instagram and in my style edits, as they do incredibly good elevated wardrobe basics that feel on trend today as they would in five years time - its style longevity is just one of the many reasons why it’s one of my favourites. The Scandinavian born brand creates high quality clothing with a minimal aesthetic that looks a lot more expensive than it is, so you can easily create an affordable, but timeless capsule wardrobe that’s also built to last.

Durability is key when creating a seasonal wardrobe that you can wear year after year and I’ve had many of my pieces for at least five now. I pack them away when they’re out of season and when it comes to unearthing them again, it’s like discovering a new item of clothing. Plus they bring me joy, which besides timeless design and durability, is the basis for a capsule wardrobe: you should want to wear the clothes again and again because they make you feel comfortable, confident and happy wearing them!

The foundational pieces to my spring capsule closet are, as with the rest of the year, predominantly simple and minimal, such as a beige trench or overcoat, lightweight tailored trousers and usually some stripes thrown in to add a bit of interest - all items that inform ARKET ‘A New Spring’ collection. The scooped back stretch jersey striped top and white barrel-legged cotton chino combo à la Coco Chanel - who incidentally put the Breton top on the fashion map - or queen of understated, 90s minimalist style, Carolyn Bassette Kennedy, is an incredibly simple look, but looks as though you’ve taken a lot more effort to put it together. Equally the beige oversized car coat is very Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face, as is the scooped back stretch top reminiscent of Bridgette Bardot in her heyday. So I feel like I’m channeling all of my style icons in one with this look. I particularly love the cotton chinos as they are lightweight and versatile, meaning I can wear them through to summer with tank tops. Plus they have ties on the waist so you can adjust the size, which is great if you have a tough time finding the right size trousers like me.

The boxy rigid leather cobalt blue crossbody bag, offers a nice modern pop against the more neutral tones and is a great size for everyday wear. Although my taste is on the whole minimal, I do like to add something unexpected and fun to a look, in the shape of sunnies, sneakers or a bag and while I’m definitely a sneaker girl, I decided to finish the outfit with a pair of low slingback satin pumps, which are simple, but very chic and a perhaps less ‘me’ of recent, but in a good way. After two years of dressing down and spending many of my days in loungewear, I’m aiming to add a little more elegance to my wardrobe this year. The pumps work particularly well too (as they offer a contrast) with the oversized shape of the jacket and barrel-legged chinos, as it’s important to balance and punctuate oversized, billowy pieces with more structured items.

I hope this helps you to put together some fun, but timeless spring looks that bring you joy!