30 mid-priced designer brands that are great for a wardrobe update
A few decades ago, us shoppers tended to fit into two clear categories: those who bought on the high street and those who filled their wardrobes with designer products. However, due to a number of factors (including social media, influencers and a heightened understanding of sustainability), the industry has changed in a big way over the past few years – and with this has come a rise in the number of contemporary labels, which fit somewhere between the affordable and luxury camps.
So, if you are someone looking to move away from the high street, but not able to spend at the top end of the designer spectrum, then you are in luck because there have never been more or better mid-priced luxury labels on offer.
Below, we round up 30 of them, all of which are loved by fashion editors the world over. From well-known names including Ganni and Faithfull to new-to-the-market labels who are making a splash, here are the mid-range brands to know for your next wardrobe update.
(Jeremy Moeller - Getty Images)
After a very successful London Fashion Week debut in February, Tove is now one of the most exciting contemporary labels to exist in London. Founded in 2019 by Camille Perry and Holly Wright, the label aims to cater to the versatility needed in a modern women’s wardrobe. The brand does this by producing impossibly chic dresses, separates, coats, knitwear and denim, all which can be mixed and matched together season after season.
We go there for: Forever dresses.
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(tovestudio@Instagram)
Another great contemporary label that is known for its pared-back elegance is Toteme. The Swedish brand has already created more than a few cult pieces (including that scarf-jacket hybrid) – and it is loved by fashion girls the world over.
We go there for: Excellent outerwear.
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(toteme@Instagram)
Nanushka is a great label to know if you are looking for a high-quality pieces without the designer price tag. Known for its ethically-produced classic pieces with a contemporary twist, particularly its vegan leather, the label counts the likes of Rihanna, Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber as fans.
We go there for: Outerwear and tailoring.
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(nanushka@Instagram)
An effortlessly cool Scandi label that is wildly popular with fashion influencers and editors alike, Baum und Pferdgarten is known for its punchy prints, unexpected silhouettes and relaxed attitude to style.
We go there for: Playful pieces.
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(baumundpferdgarten@Instagram)
Aussie brand Sir was founded on the premise of filling a woman's wardrobe 24/7 with its stylish pieces, hence its name, which is an acronym for separates, intimates and ready-to-wear. From backless dresses (which you will likely have seen all over Instagram) to linen two-pieces, it is a great label to turn to during the warmer months.
We go there for: Great summer dresses.
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(sir_thelabel@Instagram)
Sometimes a brand lands on every fashion editor's radar with just one piece – and this was certainly the case for The Frankie Shop, whose utilitarian jumpsuit was worn by anyone who could get their hands on it during New York Fashion Week.
We go there for: Great tailoring that looks far more expensive than it is.
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(thefrankieshop@Instagram)
London label Phoebe Grace has an inspiring story behind it with the brand passed on from daughter to mother, and one which prides itself on creating beautiful collections with recycled or up-cycled fabrics. The designs are created to be worn for years to come, rather than going off a seasonal model in order to encourage consumers to embrace slow fashion.
We go there for: Beautiful prints.
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(its_phoebegrace@Instagram)
Bali-based, travel-friendly label Faithfull The Brand has fast become a favourite with the style set for its incredibly chic take on holiday-wear. With ethics and sustainability at the forefront of everything Faithfull does, there is little wonder it has earned itself such a fanbase over the past few years, even becoming royally-approved.
We go there for: Our holiday wardrobe.
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(faithfullthebrand@Instagram)
Awake Mode, aka 'All Wonderful Adventures Kindle Enthusiasm', is a London-based label known for creating unique, art-inspired pieces which are perfect for adding something a little different to your wardrobe.
We go there for: Statement officewear and chic shoes
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(awake_mode@Instagram)
A well-known force in the fashion industry, Reformation is the Los Angeles-based, ethical boutique known for its cool dresses, fun flares and celebrity-approved fashion. A-list fans include Emily Ratajkowski, Kaia Gerber and Behati Prinsloo.
We go there for: Summer frocks, Seventies separates and anything for wedding season.
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(reformation@Instagram)
Saudi-born, London-based designer Yasmina Q has recently launched her namesake label, one which focuses on "thoughtful dressing", encouraging women to embrace their most beautiful selves and feel confident through her simple, yet well-made designs. The brand works only with community-based production facilities, who make small runs, supporting individuals displaced by difficult circumstances, and supporting and paying back into training programmes and apprenticeships. Yasmina Q also only uses fabrics that are either classed as dead-stock or sustainably sourced.
We go there for: Elegant dresses for any occasion.
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(_yasminaq_@Instagram)
Rene Macdonald is a former stylist who launched Lisou with the aim of providing consumers with chic, wearable pieces, much of it based on vintage styles and injected with a serious amount of colour.
We go there for: Workwear and summer dresses.
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(lisoulondon@Instagram)
Aussie label With Jéan may only be a few years in the making, but the brand already has something of a cult-like following. Created by Sami Lorking-Tanner and Evangeline Titilas, the team's design premise was to create fun pieces that could easily be teamed with jeans or denim jackets, elevating the casual wardrobe. Many of the label's designs sell out fast and it is not unheard of for them to reach 1,000-person wait lists, so it is fair to say that we are not the only fans of the label.
We go there for: Vintage-inspired pieces that dress up our everyday looks.
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(withjean@Instagram)
Another great sustainable, mid-range label to have on your radar is Aligne. The brand uses eco-friendly fabrics as far as possible and aims to create collections which are made to last. However, Aligne is not afraid to have fun with fashion as the bold printed dresses and colourful tailoring proves.
We go there for: Easy-to-wear summer pieces.
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(aligne@Instagram)
A label loved by supermodels, Paris Georgia is a New Zealand-based brand which specialises in Nineties-inspired minimalism and aims particularly to design pieces that will last more than a few seasons.
We go there for: Sleek, versatile separates.
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(paris__georgia@Instagram)
If you're wanting to add a little something different to your wardrobe, look to Los Angeles-based Staud, a brand famous for its colourful, unexpected accessories, voluminous dresses and punchy prints.
We go there for: Accessories that will liven up any outfit.
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(staud.clothing@Instagram)
If it's beautiful billowing dresses you love, then New York-based Merlette should be on your radar. The label, which launched four years ago as a resort-wear brand, has grown into an affordable ready-to-wear destination whose collections are created with any lifestyle in mind, whether for holidays, the city, the evening or the office. The label's silhouettes are designed to fit any body type and are made to a high quality, while also being easy to take care of.
We go there for: Statement yet comfortable summer frocks.
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(merlettenyc@Instagram)
If it's your dream to dress like a French girl, then you need to know about influencer Jeanne Damas' amazing line. Filled with classic pieces that will effortlessly help you to build a capsule wardrobe, Rouje is a destination every fashion editor relies on.
We go there for: Pretty spring dresses and jeans.
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(rouje@Instagram)
You have probably spied some of Marcia's trademark cut-out dresses on your Instagram feed this summer – and it's no surprise that the label is going from strength to strength. With collections that are, according to the brand, "100 per cent sustainable" (all created with Econyl, a regenerated nylon made out of waste), while also designing pieces that sculpt women's bodies, Marcia is quickly making a name for itself in the mid-range market.
We go there for: Flattering, figure-hugging dresses.
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(wearmarcia@Instagram)
If your summer wardrobe is in need of a freshen up, let us introduce you to Haight, the Brazilian beachwear label whose flattering bikinis, swimsuits and dresses are just the ticket for breathing some new life into your summer look.
We go there for: Great swimwear.
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(haight_clothing@Instagram)
This London-based brand creates stylish clothing that looks far beyond its price tag. From elegant eveningwear to fashionable tailoring, Kitri will help you to solve plenty of wardrobe conundrums.
We go there for: Easy-to-wear but stylish dresses and separates.
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(kitristudio@Instagram)
You'll likely recognise the brand's pretty floral dresses, which have been seen on several members of the A-list. These are the bread and butter of the brand, but you'll also find cool T-shirts, slip dresses and girly tops.
We go there for: The prettiest of tops and dresses.
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(realisationpar@Instagram)
The Line By K was founded by blogger-turned-designer, Karla Deras in Los Angeles, who wanted to create high-quality pieces that would elevate every part of a woman's wardrobe. Described as "basics that are anything by basic", Deras aims to inspire confidence in her customer through her pared-back but beautiful designs. Think colourful knit dresses, excellent shirting a really, really great jersey separates.
We go there for: Amped-up basics.
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(thelinebyk@Instagram)
Amlul is a Spanish label created based on the concept of "no more seasons". Creative director, Gala González hopes to encourage more responsible consumption with her company approach, which sees small runs of limited-edition, high-quality yet affordable pieces. The concept has already been a huge hit – the brand's Instagram account has amassed over 40,000 followers in just one year, while the likes of Lucy Williams and Dua Lipa have already been seen in the designs.
We go there for: Unique pieces that will never go out of style.
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(amlul@Instagram)
Bassike is one of the most exciting sustainable designers to come out of Australia in recent years, with the label focussing on a very minimalist aesthetic. Strapless cotton sun dresses, sleek separates and an elegant take on loungewear make up its current collection, all of which is made through sustainable practices.
We go there for: Grown-up summer separates.
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(bassike@Instagram)These are the contemporary labels to have on your radar