Ask any seasoned fashion editor and they will tell you that there are certain things that one buys from the great British high street and certain things that one does not. But, of course, there is no singular truth, and you’ll hear some rate Cos’s cashmere offering or Arket’s shirting, while others will swear on their vintage Tabi loafers that they’ve worn the same pair of Topshop jeans since the mid-Noughties. And don’t get them started on where they buy their perfect white T-shirt, or we’ll be here all year.
But whether you’re team H&M or Uniqlo, Damson Madder or Weekday, there are certain categories that are universally known as being safe bets in the world of high-street fashion. So, as we enter a new year, we cross-referenced these editor favourites against some of 2026’s key fashion trends to come up with an edit of new-season investments that have runway-ready kudos without compromising on longevity.
Denim has long been considered a high-street sweet spot, and for 2026 we’re seeing dark and stormy washes come to the fore – particularly in straight-leg silhouettes, as seen on Khaite’s spring/summer runways. Elsewhere, the distinguished literary mood that pervaded the 2026 runways became a source of inspiration for the season’s knitwear offering, manifesting in scholarly cardigans, V-necks, polos and Fair Isle designs. When shopping the high street, make sure to keep an eye out for heavy-weight cashmeres and high-percentage wool fabrications.
We also have to give a shout out to 2026’s wonderfully British garden-core shoe (see the viral Plasticana Gardana, which Vogue’s Daniel Rodgers describes as a “a bird-pooey gardening clog made of hemp”). Similar green-fingered styles can be found at the likes of Toast, Everlane and Fitflop – clearly the anti-aesthetic shoe shows no signs of bowing out in 2026.
Scroll down to see and shop our full edit of high street trends for 2026.
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