When it comes to simple fashion, I enjoy timeless and versatile pieces. I make sure my choices can easily pair with items I already own, including my shoes. In addition to this, I still keep in mind sustainability and search for clothes that are 100% cotton, linen, viscose, or wool. There are likely more materials that are sustainable, but these are my main focus. I talk about my journey from zero waste to minimalism, here. This also helps with washing clothes as you can be sure that the temperature and colour choices work well together and nothing will (hopefully) bleed colour or shrink.
How I choose clothes online
Usually, I need to go in store to try on the clothes to ensure they fit my body and to see how I feel when I wear them. This is not always possible, as I live very far away from the stores I like. Instead, I use filters on websites to ensure I am looking for the items I like. This not only saves me time, but also prevents disappointment. There is also an option in the clothing section called ‘essentials’ and these are usually timeless pieces that are simple yet… essential.
Above, you can see the filter bar with 328 items before I chose any material. You then see that after choosing the four materials, mentioned in the introduction, it becomes 121 items. Finally, I chose one colour and I only need to look at 43 items. You can go even further by putting in your size, too, which will save you even more time. I have been doing this for a few years now and it has really helped me find pieces that I enjoy and will keep.
UK online clothing stores
Below is a list of UK stores that I enjoy looking at to find simple fashion. They are not inherently simple by choice, but they have a large selection of clothes with little to no pattern (there is a filter choice for patterns, too) which is a characteristic I look out for. They also have a large selection of neutral or muted colours. I hope you find something new that you may look out for from this post when searching for simple fashion.
1. & Other Stories (women)
The first simple fashion brand that I enjoy is & Other Stories. I adore this store when I enter. It feels bright and neatly arranged with lots of room to walk. The clothes are beautiful and often well made with a timeless feel to them. Although, they do have some quite ambitious styles and cut outs, they also have a large selection of timeless pieces that fit together beautifully. This store is quite pricey, yet they have regular sales as well as their items are often sold on the vinted app.
2. Muji UK version (women and men)
Fun simple fashion fact. I first discovered Muji in Paris when I lived next to Champs-Élysées. This store is much larger than the ones I have visited in London, with a large section selling furniture. They do not sell a huge selection in the UK compared to Japan, so the filter method is not normally necessary. They also have unisex items. I own a few linen pieces from this store and tops as I like the baggy and box appearance, especially for my trousers.
3. UNIQLO UK version (women and men)
Full of a large selection of simple fashion choice, UNIQLO has a lot to offer. Whilst the website and store seems maximalist, the fashion itself is simple with limited patterns and simple shapes. Unfortunately, it does not have a material filter but you can read their sustainability report on their website to see where their materials are sourced.
4. Next Fashion UK (women and men)
This may be a surprise, but I have always enjoyed Next and found their clothes to be simple fashion. I remember getting a pair of jeans from Next when I was 18 and they still fit and look great at 28. Next was the only store in the town I lived in, and it was where you often went to get your work clothes.
You can really use the filter tip at this store, including for patterns to narrow down the number of choices as Next is partnered with a large number of different stores in the UK. I will provide an example with Next being the only chosen brand from the filters and then without. With this store, I would also filter length and sleeve as the choices were still in the 200+.
5. Zalando UK (women and men)
This is an online store where I can find simple fashion. I discovered Zalando many years ago and used it for work clothes and shoes. With a great filter option, you can find your perfect piece from many various brands. Again, try to really narrow it down as the choices are in the hundreds. They have an entire maternity section with plenty of choices for various occasions, too. In fact, I buy my husband clothes from here and he still boasts about their quality and how much he loves them each time he puts them on.
