7 surprisingly chic buys you can find at Next now
Rare is the store where you can buy a stylish new lamp shade, a dozen baby bibs, an on-trend linen dress and smart men’s shoes online in one fell swoop - and have them all arrive the next day. That, as well as its excellent new season fashion offering, is the reason Next has thrived over lockdown.
The high street stalwart has boasted 'exceptionally strong' performance in the past three weeks, announcing that sales are up 26%, and it has raised its profit forecasts for the season since its first quarter was better than expected.
During the pandemic, its direct competitors John Lewis and M&S struggled, closing stores up and down the country and rethinking their business models to ensure future success, but Next has come out the other end relatively unscathed.
As well as continuing its popular 'click and collect' service, and maintaining that infamous 'order by midnight for next day delivery' service, it also acquired a host of brands - including a 25% stake in Reiss and taking on Victoria’s Secret - and stocks myriad household names, from Boden and Converse to Barbour.
You’d be forgiven for having pigeonholed Next as the go-to to stock up on childrenswear, said lamp shade or for an underwear refresh, but it shouldn’t be overlooked as the place you can get your new season fashion fix.
There are a host of stylish buys in its new season collection, from the skirt that’ll see you through spring, to the dress that could be designer. These are the new season buys you can snap up in Next now...
The wear-everywhere wrap skirt
Though it’s in a statement print, the neutral hues in this swishy leopard skirt means it will work with an array of top and shoe combinations. Think a grey T-shirt and white trainers for the weekend, or chunky sandals and a light knit for the park. It can be worn with black mules and a white shirt for the office, and even dressed up with metallic heels and a silk blouse for occasions.
Mix/Fabienne Chapot leopard skirt, £130, Next
The could-be-designer linen dress
If you’d have told me this vintage-esque linen frock was by Rejina Pyo, Reformation or Mansur Gavriel, I may have believed you, so the fact that it’s a fraction of the price - and made from 100% linen, like those designer numbers would be - is worth shouting about.
It’s smart enough for the office, and floaty enough to waft around at home in, and also comes in nautical stripes and mustard.
Linen shirt dress, £42, Next
A properly flattering bikini
With the holiday green list set to be published today, shopping for a beach break isn’t as unrealistic as it was mere months ago, so a new swimsuit can be justified.
When looking for comfortable swimwear you’ll feel confident in, we’re typically guided to all-in-ones, but that needn’t be the case. Next’s offering includes bikini tops with excellent support and wide back straps, and bottoms with a higher-than-average waistband and thick supportive material.
Bikini top, £24 and bottoms, £15, Next
The It 'ugly' shoe
With a renewed focus on comfort thanks to lockdown, ‘ugly’ shoes are everywhere at the moment. If you weren’t sold on Crocs or dad trainers, a chunky mule could be the answer. See it as the love child of the clog and the Birkenstock, and go for bold prints if you dare.
Forever Comfort mules, £35, Next
The versatile casual shirt
Wardrobe basics in neutral hues are the easiest to buy at any price point as, more often than not, the classic design won’t be a giveaway of the price. Next’s ‘casual shirt’ is one such buy. It comes in 10 shades - including timeless black and white - and is 100% cotton. Size up and wear yours open over a swimsuit or T-shirt.
Casual shirt, £25, Next
The green garden dress
As I scanned Next’s vast dress offering, a theme quickly emerged: the printed green midi. The ideal garden drinks/park picnic/barbecue frock, there were several which featured a bold green base behind a stylish print. These three are the best of the bunch, and two are from Next’s excellent Label Mix collections.
Mix/Primrose Park shirt dress, £119, Next; Mix/Caroline Issa tea dress, £129, Next; Albaray shirt dress, £79, Next
The staple trousers
Those who prefer shorts or trousers to dresses and skirts in the spring might like to take note of this oat pair from Emma Willis’s latest Next collection. With a high waist, tapered leg, longline fit, minimal design and modern pale hue, these wouldn’t look out of place in Massimo Dutti or Reiss.
Emma Willis high waist trousers, £40, Next
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