With TikTok and Instagram feeds full of the latest autumn/winter clothing hauls, you can end up lusting after a new wardrobe you’d need to win the lottery to afford.
Brands like Zara, & Other Stories, Mango and even H&M are high-street favourites, but all have hero items priced over £100.
So Metro got the help of a stylist, and set about to prove that following fashion trends doesn’t have to break the bank, curating looks that you could easily mistake for being from pricey stores.
Where are they actually from? You’ll find these outfits while you do your grocery shopping in your local supermarket.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda all have affordable fashion pieces that you’d expect to find in an influencer’s clothing haul, but for a fraction of the cost.
When it comes to the price tag versus the quality of your purchase, we’ve got you covered too, with our writers’ honest thoughts on whether you’re truly bagging a bargain…
George at Asda
Jess is wearing: Scarf coat, silver jeans, black roll neck top and bow heels all at George (online and in-store).
Total outfit cost: £88
Jess’ thoughts: I’m a bargain hunter when it comes to fashion; one of those people who takes great pleasure in replying to a compliment on my outfit with: ‘thanks, it was £5’.
As such, I’m no stranger to supermarket clothing, and regularly browse the George and Tu websites for affordable pieces.
People write supermarket brands off, but I think it’s mostly outdated snobbery. Retail greats like Mary Portas and Gok Wan have changed the game for Sainsbury’s and others are following suit – heck, George at Asda just did a collaboration with Roksanda.
My look from George came in at £88 including shoes, but you’d never know it.
The coat was a real standout, with the same boxy shape, rustic embroidery and scarf as the beloved Toteme bouclé jacket at a fraction of the price (£34 compared to an eye-watering £810).
Granted, it’s not the same wool-blend material, but it’s just as sturdy and soft (and at that price, who cares if it’s polyester?).
Other Toteme dupes at the likes of M&S, River Island and John Lewis come in at double the price, despite looking almost the exact same, so this is a steal. It’s also super cosy; I can see it being a staple of winter walks and pub lunches.
George has been hailed online for its denim, and these metallic coated jeans are another win for the brand. They’re ideal for party season and ‘jeans and a nice top’ outfits, with a fashion-forward wide leg fit and a lifting effect around the bum (always welcome). My only criticism? They run a little small, and don’t have much give, so maybe size up.
As for the shoes, they’re not really my style, but I do love the trendy bow detailing, and the kitten heel gives you a bit of height without making them impossible to walk in.
If I saw any of these items in Zara or & Other Stories, I wouldn’t blink twice. The fact it’s all so reasonably priced, and I could pick everything up while doing my weekly shop, makes it even better.
F&F at Tesco
Alice is wearing: Cream knit jumper, cream satin slip skirt and black moc croc boots all at F&F (in-store only).
Total outfit cost: £67
Alice’s thoughts: I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have much willpower when it comes to seeing something I like in a store window. Even if it’s on the pricier side I’ll justify it with the words ‘it’s an investment’. So, I was sceptical as to whether I’d actually be happy with the quality of supermarket brand clothes.
But F&F at Tesco pleasantly surprised me. The outfit as a whole screamed trust fund baby to me, which I was a big fan of.
I loved the skirt with a flattering slit up the left side and, despite it being such a light colour, it wasn’t see-through which is a pet-peeve of mine.
The jumper was cosy but not super thick material, although that’s to be expected for the modest price of £22.50.
The boots were the shining star of this outfit for me. The kitten heel made them incredibly easy to walk in and I’m a big fan of the croc pattern and pointed toe – very chic. They’re the perfect day-to-night boot, pairing perfectly with an office outfit or an ‘out out’ get up.
Alice is wearing: Black satin blazer, matching trousers and black moc croc sling back heels all at F&F (in-store only).
Total outfit cost: £87
Alice’s thoughts: But Tesco didn’t stop there – I had no idea I could pick up a stunning two piece suit co-ord while shopping for my bananas and granola. I felt very classy in this suit and I think the broader shoulders on the jacket really suited me.
The satin lapel was a nice detail to too, although I’d size down if I was to buy the jacket, as it was a little on the big side. Wide leg trousers have recently become a favourite staple of mine and these black suit pants are going straight in my basket. As for the heels, can you really go wrong with a black kitten heel? At £87 total cost, I think it’s a bit of a steal – you’d usually pay well over £100 for a decent suit co-ord anywhere else, and that’s without the shoes.
It’s safe to say my weekly shop is now going to include a detour through the F&F racks.
How expensive is each supermarket?
In a recent study by retail experts at Wethrift, Asda was found to have the cheapest supermarket clothing brand when it came to buying a full outfit, costing £61.25 on average*.
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons were neck-and-neck in second place, while Tesco was found to be a bit pricier.
M&S Collection was found to be the most expensive own-brand, with a full outfit setting you back about £115.65.
We decided not to include outfits from M&S in our try-on, because of the price. It rivals your regular high street brands but doesn’t seem like much of a bargain at £30 more expensive than other major supermarket competitors.
*This figure is the average cost for a full outfit per person of women’s, men’s, and childrenswear across the major supermarkets.
Tu at Sainsbury’s
Courtney is wearing: Satin sleeveless midaxi dress, black tailored longline faux fur coat and bronze snake print Mary Jane ballerina shoes all at Tu (online and in-store).
Total outfit cost: £97
Courtney’s thoughts: I don’t really have a go-to store when it comes to clothes shopping, I’ll just as happily buy something from Primark as I would Anthropologie. I’ve made a few successful purchases from the likes of Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda over the years, but if I’m being honest I mostly tend to just go for the pyjamas (supermarket pjs are elite).
That said, I was really impressed by the clothing options from Sainsbury’s – the fur coat, while not my usual style, looked and felt pretty expensive, I definitely thought it would cost more than £50. A nearly identical one is being sold at Zara for £79.99, while John Lewis charges £130, making this feel like a steal in comparison.
The only thing I wasn’t so impressed with was the red satin midaxi dress. It was great for a pop of colour under the black coat, but that’s where my praise ends. The website claims it has a ‘flattering silhouette’ but in my opinion this couldn’t be further from the truth.
There was a lot of excess fabric that bunched around the middle, which didn’t look flattering at all on my pear-shaped body and the diagonal seam that runs up the dress didn’t do me any favours either.
It would probably benefit from having a slit added up one side instead of the awkward seam, to make it look a little more chic.
The bronze shoes were fun, but you didn’t really see much of them under the dress. Probably for the best though, as they were far too big for me, definitely one to size down in.
Courtney is wearing: Velvet hourglass blazer and navy velvet wide-leg trousers, all at Tu (online and in-store).
Total outfit cost: £50 (original price), but at time of writing it’s currently on sale for £37.50 (blazer, £21, trousers £16.50)
Courtney’s thoughts: I might not have loved the first ensemble from Sainsbury’s, but I was OBSESSED with this dark blue velvet suit. If I’d put it on without knowing where it was from, I’d never have guessed it was a supermarket outfit.
It was giving Tom Ford vibes, and I felt like an absolute girl boss in it – I don’t think I’ve ever received so many compliments on an outfit before.
My only criticism would be that it was quite a thin fabric, so not a luxurious heavy velvet that you might find in pricier stores, but this didn’t impact how much I loved it.
I will 100% be going out to buy it in every colour (it also comes in green, black and burgundy) – it’s stylish, flattering and works for just about every event/occasion.
And for the price, it’s a real no-brainer. M&S is currently selling a similar velvet suit and the trousers alone cost more than this whole outfit now.
Nutmeg at Morrisons
Jess is wearing: Brown fur coat, white jewel collar shirt and neutral PU skirt.
Total outfit cost: £84
Jess’ thoughts: I’d never thought to shop at a supermarket for clothes before. For me, clothing sections bring to mind school uniforms, children’s hair accessories or conservative clothing.
When I saw the Morrison’s outfit picked out for me, I was genuinely shocked. The pieces were nothing like what I’d expect to see on a supermarket rail.
The fabric felt excellent quality, and comfortable – not itchy or flimsy. While I’m used to fairly cheap buys, shopping second-hand, on Vinted or in charity shops, the prices seemed fairly reasonable given the quality.
Without a question, my favourite item was the faux fur coat. It was simply stunning. Soft, smooth, and silky, it felt like the real thing and would be a perfect addition to any winter wardrobe. I also liked the white shirt, with its jewelled white pearls livening up a basic design. It would make a great everyday work shirt.
If I had to change anything it would be the skirt, which was a little too boxy for my liking. And though it paired well with the overall look, I couldn’t picture myself wearing it again.
In fact, most of the items looked like they belonged on a clothes rack in Zara or more high-end high-street stores. For anyone wanting a wardrobe upgrade I recommend factoring in a trip to the supermarket.
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