How to Mix High and Low Fashion Pieces: A Technical Style Guide

Combining high-end designer fashion with high street or budget finds is one of the most strategic and expressive ways to build a wardrobe. Known as “high-low dressing”, this styling approach is a favourite among editors, influencers, and stylists—because it’s clever, sustainable, and stylish. But the key lies in getting the mix right.

This guide explains how to pair luxury pieces with affordable ones, which categories to invest in, what brands work best together, and how Tellar.co.uk makes sure everything fits—before you buy.

What Is High-Low Fashion?

High-low fashion means blending luxury designer pieces with affordable high street or fast fashion. It gives your outfit depth and flexibility while preventing over-styling or budget blowouts.

Examples:

Loewe Puzzle Bag + COS knitwear
Zara satin skirt + The Row sandals
Uniqlo blouse + Toteme wool trousers

🧵 Why It Works: Styling Contrast

High-low fashion works because it plays on visual and tactile contrast:

Texture: Cashmere next to cotton
Silhouette: Tailored trousers + oversized tee
Finish: Raw hem denim + patent designer heels

This contrast adds polish and interest—even when 75% of the outfit is high street.

📐 The 3:1 Styling Formula

Follow the 3:1 rule:

3 affordable or high street items
1 investment or designer piece

This keeps the look balanced and deliberate—especially if your luxury item is a statement coat, bag or shoe.

🛍 Categories to Mix Strategically

High Street Save	Designer Invest
T-shirts	Outerwear (e.g. Max Mara, Toteme)
Basic shirts	Tailored trousers (e.g. Raey, Joseph)
Denim	Handbags (e.g. Loewe, Celine)
Knitwear	Footwear (e.g. Aeyde, Manolo Blahnik)
Occasionwear	Belts, sunglasses, leather jackets

For each piece you save on, balance it with structure, tailoring, or leather from your high-end items.

👗 Best High Street Brands to Combine

UK High Street Winners:

COS – Elevated basics, great for layering
Arket – Strong tailoring and sustainable fabrics
Mango – Good occasionwear and suiting
Zara – Trend-forward shapes, especially skirts and dresses
Uniqlo – HeatTech, cotton staples, knitwear

Match these brands with:

Toteme
Loewe
The Row
Joseph
The Frankie Shop

🔧 Tailoring Tips to Upgrade High Street

Want your £30 blazer to look like a £300 one?

Shorten the sleeves
Nip the waist slightly
Change the buttons
Raise hemlines to flatter leg shape

Pro tip: Fit matters more than price—and Tellar’s fit-matching tool makes it exact.

📏 Why Tellar.co.uk Makes High-Low Dressing Seamless

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s Leading Free Sizing Tool that matches your measurements or known brand size to the correct fit in over 1,500+ designer and high street brands.

Whether you’re buying Zara trousers or Loewe coats—Tellar calculates your best size instantly.

✅ How to Use It

Create a Free Profile with your bust, waist and hip measurements—or select a brand and size you already wear
Use the Store Size Lookup Tool to see your size across COS, Reiss, Zara, Toteme and more
Avoid size guide guesswork—get the perfect fit the first time
Access the Tellar Fashion Hub for expert style advice and posts like:

Summary

High-low dressing is all about balance: spend where it counts, save where it won’t show.

Use fit and fabric to trick the eye, and let one or two designer pieces quietly elevate your entire outfit.

With Tellar.co.uk, you can mix COS with Celine or Zara with Loewe—and know exactly which size to buy, whether it’s from Selfridges or the high street.

📌 “Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy”

📲 Follow Tellar for fit science and daily style tips:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing
Twitter/X: @TellarSizing
Pinterest: TellarSizing
Facebook: Tellar Sizing