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With so many occasions going on right now, we’ve began to see our own wardrobes fill up with pretty occasion dresses that we know we’ll only wear once, and we’re feeling that post-shopping shame everytime we see them. The solution: the introduction of high-low fashion!

The first interpretation of high low fashion is the deliberate mixing of high end style with budget pieces (mixing cheap with chic, if you will) and is more based off price point. Think a Marc Jacobs crossbody with the €20 jeans that you find yourself wearing with everything. It’s important here that your investment pieces, whether it’s a statement coat, a designer bag, or those shoes that you spent months saving up for, are suitable to become a wardrobe staple for years to come, meaning they’re good quality and durable. When it comes to a piece thats super on trend right now, it’s important to make this one of your budget pieces, to save you spending your week’s wages on a top that may be super pretty, but you won’t feel comfortable wearing a year from now!

Let’s take a trip down memory lane before diving into the second interpretation, where a fresh faced Sharon Stone was getting ready to attend the 1996 Academy Awards. Disaster struck the day before she was due to walk the red carpet when a delivery driver ran over her custom Vera Wang dress, leaving tyre marks all down the front of it (don’t you just hate when a delivery driver drives over your custom Vera Wang dress?) She was forced to think on her feet and arrived in style the next day wearing a Valentino skirt paired with an Armani Tuxedo Jacket and a turtle neck from The Gap. The last minute ‘fit was such a success that she ended up repeating this relaxed style 2 years later with Vera Wang slip skirt (no tyre marks to be seen here) and a white button down blouse from the Gap. Thus was born the second interpretation of High-low dressing: pairing “fancy” occasion wear with your more relaxed everyday dress. And although not everyone has Valentino skirt just lying about, this style is super attainable and is one of our personal faves.

This style really creates a balance and allows you to look stylish and on-trend without being too “try-hard” for a real minimal effort, maximum impact look. It’s been seen everywhere from the runways (with Dior pairing stunning ballgowns with trainers in 2014) to the streets (with celebs from Rihanna, to Selena Gomez being pictured sporting their sweatpants with sky high heels). Like the first interpretation, there are a few things to remember here: It’s important to make sure the outfit is still co-ordinated, a great way of doing this is by wearing one part high with two parts low (a floral midi dress would be high, while a leather jacket and biker boots would both be low) to make the outfit look effortlessly chic, rather than looking like you left the house but forgot to change your shoes. Another example of this would be a blazer with a fitted sweatshirt and slouchy trousers, or your favourite old jeans with heels and some statement earrings, or a floral midi skirt with an oversized knit jumper. This allows you to wear wedding guest outfits again, rather than keeping them in your wardrobe for years to come, and also means that you will get more opportunities to wear the items in your wardrobe, decreasing that all important cost per wear! This is a super easy way of introducing casual comfort into your work or going out wardrobe! 

Firstly, a slouchy knit jumper or cardigan. Everyone has one, but ours just so happens to be usually reserved for pairing with jeans during the weekend. This always looks cute layered over a dress (confession time: I've had a dress in my wardrobe for the past 3 years that's been ripped under the arms since the first time I wore it, but I still wear this dress regularly with an oversized jumper over it) as well as with a classy midi skirt!

Girls, remember that satin midi slip skirt you wore to your cousin's communion last year? Get ready to wear it again! This time paired with a graphic t-shirt for a relaxed yet edgy look that we're obsessed with! The best part of the below t-shirt is that the neutral colours allow it to be worn with anything!

Jeans are the perfect way to get more wear out of that top that you wore to your friend's wedding with a matching skirt as the perfect co-ord! This pair of high waisted jeans will go with everything and are simple enough to allow the top to be the statement piece of your outfit.

The right footwear can change the look of any outfit. We love pairing boots or trainers with occasion dresses for a more relaxed look. Just remember the "one high, two low" rule and pair with a relaxed denim jacket!

Lastly, everyone needs a good denim jacket! This is another great way of dressing down a pretty floral occasion dress for a more relaxed day-to-day look, and will pair nicely with just about any dress, making it a super versatile style!