What Is High Street Fashion? | LoveToKnow (2024)

What Is High Street Fashion? | LoveToKnow (1)

The term "high street fashion" is used on a day-to-day basis in Britain. To break it down: a "high street" is the main street in a town or city where all the banks and shops situate. High street fashion, then, refers to the clothing you can buy on the high street in ordinary towns and cities. In addition to this, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary, it's clothing that is readily available for purchase by the public rather than being custom-made by fashion designers.

The History of High Street Fashion

The high street was actually born in the Victorian age, in the 1860s and 70s, according to social historian Juliet Gardiner. Market stalls became shops with fixed prices due to the fact that people struggled to grow food themselves as a result of urbanization. At first, high street shopping referred to buying food and necessities. Soon later, clothing was introduced.

What Is High Street Fashion? | LoveToKnow (2)

Beginning

In 1571, Queen Elizabeth I officially opened Britain's first shopping center. The Royal Exchange was a trading market in London's city center that consisted of two storeys of 100 different kiosks - including clothing.

Golden Era

After that, high street shopping continued to gain popularity. However, the golden era of high street shopping wasn't until Edwardian times when the Empire became more affluent. Product choice and customer service grew higher in quality, and the suffragette women needed somewhere to go that was considered respectable, hence the initiation of tea shops and department stores.

Modern Age

50 years later, high street fashion got into full swing. The 1960s brought with it mass production and disposable culture, where young people wanted fashionable clothes readily available to them, rather than clothes customized to last.

Nowadays, people are still participating in this throwaway culture, but high street fashion has got major competition in the form of online shopping.

Popular Past High Street Fashion

Though the decades, different styles were popular. Check out a few of the most prominent looks.

60s

When high street fashion really kicked in during the 60s, popular high street stores included Marks & Spencer, Topshop, and House of Fraser. According to Marks & Spencer's company archives, miniskirts and tights were considered fashion essentials thanks to women in the public eye, such as model Twiggy and designer Mary Quant, who were icons of the decade.

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70s

The 70s brought with it romantic silhouettes and an explosion of floral prints, championed by high street stores such as Laura Ashley. Women also took inspiration from music acts such as Blondie and ABBA, buying flares, metallics and double denim aplenty from their favorite high street stores.

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80s

The 80s fashions were all about power dressing, with women opting for smart tailoring and oversized garments with shoulder pads. Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker were the icons of the age, and women bought their copycat designer goods from stores such as C&A and Athena.

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90s

Double denim made a huge comeback after its initiation in the 70s, with women taking inspiration from mainstream music bands such as Spice Girls, Bewitched, and All Saints. You could buy your platform shoes, high-waisted trousers, and layered prints from stores such as Morgan, Tammy Girl, and Kookai, which tended to all your high street fashion needs.

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Current Popular High Street Fashion

Nowadays, the most popular high street stores for women are ones that replicate designs from the runway at the most affordable prices. Some of these stores mass produce fast fashion according to the latest trends and fads. A list of these examples on the British high street include: Primark, New Look, and H&M.

However, there are other popular stores presently on the high street that offer clothing higher in quality and therefore higher in price. They consist of Marks & Spencer, Next, and Zara - amongst others.

Younger women with lower disposable incomes tend to shop at the former, and older women with higher disposable incomes tend to shop at the latter. Although, both sets of high street stores do just as well as each other.

High street stores are primarily taking inspiration from designer catwalks these days. They also take inspiration from bloggers and social media influencers, as well as what women are wearing based on the garments they buy from other high street stores. Top trends include frills, embroidered denim, sportswear luxe, and graphic prints.

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Frills

The fluted hem that was first introduced for the spring season happens to be sticking around on the high street, in the form of a frilled trouser, a voluminous sleeve, or a ruffled skirt. Inspiration originally came from designer catwalks such as Marc Jacobs, Erdem and Mulberry - and only seems to be growing in popularity.

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Embroidered Denim

Denim heads back to the 90s and given a contemporary twist with new looks. Bright and creative patterns and designs are being sewn into different colored jeans and jackets, taking example from Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, and Antonio Marras, in order to make denim fun again!

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Sportswear Luxe

Designers are currently using performance-enhancing fabrics to tap into the ever-growing sportswear fashion trend that initially began a fair few seasons ago. Alexander Wang, DKNY, and Dior showcased utilitarian designs in a range of luxury shapes and fabrics - which are slowly filtering their way onto the high street.

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Graphic Prints

This artistic trend is all about bold being beautiful. Colorful florals and stripes, in particular, reigned supreme on designer catwalks such as Balmain, Miu Miu, and Chloe. Whether it's a head-to-toe floral suit with a large bloom, or a multi-colored striped dress, the high street is carrying prints that are loud, they clash - and they certainly aren't afraid to wow!

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High Street Fashion Is Here to Stay

High street shopping shows no signs of stopping, or even slowing down. It's true that it has tough competition, in the form of online shopping, as a lot of women are choosing this option above physically visiting stores due to their hectic work schedules and busy lifestyles. According an article from The Telegraph, high street stores are struggling with numbers compared to online stores, but the desire to physically shop will never go away. Women enjoy the act of taking the time out of their day to go shopping. It's an enjoyable hobby and they like being able to see, touch, and try on their clothing before they buy it.

The same is true when it comes to high street fashion. As long as their favorite stores continue to stock the latest trends at the lowest prices, women will continue to buy them. As history has proven, as long as the demand is there, then the high street will continue to deliver.

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What Is High Street Fashion? | LoveToKnow (2024)

FAQs

What is considered high street fashion? ›

High street fashion, then, refers to the clothing you can buy on the high street in ordinary towns and cities. In addition to this, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary, it's clothing that is readily available for purchase by the public rather than being custom-made by fashion designers.

What makes high fashion high fashion? ›

High fashion, also known as Haute Couture, which means high sewing or high dressmaking, refers to the creation of exclusive and custom-made garments that have a unique fashion design. Its construction only involves handmade processes from the beginning until the end.

What do you mean by high fashion? ›

Britannica Dictionary definition of HIGH FASHION. [noncount] 1. : the newest fashions that are usually bought by only a small number of people. boutiques that sell high fashion to the very wealthy.

How would you describe street fashion? ›

Street style is fashion that is considered to have emerged not from studios, but from the grassroots. Street fashion is generally associated with youth culture, and is most often seen in major urban centers. Magazines and newspapers commonly feature candid photographs of individuals wearing urban, stylish clothing.

What are high fashion items? ›

High-end designs are made with top-quality fabrics, unlike designs made for lower-priced items that are generally sold through mass market retailers.

Why do they call it high street? ›

In Middle English the word "high" denoted superior rank ("high sheriff", "Lord High Chancellor", "high society"). "High" also applied to roads as they improved: "highway" was a new term taken up by the church and their vestries during the 17th century as a term for all public roads between settlements.

What is the difference between high street and high end fashion? ›

Premium High Street brands are identified as chain store brands which are at a higher price point. The quality is often better than their high street sisters as they have a lot more room in their margins to explore fabric and design details that high street brands simply cannot afford.

What are the characteristics of high quality clothing? ›

Durable, Dynamic, High-Quality Materials

Look for companies that use high-quality fabrics. Also, look for things that have a blend of materials to make clothes comfortable and functional. For example, a cotton/polyester blend can be soft, super durable, and dry much faster than cotton alone.

What is considered high quality clothing? ›

High quality clothing is often made of wool, cotton, cashmere, and silk. Remember that a high content of natural fiber does not necessarily mean a piece of clothing is high quality. You'll also have to look at the construction of the clothing, feel it to make sure it is soft, and make sure that thread work is secure.

How to look like high fashion? ›

How to make your outfit look more expensive
  1. Get it tailored. Raymond Hall//Getty Images. ...
  2. Wear a belt for polish. Daniel Zuchnik//Getty Images. ...
  3. Add gold accessories. ...
  4. Dress in tonal colours, like all white or all black. ...
  5. Keep handbags shiny and clean. ...
  6. Layer up. ...
  7. Dress up your denim. ...
  8. Buy timeless outerwear.
Jan 18, 2023

How to dress like high fashion? ›

How to Look Expensive in 25 Simple Ways
  1. Opt for Timeless Classic Cuts.
  2. Get Your Clothing Tailored.
  3. Change the Buttons.
  4. Stick to Neutral Tones.
  5. Wear Well-Fitting Underwear.
  6. Iron or Steam Your Clothes.
  7. Invest in a Classic Black Structured Handbag.
  8. Wear Stylish Dark Sunglasses.

What is high fashion model look? ›

High Fashion models are the ones you see on the catwalks. They work with all the high end designers and walk in all the fashion shows for the famous Fashion Week. This type of model is usually very tall and slender. They have small measurements and are very lean.

What are the elements of streetwear? ›

Streetwear is a subculture of fashion that is rooted in Californian surf and skate culture. It has evolved to encompass more than that – including hip hop fashion, Japanese fashion and elements of haute couture. Common components of streetwear are jeans, t-shirts and sneakers, with an overall casual urban aesthetic.

Why is streetwear important? ›

It is a fashion style that allows people to express their individuality while being fashionable. Streetwear is often associated with youth culture, rebellion, self-expression and creativity. It is constantly evolving and adapting to new trends, making it one of the most popular fashion movements of recent years.

What type of fashion is streetwear? ›

Streetwear is a style of casual clothing which became global in the 1990s. It grew from New York hip hop fashion and Californian surf culture to encompass elements of sportswear, punk, skateboarding and Japanese street fashion.

Why is high fashion so popular? ›

Fashionable clothes aren't just about quality (although that's part of it). They're also about status. Brands keep prices high to prevent the majority of people from purchasing their labels, which, in turn, drives up desirability even more. Social status is all about exclusivity.

What is high vs fast fashion? ›

Fast fashion gives the masses easy access to a range of styles without blowing the budget. On the opposite end of the spectrum, high-end stores offer consumers a taste of luxury with high-quality garments that cost a lot more.

What is high and low fashion? ›

What is High Low Fashion? High Low Fashion is where you pair more expensive items in your wardrobe with less expensive (more budget friendly) items. The ultimate goal is to look not only put together but fashionable.

What does the high street consist of? ›

They also occur even in the small villages of the British countryside; traditionally, such a high street would contain a church, a post office, a bank or two, a chemists (pharmacy), a butchers, a bakers, a grocers, one or more clothes shops, a telephone box (a public pay phone) and at least one village shop ( ...

What is the meaning of the term high street? ›

high streets. DEFINITIONS1. the main street in a town or city, with a lot of businesses along it. Musselburgh High Street. the pub on the corner of the High Street.

What is another name for high street? ›

What is another word for high street?
mass-producedbought
ready-madeoff-the-rack
off-the-shelfoff-the-peg
high-streetmachine-made
ready-to-wearretail
12 more rows

What is the opposite of high fashion? ›

Street fashion, also known as urban fashion, is often thought of as the opposite of high fashion.

Does high street mean Main Street? ›

The high street of a town is the main street where most of the stores and banks are.

Where did high fashion start? ›

Haute Couture may have started in France but it was a concept born of an Englishman once famed but now largely forgotten by the mainstream. Born in 1825, Charles Frederick Worth began his training in London before moving to Paris in 1845 and working as a dress salesman for Gagelin.

Why are expensive clothes better quality? ›

Quality clothing, while more expensive, is inherently made better. From the higher-end fabrics that last longer, to the stitching (higher quality clothes have more stitches per inch to help the piece hold better over the years), clothes you spend more on are designed to last.

What is the difference between high quality clothes and low quality? ›

What distinguishes high-quality from low-quality manufacturers are the extra steps they took to make sure a garment not only looks the part now, but will continue to do so after multiple wears and washes, that it feels comfortable on the skin and is well-fitted. All of these 'extras' take time and money.

What are the good qualities of good clothing? ›

Characteristics of high quality clothing?
  • Longevity: A garment should last longer than just a few months. ...
  • Resistance: All garments should keep their shape. ...
  • Dye: Colours should not fade. ...
  • Drape: Everyone prefers fabrics with a natural drape that are used to design flattering clothing.
Jan 31, 2020

What makes fabric high quality? ›

High-quality fabrics feature fibers that are closely and tightly woven together. There should be no obvious gaps between fibers as that's often an indication of weakness in the fiber quality. These fabrics can tear easily.

How can you tell if a shirt is high quality? ›

High quality T-shirts start with 100% high quality, pre-shrunk cotton. That means no itchy synthetic fibers, and no shrinking or shape-changing after your T-shirt has gone through the wash.

What clothes last the longest? ›

— cotton, linen, silk, wool, hemp, etc. — which will last the longest in your closet. Specifically, silk was found to be the longest-lasting fabric in terms of how long it remained in use, with wool in second place.

What makes a woman look expensive? ›

The key to looking expensive is actually pretty simple: Confidence, a couple of tailored pieces, and good fit. “If you're unsure of your outfit, everyone else around you will be too,” says wardrobe stylist, Noah Diaz. Britt Theodora, celebrity fashion stylist, also suggests focusing on texture and fabric.

How to look high fashion on a budget? ›

10 Ways to Look Expensive on a Budget
  1. Get the Right Fit. ...
  2. Utilize Neutral Colors. ...
  3. Wear Understated Jewelry. ...
  4. Go for Monochrome to Look Expensive on a Budget. ...
  5. Steam Your Clothes. ...
  6. Invest in Timeless Items. ...
  7. Carry a Structured Bag to Look Expensive on a Budget. ...
  8. Take Care of Your Clothes.
Dec 26, 2022

How to be high fashion on a budget? ›

9 tips on how to be fashionable on a budget
  1. Don't spend too much money on trendy pieces. ...
  2. Look out for online sales. ...
  3. Use online resources to find coupons. ...
  4. Invest in classic luxury pieces. ...
  5. Invest in wardrobe basics. ...
  6. Create a capsule wardrobe. ...
  7. Save on luxury items. ...
  8. Shop vintage & pre-owned fashion.
Apr 23, 2023

What clothes make you look classy? ›

Dressing classy requires a bit of modesty — no midriff-baring tops, revealing low décolletage, or mini skirts. Necklines are typically collared, boatneck, crew neck or V-neck. For some variety, you can also try square, cowl, and scoop necks.

Do high fashion models have to be skinny? ›

When showing off their newest fashions, designers obviously want their outfits to look as beautiful as possible. In order for that to happen, the clothes need to drape and flow, which happens naturally when they are placed on a tall, skinny frame. That is why most mannequins come in such a small size.

Why do high fashion models not smile? ›

Modeling today is more about doing the job well than ever before. Smiling is believed to distract attention from the clothes, which should be the focal point of attention during a fashion show.

What is the average weight of high fashion models? ›

Their weight should typically be between 161 and 205 pounds, with a chest size of 41” to 45”. Male measurements: Depending on the client, men working in the plus-size market will generally need to have a chest larger than 42” and a waist larger than 34”.

What are the three types of streetwear? ›

What are the Streetwear Styles?
  • Hip Hop Fashion.
  • Skatewear.
  • Techwear.
  • High Fashion.
  • Athleisure.
Dec 5, 2022

What are the 5 elements of fashion? ›

5 Important Elements of Fashion Design
  • Colour.
  • Silhouettes.
  • Fabric.
  • Body Shape.
  • Balance and Rhythm.
Jan 6, 2021

What are the four 4 basic elements of fashion design? ›

The four basic ingredients or elements of design used in fashion are shape or silhouette, line, colour and texture. A silhouette can be described as the outline of the entire garment. This is the most obvious visual element of the garment. It creates the initial impact before any other details are noticed.

How do you dress good streetwear? ›

When it comes to streetwear, oversized hoodies reign supreme, as do a wide variety of loose clothing. Loose clothing still roughly fits your form, while baggy clothes will simply swallow you whole. Pair your loose sweatshirt with tighter pants to create a contrast in your outfit.

What is the difference between streetwear and casual wear? ›

Streetwear comprises trendy fashion pieces that are casual and comfortable. Often, you can wear sweatshirts, graphic tees, sweatpants and sneakers. You might choose to wear streetwear when you are at home or meet your friends for coffee. Casual wear is relaxed, like streetwear, yet functional.

What culture created streetwear? ›

Streetwear as we know it today originated in the '90s, in the hip-hop scenes of New York, the surf-skate and graffiti culture of Los Angeles, and within the nightlife of Japan. James Jebbia has said that his influence as a designer “was definitely the young skaters in New York.

What are the 4 types of streetwear? ›

Streetwear brands fall into four categories: original, sportswear, adopted, and luxury.

What is streetwear today? ›

Over time, streetwear labels have evolved to become more fashion-forward, incorporating elements from haute couture, street style and other genres. Today, streetwear is all about personal style and expression.

What type of aesthetic is streetwear? ›

A very particular kind of Urbancore fashion, Streetwear, is a style of casual clothing which became global in the 1990s. It grew from Californian surf and skate culture to encompass elements of sportswear, hip hop, punk and Japanese street fashion and continued to grow and evolve from there.

What is considered high street retail? ›

The definition of a high street is the primary place for businesses to locate themselves in a town or city. By being located in a single place, it is easier for shoppers to take care of all of their errands in a single trip and other businesses may benefit from the increased footfall in the area.

What are the categories in streetwear? ›

Streetwear brands fall into four categories: original, sportswear, adopted, and luxury.

Is high street the same as fast fashion? ›

The high street is a British term which encompasses affordable chain stores and often fast fashion retailers.

What is high fashion vs slow fashion? ›

Fast fashion denotes lower-quality, low-priced, mass-produced and machine-made garments that quickly end up in landfills. Slow fashion garments in contrast are made by hand, consume time to produce, use artistic talent, have better quality and are priced higher.

What is high end retail as in fashion? ›

Luxury retail is a segment in the retail industry that specializes in selling high-end goods that are characterized by high quality, high prices and a high degree of exclusivity.

Do Americans say high street? ›

A: “High Street,” a chiefly British term for the main shopping road in a town or city, is much older than “Main Street,” its American counterpart. (If you're wondering why “Main St.” has a period in the title of this post and “High St” doesn't, the first illustrates American usage and the second British usage.)

What are 3 main fashion categories? ›

A Lesson: The Three Types of Fashion
  • Mass Market Fashion. The first sector of design involves the most straightforward and accessible form of clothing, which is the mass market. ...
  • Ready to Wear Fashion. ...
  • Haute Couture Fashion.
Jan 18, 2021

What are the four categories of fashion? ›

There are five primary types of fashion design:
  • Haute Couture.
  • Luxury Fashion.
  • Ready-to-wear Fashion.
  • Economy Fashion.
  • Fast Fashion.
Jul 12, 2022

Is Zara high street brand? ›

High street brands like Zara and Accessorize, on the other hand, sell clothes for cheap because their materials are cheap. Furthermore, their workers' conditions around the world are poor.

Does TJ Maxx use fast fashion? ›

Yes, TK Maxx is a fast fashion brand.

TK Maxx is a European sub-brand of TJX Group, an American apparel and homeware conglomerate. It is the parent of TK Maxx as well as TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Homesense, Marshalls, Sierra and Winners.

What is street fashion called? ›

Streetwear is a style of casual clothing which became global in the 1990s. It grew from New York hip hop fashion and Californian surf culture to encompass elements of sportswear, punk, skateboarding and Japanese street fashion.

What are the 5 levels of fashion? ›

A fashion trend's life cycle can be divided into five stages, generally speaking: introduction, rise, peak, decline, and obsolescence. The life cycles of fashion trends today have changed; technology and social media have rendered them much shorter and less predictable than in the past.

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