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The holiday season is almost here, and I’ll tell you a fashion secret: this season you can find a truly spectacular outfit at the supermarket.
Big box stores offer clever, surprisingly good quality knock-offs of street party staples, at incredibly affordable prices.
From luxurious faux furs to elegant suits, here we present attention-grabbing supermarket pieces, along with their more expensive counterparts. So can you tell the difference?
LOOK AT ME SUIT
With all the wow factor of a dress, but also the cool factor, there’s nothing better than a classic red suit for a Christmas party. The Sainsbury suit (below) has a flattering silhouette.
Jacket, £28, trousers, £18 and shoes, £17.99 tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk
Jacket, £119 and trousers, £99, karenmillen.com; shoes, £45.99, tkmaxx.com BOTH: Headband, £25, willowand hermione.co.uk; earrings, £46 and bracelet, £48, butlerand wilson.co.uk
LUXURIOUS VELVET
High street velvet can sometimes look shiny and cheap. Not at Sainsbury’s – this navy velvet suit (below) is more Tom Ford than Tu. Silver accessories enhance the ice queen’s aesthetic.
Jacket, £21 and trousers, £22, tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk; shoes, £16.50, direct.asda.com
Jacket, £180 and trousers, £120, jigsaw-online.com; shoes, £275, russelland bromley.co.uk BOTH: Hair clip (worn as a brooch), £7.99, newlook.com; hair clips, £8.90, braid andbow.com
SILKY SLIDE
No wonder our model Esme is smiling – she’s wearing a formal dress that costs £22.50 in Tu’s Black Friday sale (below). Its fabric (heavy, beautifully draped) feels as good as it looks on camera. For parties, a black jacket draped over the shoulders works for those who don’t like having their arms exposed.
Dress, £22.50 and jacket, £21, tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk; shoes, £14, direct.asda.com
Dress, £110, asos.com; jacket, £375, meandem.com; shoes, £49, monsoon.co.uk BOTH: top necklace, £170, Heavenlylondon.com; bottom necklace, £38, and bracelets, from £28, butlerandwilson.co.uk; bow, £30, itsrooper.co.uk
SKIN AND SHINE
Some frivolous pants are the perfect way to inject some Christmas pizzazz into the sweaters you’ve been wearing on repeat all winter. Protect your ankles by wearing sheer, spotted tights underneath and add a faux fur coat for an extra touch of luxury. Morrisons’ £49 coat (below) could be Saint Laurent’s £10,600 version.
Coat, £44, Nutmeg at Morrisons (in store); trousers, £18 and shoes, £13.50, tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk; top, £8, direct.asda.com
Coat, £89, riverisland.com; trousers, £145, stories.com; top, £47, arket.com; shoes, £45.99, tkmaxx.com
THE TROPHY SKIRT
Morrisons’ lamé skirt (below) will be the most useful weapon in your party arsenal. In the evening, pair it with a cherry red knit and party flats; During the day, contrast its extravagance with thick boots.
Cardigan, £16, skirt, £20, Nutmeg at Morrisons (in store); shoes, £12.75, tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk
Cardigan, £140 and skirt, £130, boden.co.uk; shoes, £79, moilondon.com BOTH: Hair clips, from £6.90, Braidandbow.com; bracelets, from £28, butler andwilson.co.uk