Refresh Your Spring Wardrobe With These Timelessly Chic Brands

The start of any new season always brings with it an air of blank-slate possibility, and those new beginnings feel particularly pronounced with the arrival of spring. Still, SS24’s closet upgrade doesn’t necessarily call for a complete style overhaul. Rather, it is about investing in a few carefully chosen pieces; quietly confident classics that are elegant and effortless, with simple-yet-effective twists and luxe detailing that will elevate your everyday look for seasons to come.

Trust Guillaume Henry, creative director of the 110-year-old Parisian brand Patou, to be a master of serving up joie de vivre. He brings a delicate touch of fantasy and levity to seemingly simple pieces; look to his poet-inspired blouse, with its extravagantly full sleeves and bow detailing, for a sartorial touch of whimsy and romance.

In case you needed proof that DeMellier’s designs were going places: each style takes its name from a different city. Conceived in London by its all-female design team, and ethically handcrafted from only the finest materials, the brand takes integrity and intelligent style seriously. This season, one of their most iconic and adaptable shapes – the ‘New York’ – is offered in a pristine off-white croc-effect leather.

A gap in fashion consultant Chloé Harrouche’s knitwear wardrobe led her to found her own brand: Loulou Studio. Now it offers a complete collection of luxurious, comfortable classics. This season, she makes the case for taking pinstripe co-ords out of the office – just think of them as your new neutrals.

The ever-brilliant, always interesting Dries Van Noten is in a class of his own. His exuberant SS24 collection is a masterclass in contrasts and ‘making the familiar unfamiliar’. What does that look like? Formality meets ease; simplicity is offset with a subtle quirk; preppy with a slight unexpectedness. Expect gathered, twisted skirts and perfect poplin striped shirts.

Whatever the season, denim is always a good idea. And, for SS24, it gets an upgrade courtesy of Veronica de Piante. The Italian designer, renowned for her meticulous tailoring, introduces spring’s most elevated take on double denim. Cue high-waisted, straight-leg jeans and a co-ordinating single-breasted coat – both crafted in luxurious dark denim for the ultimate sartorial power pairing.

Alissa Zachary might have only founded her brand, High Sport, three years ago but she already has a major hit on her hands thanks to those cult kick-flare, stretch-knit pants (Chloë Sevigny and Katie Holmes are fans). A graduate of The Row and Khaite, Zachary has a meticulous eye for detail and fit, which translates across the collection – see the gentle curve of the sleeves on this navy knit and her city-ready take on gingham.

No need to tell the Sea girl that boho is back – for her, it never went away. The New York brand might be best known for its free-spirited perspective, but don’t let the patchworks and laces distract you from its slightly grungy, sportier side, which played out for spring in cotton khaki separates. Super-wide legged pants and a bow-tying cotton poplin shirt are an on-point fashion fusion of utility and femininity.

Under the creative direction of Harris Reed, Nina Ricci’s playful, Parisian mood has been amplified. But beyond the supersized bows and exaggerated baby-doll silhouettes, there are some quieter (though no less irresistible) propositions, like the positively pared-back column skirt and waistcoat. Of course, there’s still space for a little attitude, though, with the top featuring a draped open-back.

At Carolina Herrera, creative director Wes Gordon translates the uptown elegance established by the brand’s eponymous founder to a new generation’s lexicon. The glamour and romance are still there, but it is shot through with a youthful spirit. See, for example, this plunging stretch-cotton midi dress with twisted floral detail. Made for the modern woman, one might also read it as a riff on Herrera’s signature white shirts.

Ballet flats keep up the pace for the new season with elevated, architectural designs from Berlin-based Aeyde – a brand renowned for its modern lines and straightforward comfort. Featuring inky satin and a square toe, the pumps possess a ’90s ease; wear them to ground anything from floaty dresses to tailored trousers.

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