Author: Henry

Welcome to 10 Things to Buy, a monthly shopping list that helps you shop smarter by focusing on the 10 key items to add to your cart that month if your wardrobe is in need of a boost. As a Who What Wear editor for the past 12 years, I’ve spent many hours advising people on what to shop for during any given season, so you’re in good hands. Whether you’re shopping for cold weather, warm weather, a vacation, or a wedding, I’m here to offer up the most seasonally appropriate suggestions. Be sure to return at the start of each month for more.

If you’re like me and have been literally counting the days until fall (sorry, it’s too hot and there are so many bugs), our moment has finally arrived. Well, not technically—we still have many weeks of summer left, but we’re inching closer and closer to changing leaves and sweaters. We may not be able to wear all of the fall things yet, but we can at least start shopping for them. You’ll also thank yourself later when the best finds are sold out.

As per usual, I put together a highly curated list of the ten best things to shop for this month. Keep scrolling to get the details on the smartest (and coolest) pieces to order during August, and shop my carefully chosen suggestions.

Toggle-Closure Jacket

While toggle-closure jackets were quickly rising in popularity in the spring, summer forced a hiatus. But as predicted, toggle-closure styles are making a swift return for fall. As of late, I’ve come across satin frog-closure styles, wool felt ones with minimal toggles, ones with military-style toggle closures, and the list goes on. Now is the time to secure yours, as sell-outs are already happening.

Satin Ballet Flats

Making the jump from summer to fall is easy when you have the right shoes, and one trend, in particular, is perfect for that transition: satin ballet flats. Yes, the trend Miu Miu started years ago is having a resurgance, but the fall 2026 version is more minimalist, in keeping with the overarching ballet flats trend as of late.

Something Royal Purple

The runways are It girls have alerted us that royal purple is the color trend to add to your wardrobe as we enter fall. The best part is that you can start wearing it now.

Transitional Sweater

Sweaters made of cotton and linen are perfect for the late-summer-early-fall days to come. Cardigans, rollnecks, and boatnecks are the chicest styles to shop for right now.

Fancy Cargo Pants

Cargo pants and silky pants are two of 2026’s biggest trends, and brands are wisely combining the two. Pair them with a tee or lightweight sweater for an effortless outfit that stands out.

Long-Sleeve Tee

Sure, it’s a basic, but long-sleeve tees are also very trendy right now. There’s not better time to stock up than August.

Dark-Wash Low-Rise Jeans

If you missed out on the Gap x Hailey Bieber low-rise jeans, not to worry, as I found a handful of similar styles that are also excellent. What’s great about this denim trend is that it an easily be dressed up or down.

Silky Mini Tote

If you’ve been lusting over The Row’s Cecily bag, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a new tassel version for fall. A Valesque bag is a great alt (and equally sought-after).

Layering Tank

During the weird-weather times to come, you’ll be glad you planned ahead with some layering tanks to wear under your jackets and sweaters. These options from Banana Republic, Flore Flore, and Reformation look equally chic on their own.

Dark Beige Trousers

Dark beige is *the* pant color trend to buy for fall 2026. It looks elegant and goes with everything. What more could you ask for?

It’s around that time in summer when my outfit creativity is dwindling (another day, another track shorts and tee combo) and my wardrobe is craving something fresh and new to give my looks a mid-summer boost. As fashion editors, there’s no doubt our sights are already set on fall, but the reality is it’s still 90 degrees out and we have a lot more warm sunny days ahead to embrace.

To get inspired, I made a beeline to the new arrivals sections at some of my favorite retailers—J.Crew, Zara, and Nordstrom—to see what exciting newness they have to offer as we enter into the pre-fall season. Right now, I’m particularly focused on pieces that will see me through the summer months in style, yet have longevity into fall. I scoured the newest arrivals from top to bottom, and below I’m bringing you an edit of my absolute favorite styles that feel current, cool and on-trend. If you’re looking to give your wardrobe a mid-summer boost then keep scrolling.

J.Crew

Zara

Nordstrom

If there’s one piece of clothing that everyone needs in their wardrobe, it’s an anti-trend item. I’m talking about a reliable essential piece perfect for the awkward transitional weather coming up in the next few weeks. It’s an easy, elegant layering item fitting for the unpredictable climate fall can have. What am I talking about? A trusty cardigan. Every fashion person with taste knows a cardigan is the MVP item to have in your wardrobe.

Experiencing all four seasons, as someone from the South, getting dressed for the shifting weather still gets tricky, but a cardigan is one of those no-brainer items when building an outfit. I’m sad the summer is coming to an end, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited for the lightly layered outfits of fall. Think cardigans layered under a trench coat, tied around the shoulders or waist, paired with a skirt and boots; the outfit options are plentiful and chic. Keep scrolling to secure the best cardigan for all your fall wardrobe needs before the season rolls in full force.

Shop Lightweight Cardigans

I’d like to think I’ve become fairly immune to vacation shopping envy after years of covering fashion, but Paris has a way of making even the fullest closet suddenly feel…off. The suitcase filled with things I carefully selected quickly feels like it could’ve been styled out better. I spent several days in the French capital during one of the hottest stretches the city has seen, and despite the soaring temperatures, the best-dressed people never looked like they were sacrificing style for practicality. Instead, they mastered the kind of effortless outfits that only seem to get better the longer you look at them.

My home base for the trip, CitizenM Paris Champs-Élysées, couldn’t have been a better place to experience it all. Tucked just steps from one of the most stylish parts of town with the best shopping one can find, it’s fair to say I got tons of outfit inspiration from the neighborhood alone. By the time my flight landed back home, I wasn’t just dreaming about buying more clothes—I was rethinking almost everything I’d packed. Below, find the 6 things I’m shopping now that the trip has wrapped but I’m still dreaming of it.

Tapestry Skirt

If there was one piece that instantly elevated even the simplest outfit, it was a richly textured tapestry skirt. Whether paired with a fitted tank, an oversized button-down, or a lightweight knit, these statement skirts brought dimension without feeling overly precious. I saw them a few times before I was inspired to try it for myself.

Bold Shorts

Statement shorts certainly aren’t new, but in Paris, they came in vibrant stripes, rich reds, and unexpected colors that made the entire outfit feel intentional. Styled with simple tanks or crisp shirting, they proved that sometimes all a summer outfit needs is one confident pop of color.

Knit Maxi Dress

When temperatures climb, the instinct is usually to wear less. Parisian women seemed to do the opposite, opting for lightweight knit maxis that skimmed the body without feeling restrictive. They looked polished enough for lunch, shopping, or dinner—no outfit change required.

Poplin Sets

Matching poplin separates were everywhere, and it’s easy to understand why. They feel crisp without trying too hard, photograph beautifully, and make looking put together as simple as throwing on two pieces. In extreme heat, that kind of effortless formula is hard to beat.

Ballet Pumps

One of the biggest surprises? Closed-toe shoes. Rather than defaulting to minimalist sandals and elevated flip flops, stylish women leaned into elegant ballet pumps that instantly made dresses, skirts, and tailored shorts feel more refined. It’s an unexpectedly sophisticated swap I’ll absolutely be making this season. Regardless of the temperatures.

Polo

Perhaps the easiest trend to recreate was the return of the polo. Whether knit, ribbed, or classic cotton, it added just enough structure to make even the simplest bottoms feel elevated. It’s sporty, polished, and somehow manages to look expensive every single time.

Wow, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is hitting. This year’s assortment has been top-notch, with 50 new brands added to the sale. Naturally, we’ve all been shopping it, including, of course, Susie Wright—the former Nordstrom buyer and icon behind So Susie.

Aside from working at Nordstrom for decades, she’s been a loyal Nordstrom shopper, so her Anniversary Sale insights are certainly of interest. Below, she shares the eight categories she and her daughter, Emily, have been shopping this season. However, the sale ends soon on August 9, so this is your last week to save on any of the trending picks.

Keep scrolling to shop coveted denim silhouettes, must-have beauty finds, travel staples, and more from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

The Best Items From the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

1. Nordstrom Cashmere

“Nordstrom cashmere is always a top recommendation, and I always pick up a style or two. You’ll find great basics like an oversized cardigan, a basic crew, and even a travel wrap. The prices are so good, and the quality is amazing.”

2. Suede and Leather Jackets

“Suede or leather jackets work any time of year, and this year I’d suggest finding a stand collar style. Super chic and perfect with your favorite jeans.”

3. Denim

“If you only buy one thing from the NSale, a new pair of jeans is the best place to start. You’ll find all the best brands and new styles that will take you into the new season and beyond. My favorites are Mother, Paige, and Pistola.”

4. Beauty Buys

“There are so many beauty sets, everything from skincare to fragrance to makeup. You get a great value—there’s always a savings, and it’s a good excuse to try something new or stock up on your favorites.”

5. Boots

“I always recommend getting boots early in the season, because you’ll have a longer wearing season. This year, consider a knee boot—so stylish with a midi dress. I’d also recommend a basic everyday boot, something you’ll wear every single day once the weather changes.”

6. Luggage

“I was so surprised at how many luggage sets are on sale this year. I always recommend looking for something that isn’t black—you’ll spot it immediately in baggage claim.”

7. Coats/Jackets

“The single best investment you can make is a classic coat in your wardrobe. It can be anything from a relaxed trench to a belted style—anything that catches your eye. There are some great styles to choose from this year.”

8. Accessories

“Highlights in the accessory department include designer sunglasses, affordable statement jewelry, and handbags that you’ll wear with everything.”

Balletcore is back, and this time it’s more Black Swan than Sugar Plum Fairy. You may remember the term popping up on your TikTok FYP around 2022 with hyper-curated looks of frothy, pale pink tulle. It was almost a hybrid of the “coquette” and the “clean girl” aesthetics, sharing all of the latter’s complicated connotations. The most notable difference this time around is that the trend is being spearheaded by actual dancers; it feels more real, as if accompanied by sweat and tears rather than a matcha latte.

As with many fashion moments, multiple seeds need to be planted in the collective consciousness for it to take off, and the resurgence of balletcore is no different. The first thing that caught my eye was classically trained ballerina-turned-pop star Adéla Jergova, who made sure nobody forgot her name whilst opening for Demi Lovato and Tate McCrae on tour. Her dominant pop performances, from the choreography to the looks, are that particular strain of coming-of-age hyper-sexuality that takes me back to the days of Christina Aguilera. Her USP is the intensive ballet training evident in her sets. And then there’s the fashion. Her looks are black and daring, but her hair is ironically pink, a colour we associate with the ultra-feminine prima-ballerina image, yet somehow, when it colours hair, it’s rooted in punk rebellion.

Journalist Liana Satenstein went online at the top of the year and made her case for a return to grey, cotton workout wear that shows sweat rather than is designed to hide it. The video references a piece she wrote before the explosion of athleisure and pristine workout sets that hide all evidence of perspiration, instead harkening back to the glory days of ’80s workout gear.

I also observed a lot of fashion press taking notice of Patricia Zhou, who is currently dancing in Cats in the West End. In our video interview that accompanies her Best Wardrobes in Britain story from August 2025, Zhou shows her incredible wardrobe, with dynamic looks and so many interesting nods to femininity. A standout look is a pink feathered dress with a bow, paired with black leather Miista boots. Zhou is not bound to the ballerina “look”, but she can acknowledge it in outfits where softness sits comfortably with tougher pieces.

On Instagram, she shares videos in the dance studio, dressed in a sleek black vest and capris with pink pointe shoes and a fiery red pixie cut. The whole image reminds me of Edie Sedgwick. Known for being an It girl and “superstar” at Andy Warhol’s Factory, Sedgwick started many trends in the ’60s with her silver cropped hair and heavy eye makeup. Her signature look came from her ballet training: she would walk around New York in black tights, a black leotard and a little T shirt or jumper on top. The trend was born purely because she couldn’t be bothered to change her clothes.

Meanwhile, a post by content creator and founder of Violet Papers, Lara Violetta, piqued my interest, revealing her “perfect” outfit formula for her Pilates class, which deviated from the contrived, chronically online image in your head: a nude-illusion leotard from Bloch paired with a visible Agent Provocateur bra (hot pink with blue bows): very chic. For the outer layer she had thrown on an off-shoulder Rick Owens jumper with a slightly sheer knit and a coveted Matthieu Blazy Chanel bag. My own ballet-class look of choice is often centred around a black leotard and sheer blue tights. I feel like having advanced-level style compensates for my beginner-level skill.

Fashion’s fascination with ballet’s history has remained constant. What changes is how overt the references are. “Ballet flats and tutus drop in and out of the trend cycle, but designers have never stopped looking to ballet for inspiration,” says online ballet archivist, Cheyenne Postigo. But to bring it closer to the present day, Marc Jacobs spring/summer 2027 collection nods to dancewear, with its layers upon layers and jumpsuits with contrasting high-cut leotards sewn on. Unlike Ferragamo’s spring/summer 2025 ballerinas, which were still muted in tones even if they had a realness of their own through the mix-and-match styling, Marc Jacobs’ girls were in saturated jewel tones that trade blending in for centre stage.

There are plenty of moments that have led to this evolution of balletcore, but I believe the most important piece of the puzzle is Madonna. Confessions II, the long overdue follow-up to her 2005 masterpiece, Confessions on a Dance Floor, is transporting us back to the Capezio-clad, Farrah Fawcett-haired music video for hit single “Hung Up”, in which she ran riot around a dance studio in the now-famous fuchsia leopard-print and nude tights cut off at the knee.

Madonna also has everyone reminiscing over Frida Giannini’s cropped leather jackets from her time at Gucci that were worn in the single’s music video and throughout her tour, but that’s a story for another day. Last month, Madonna turned the cover of Vogue Italia pink and committed to the bit for the press run of the album. She lies on the cover, legs stretched and wrapped in kneepads that lay over brown fishnets. Is she in a full baby-pink look? Absolutely, but her leotard is tightened with a corset, and she’s wearing her signature fingerless gloves (also pink). It’s womanly and soft, but you don’t know if her next move will be a tendu or a haymaker—it has grit.

Rosalía leapt into the ballet aesthetic for her LUX tour, but she too opted for a less prim-and-proper image of a ballerina with her tattered tutus and dishevelled hair. A personal favourite was a custom look by Yasmina Atta, in which she donned a bare face, styled by Joe Carayol. Here, Rosalía didn’t just take on the style; she spent months training to dance in pointe shoes with Belarusian prima ballerina Tatiana Yerakhavets. During the tour, the singer also wore those Christian Louboutin pointe heels. Wearing high heels might be the closest a non-dancer can get to the pain of being en pointe, as though the fashion almost wasn’t enough; she had to chase the grit. Professional Dancer, Madeline Woo launched her clothing line Maddwoo Studios in 2025 with the intention to prove that ‘rigorous tradition and radical self-expression can co-exist’. Madeline’s own look is atypical in the ballet world: Her extremely long black hair (often worn down while dancing) and tattoos stand out, and paired with her immense talent lead to work with brands like Coach and the launch of the Crocs x Simone Rocha collab.

True to life, ballet as an art form comes with rigorous, painful training that often causes lifelong injuries. You may see that not-a-hair-out-of-place, soft-pink-ensemble look at a show, but in reality, it’s all haphazard layering, mixing sheers and stretch jerseys in different colours. It’s a balance of soft and hard. As the curtain rises on deceptive aesthetics and the ache for the dishevelled human touch grows stronger, it’s no surprise the trend is back for a more honest encore.

Shop the New Balletcore Trend