I Found the Jackpot of Trendy Basics, and I'm Telling Everyone Who'll Listen (2024)

Even after seven years of observing and writing about fashion,I still relish the thrill of discovery. It's partly why I've takenup the mantle of highlighting emergingdesigners and brands in my own work—it's kind of satisfying to be onto something the general masses aren't. But admittedly, I feel a little late about discovering Na-kd. If you're tapped into the hauls and try-on worlds on TikTok and Instagram, perhaps you already know about its affordable separates that magically look expensive despite being less than $100.

Founded in 2015, and launched online in 2016, the Swedish brand has become a hit for its influencer-led collaborations featuring internet-famous fashion it-girls likeCass Dimicco and Josefine H.J. Na-kd pieces generally fall under $200 (with most just below $100),and thus it's been able to gain favor among the Zara set, aka those who love an affordable approach to trends. And although its vast selection might rival Zara, Na-kd feels like a different ballgame: the pieces feel a bit more wearable and less directly lifted off the runways. The international crowdseemsto be already privy to Na-kd's world of trend-forward basics (if Instagram is any indication Scandigirls have Na-kd'sblazers especially on rotation), but across the globe, it seems like the U.S. is just catching on. At one point it felt like every blazer or pair of trousers tagged by some of my favorite fashion people came from Na-kd—a clear sign that trying out the brand in real lifewas necessary. So, in the interest of fashion research, I ordered and tried 14 pieces from the Swedish brand's collection of new arrivals. Keep scrolling to hearmy thoughts.

Quite frankly, these pants are nothing short of incredible. A linen pant in the summer is the equivalent of a great puffer in the winter—an essential that you're much happier to have than to be without. There's an annoying little caveat with linen though—its proclivity to wrinkle. A little wrinkling is acceptable and inevitable, a lot just looks sloppy. These pants are the answer for those who can't be bothered to schlep around a steamer: they're a linen blend that's more weighty than traditional linen, so wrinkling isn't really an issue. The thicker fabric also meansno see-through underwear situations will happen (another con I can't stand about linen pants). During the course of my 3-week trip to Europe, I wore these about half the time, which tells you how much I love them.

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Tube dresses and all their iterations are a major theme this season.Never one to turn down the opportunity to look like a model from the 90s, I've been looking for the perfect minimal tube dress for months now. I can definitively say this is one of the best. Even after walking hours around the streets of Paris, it didn't hike up, and thesubstantial fabric meant I could forgo a bra altogether.

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Maxi-skirt mania is still in effect, so it felt right toadd this piece to my summer lineup. And it's everything I could want in a skirt when it's sticky hot during the day and cool at night: breezy, light and extremely versatile.

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Not to be outshined by its tailored separates, Na-kd's denim selection is also equally impressive. I chose this sunbleached set to wear in early summer as L.A. is still very much in the 60-degree-need-a-light-layer- range. Both pieces fall into the rigid denim category so the jeans took a few wears to thoroughly break in. Aftersoftening up though I found myself constantly wearing them as with my dressier casual tops.

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The Miu Miu effect has touched us all at Who What Wear and my desire for a cargo skirt has never been greater. Unlike the designer micro mini version, this skirt is a much more approachable midi length, which makes it prime for anything from tall boots to sandals. The fit is slightly more narrow in the hips, so I'd advise sizing up here.

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The best type of summer dress is easy and effortless, and this striped number checks both boxes. It would make sense to think about avoiding knits for the hot season, but it's surprisingly lightweight—even on a boat in the middle of the day I didn't break a sweat. An elegant open back providesventilation, so if hot days and cool nights will be a factor during your vacation, you'll want to pack this. There's also an ocean blue ombre version of this dress that I'm already plotting on.

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Shorts and I have never been the best of friends.But this year I've resolved to stray outside of my sartorial comfort zone, hence why I went for these shorts. On the flip side, blazers are my comfort staple ( I own more than I'd like to admit), so it occurred to me to pair the two for a combination that sits comfortably in the middle. These shorts are longer and more tailored than your typical (just imagine trousers cut into shorts), so wearing them wasn't as scary as I initially envisioned. The structured cut also made them ideal to coordinate with this oversized blazer (a staple Na-kd does exceptionally well).

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Next up:I Stopped By Gap, J.Crew, and Banana Republic—19 Finds That Genuinely Shocked Me