I’m An & Other Stories Designer—These 3 High-Street Pieces Always Look Expensive

The blank page is a daunting sight for any creative, but Billegren knew precisely where she wanted to start her design journey for this collection. “I wanted to create something that was a bit dark and slightly gothic, but then [counter it] with something opposite; something edgy with something beautiful, like ballet,” she says. “Combining the worlds of modern and historical felt important, and was a big part in making the collection feel tailored. [It’s a] celebration of the craft of tailoring and design.”

It’s clear that Billegren seeks attention to detail, not only when designing clothes, but when she invests in new pieces for her own wardrobe. We were curious to learn which high-street items she knows she can rely on to look expensive. “When I buy garments, I’m investing in a product that I’m going to wear for a very long time. So for me, quality and how [something] is made is what I’m looking closely at. And this is what I want [people] to get from this Savior collection—pieces of high quality.”

“A staple piece for me would be a suit. You can wear the suit jacket with denim or a dress. Then the pants you can wear with a T-shirt, shirt or blouse—whichever you prefer. Then, you can wear the full suit! I love to be able to dress up and dress down certain pieces. When collecting [pieces] to have in my own wardrobe, I look for things I can style in many different ways.”

Another high-street item she’d struggle to live without? Leather trousers. “It’s such a great piece, [especially] for the autumn season. You can wear them to work every day but they’ll also work for a party or a dinner,” she says. Creating the perfect pair of leather trousers proved to be a cause close to Billegren’s heart, as she has included a serious contender for such an accolade in the Savior collection. “There have been so many wide-leg [leather trousers], and that look is still super trendy, but I wanted to go back a little further, looking maybe at the ’80s and early ’90s to create a pair that feels [authentically] biker, but making it more tailored and clean; a straight leg that will mould to your body.”