Okay so last week I was at this industry event (networking, ugh, but free wine so whatever) and this girl comes up to me like “oh my god your blazer is amazing, is it Jacquemus?” And I’m standing there in my $59 Zara blazer trying not to choke on my aperol spritz because like… ma’am. But also? That’s literally the highest compliment you can get. When someone thinks your high street piece is designer, you’ve basically won fashion.
This whole thing got me thinking about how we all pretend we don’t shop at Zara but then literally everyone does, especially people in fashion who should theoretically have access to better stuff. Like I work at a boutique so I get discounts on indie brands, I follow all the sample sale accounts, I know which influencers sell their PR packages on Vestiaire – but I still find myself on the Zara website at 2am adding blazers to my cart like it’s a personality disorder.
So naturally I did what any gen z person would do and started polling everyone I know who works in fashion about their Zara habits. And oh my god, the confessions that came out of this very scientific research project (aka sending chaotic voice messages to every fashion person in my contacts at like 11pm on a Tuesday).
First revelation that absolutely sent me: literally EVERYONE buys their blazers there. Like every single person mentioned blazers unprompted. There’s apparently this specific black wool one with subtle shoulder pads that was like the unofficial uniform of fashion week last season. I saw it on three different editors in one day during NYFW and they all thought they were being so original. One girl told me she bought it in four colors and just rotates them like nobody will notice they’re identical cuts. Honestly? Genius behavior.
The thing about Zara blazers is they hit this sweet spot where they look expensive enough that you won’t get judged at industry events, but they’re not so perfect that they look try-hard. Like they have just enough weird tailoring details to seem interesting but not so many that they scream “I’M FROM ZARA SPRING 2024 COLLECTION.” It’s this very specific aesthetic that somehow works whether you’re pairing it with vintage jeans or wearing it to client meetings where everyone else spent $2000 on their jacket.
I personally have three Zara blazers in my closet right now and I’m not ashamed. There’s the black one I got for job interviews that’s been to more fashion events than most people’s designer pieces. There’s a cream one that photographs beautifully for content (very important consideration). And there’s this oversized pinstripe one that I bought in a moment of delusion thinking I was gonna have a whole menswear moment, wore once, and now it just hangs there judging my life choices.
But blazers aren’t the only thing fashion people are secretly hoarding from there. White button-down shirts came up SO much in my very professional survey. Apparently the oversized poplin ones are like crack for fashion editors. One girl I know who works at a major magazine admitted she has six identical white Zara shirts because they always get makeup stains during shoots and there’s nothing worse than foundation marks on white cotton when you’re trying to look put-together at fashion week.
The men’s section got mentioned by basically everyone I talked to, which makes total sense when you think about it. Their men’s shirts are cut perfectly oversized without looking sloppy, which is apparently impossible to find in women’s clothing sometimes. I’ve definitely bought men’s sweaters there and just pretended they were from some cool Scandinavian brand when people asked. The proportions are chef’s kiss for that whole “I’m creative and important and don’t try too hard” vibe that everyone in fashion is going for.
Knitwear was another category that had people getting genuinely emotional. Like this one stylist sent me a whole voice note about how Zara’s merino wool sweaters are basically identical to versions that cost five times as much, especially the basic crew necks. She said she’s done side-by-side comparisons and honestly can’t tell the difference, which is both impressive for Zara and slightly depressing for expensive knitwear brands I guess?
I have to admit I’m part of this problem because I own like four Zara sweaters and wear them constantly. There’s this black cashmere-blend one that I’ve gotten compliments on at every single event I’ve worn it to. People always ask where it’s from and I’ve started just saying “oh it’s vintage” because it’s easier than explaining that it’s from Zara but styled well enough to look expensive. Is that lying? Maybe. Do I care? Not really.
The leather pants situation is honestly iconic. You know those faux leather straight-leg ones that keep coming back every season? Apparently they’re a fashion person staple. I’ve seen them styled with everything from band tees to silk blouses and they always look expensive somehow. I bought a pair last fall thinking they were gonna be a trend piece I’d wear three times, but I literally live in them now. They’re perfect for that whole “I might be going to an art gallery opening or I might be getting drinks in Shoreditch” energy that defines my entire wardrobe.
What really surprised me was how many people mentioned event dressing. Like you’d think fashion editors would pull out all the stops for industry events, but apparently not? Multiple people told me they’ve worn Zara to major fashion events and awards ceremonies. One editor who I definitely can’t name because she’d literally murder me said she wore a $49.99 Zara dress to a huge industry party last season, got it slightly tailored, and everyone assumed it was designer. The alterations cost more than the dress but she said it was still cheaper than buying something “appropriate” for the event.
Accessories came up too, which was actually shocking because I feel like that’s where you can really tell if something’s cheap. But apparently their chunky gold jewelry is a secret weapon for shoots when you need layering pieces but don’t have the budget for real designer jewelry. “No one can tell the difference in photos” was an exact quote from someone who works at a very fancy publication that would probably have a collective breakdown if they knew their accessories editor was shopping at Zara.
The shoes situation had people divided though. Some swear by their leather ballet flats and mules – one accessories editor told me she buys the same nude flats every six months like clockwork. But others said they draw the line at footwear because the quality is too inconsistent. I’m somewhere in the middle because I’ve had good luck with their sandals but also bought boots there once that literally started peeling after two wears in light rain. It’s like fashion Russian roulette.
Here’s the thing that really gets me though – there are apparently specific shopping strategies that fashion people use at Zara that regular shoppers don’t know about. First, everyone avoids the obviously trendy pieces with recognizable details. Instead they hunt for what one person called “the quiet pieces” – stuff that looks like minimalist designer goods with clean lines and quality fabrics. These are usually buried between all the statement pieces that scream “I’M A TREND.”
Second, sizing up is key. Like I mentioned, the men’s department is a goldmine for oversized knits and perfect shirts. But even in women’s, sometimes going up a size or two in structured pieces creates a better silhouette. One editor who’s normally a size 10 told me she buys L or XL in shirts and jackets for that intentionally oversized look that says “I’m creative” instead of “this doesn’t fit me.”
Third – and this is crucial – online shopping is apparently vastly superior to the in-store experience. “I would rather walk barefoot through London than go into Zara on Oxford Street on a Saturday” was an actual quote from a fashion assistant, which honestly tracks. The website is apparently much better for finding good pieces without having to fight teenagers for the last medium in whatever’s trending on TikTok that week.
The most mind-blowing thing though? I talked to someone who used to work at Zara’s headquarters (don’t ask me how I know her, fashion world is tiny) and she told me they literally design certain pieces with fashion editors in mind. Like they have mood boards with street style photos tracking which Zara pieces gain traction in industry circles. They know exactly what they’re doing when they make those perfectly minimal blazers and oversized shirts.
My own Zara addiction is well-documented among my friends at this point. I do these things called “Zara sweeps” which is basically checking their new arrivals religiously every Tuesday and Friday morning when new stuff drops. It’s become as automatic as checking Instagram stories, which is probably concerning but whatever. I know way too much about their drop schedule and which stores get the good stuff first.
I’ve started playing this game during fashion week where I try to spot Zara pieces in street style photos and backstage shots. Once you know what to look for it’s embarrassingly easy. There’s something about their specific shade of beige in knitwear, or the cut of their wide-leg trousers, or the hardware on their bags that’s just slightly different from other high street brands. I can identify pieces with like 90% accuracy now, which is either impressive or shows I spend way too much time online shopping.
The democratizing aspect of this whole thing is actually kind of beautiful though? Like knowing that even the most established fashion professionals – people with access to press samples and industry discounts and sometimes actual free designer clothes – are still doing emergency Zara runs before important meetings. We’re all just trying to look like we have our shit together with varying budgets and the same basic human need to not look terrible in professional settings.
Last week I was in the changing room at the Brompton Road Zara (which is apparently the good one according to everyone I surveyed) trying on this oversized blazer when I heard someone in the next stall on a work call saying “yes darling, I’ll have those samples pulled for the shoot tomorrow” in the most posh accent ever. Fashion person, definitely. Probably buying the exact same blazer I was considering. There’s something oddly comforting about that shared experience.
So yeah, next time you’re struggling through crowded rails or frantically refreshing their website hoping your size comes back in stock, just know that somewhere in London there’s probably a fashion director doing exactly the same thing while pretending to be on a very important call. Fashion’s great equalizer isn’t taste or connections or even money – it’s the universal experience of finding that perfect Zara piece before it sells out in your size.
And if you see me lurking around new arrivals at 9am on a Tuesday clutching multiple white shirts, no you didn’t. I’m conducting very important research for my content. The fact that I’m also frantically texting my friends about whether I need the shirt in both white AND cream is purely professional dedication.
Brooklyn’s a 24-year-old content creator from Austin who lives where fashion meets TikTok. She covers Gen Z trends, viral styles, and the messy reality of making fashion content for a living. Expect energy, honesty, and unapologetic fun.
