The Best Clothes to Buy in Zara: A Smart Shopper’s Guide
Zara is a high-street heavyweight, famous for its quick trend cycles and designer-inspired pieces. But if you’ve ever browsed Zara’s website or wandered through one of its stores, you’ve likely asked yourself: What’s actually worth buying here?
Some Zara items are excellent investments. Others look great on the hanger, but disappoint in wearability, fit, or fabric quality. In this guide, we outline the best pieces to buy in Zara—those that offer the best balance of quality, style, and longevity. We’ll also show you how to get the right size first time using Tellar.co.uk.
What Zara Does Well
Zara excels at delivering trend-forward pieces that feel elevated without the designer price tag. The key is to shop smart—prioritise structure, fabrication, and timelessness over fads.
1. Tailored Blazers
Arguably Zara’s strongest product. Their structured blazers offer the sharp lines, shoulder shaping and colour palette of much higher-end labels. Often priced between £59.99 and £89.99, these pieces rival those from Reiss or Massimo Dutti at a third of the cost.
Best buys: Double-breasted wool-blend blazers, long-line tuxedo jackets, and oversized blazers in neutral tones like camel, ivory, and navy.
Fit tip: Blazers tend to run small through the shoulder—check your fit here.
2. High-Waisted Trousers
Zara’s trousers are consistently well-cut. Their high-waisted wide-leg and tailored cigarette styles are favourites among stylists and influencers alike.
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Stretch twill trousers for the office
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Fluid wide-leg palazzos for evenings out
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Pleated tailored trousers for smart-casual days
Look for heavyweight fabrics that hold their shape—avoid overly thin or see-through options.
3. Minimal Knitwear
Zara’s knits strike the perfect balance between minimalist and luxe. Think ribbed turtlenecks, cropped cardigans, or sleeveless vests—ideal layering staples.
Stick to neutrals like off-white, grey, or camel for longevity, and check the fibre content. Blends with viscose or wool tend to last longer.
4. Outerwear
Zara’s winter coats and trench coats are a seasonal highlight. They regularly release oversized wrap coats, military styles, and belted trenches that feel designer at under £150.
What to buy: Wool-blend wrap coats, belted camel coats, cocoon-style structured wool jackets.
Avoid: Ultra-thin trenches without lining—they often don’t last.
5. Dresses with Structure
Zara dresses vary widely, but the best investments are:
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Fitted midi dresses with structured bodices
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Satin slip dresses in darker tones
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Blazer dresses with inner linings and defined waist seams
Avoid floaty poly dresses with thin straps unless layering. Focus on dresses with construction (seaming, lining, boning or panel work).
6. Co-ords & Matching Sets
Zara’s co-ords—tailored shorts and blazers, knit sets, or matching wide-leg trousers and tops—are a great shortcut to elevated dressing. They look polished, are easy to style, and often come in versatile neutrals.
Choose heavier fabrics like crepe or boucle for better structure.
7. Statement Footwear
While Zara shoes are fast fashion, they often mimic designer trends very successfully.
Best options include:
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Kitten heels in bold colourways
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Sculptural mules
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Loafers with gold hardware
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Chunky ankle boots
Avoid: Very high stilettos with no foot support—comfort is often sacrificed for shape.
What to Avoid at Zara
| Category | Reason to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Jeans | Sizing is inconsistent and often runs small |
| Basic T-shirts | Fabric tends to thin quickly after washes |
| Unstructured knits | Can bobble quickly or lose shape |
| Ultra-trendy items | Risk of looking dated within a season |
| Strapless or bodycon dresses | Often very tight and unsupportive |
How to Get Your Zara Size Right First Time
Zara sizing is notoriously difficult. Their cuts are European (slimmer through the bust, waist and hips) and vary between categories.
If you’ve ever ordered three sizes just to get one to fit—you’re not alone.
🔍 Fix the Fit with Tellar.co.uk
Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s free sizing tool that tells you your correct Zara size in seconds.
✅ Here’s how it works:
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Go to Tellar.co.uk
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Create your profile: Start here
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Enter your bust, waist, and hips (or use your size in another brand)
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Instantly get your Zara size—and compare it to 1,500+ other brands
🔗 Try the Zara size lookup tool
Don’t have a measuring tape? Download a free one
Shop Smart, Not Just Fast
Zara’s inventory turns over fast, but timeless pieces sell out even faster. If you’re buying with longevity in mind:
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✅ Choose items with lining, structure, or wool content
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✅ Prioritise neutral colours for versatility
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✅ Use Tellar.co.uk before buying to avoid returns
Summary: The Smart Buyer’s Zara Checklist
| Best Buys | ✔️ Yes |
|---|---|
| Structured Blazers | ✔️ Top investment pick |
| Tailored Trousers | ✔️ Excellent shape & fit |
| Wool Coats & Trenches | ✔️ Designer look, smart price |
| Minimal Knitwear | ✔️ Great for layering |
| Satin & Blazer Dresses | ✔️ Best value in dress category |
| Matching Co-ords | ✔️ Easy outfit-building pieces |
Start Smart with Tellar.co.uk
Avoid the returns queue. Get your exact Zara size now—free, accurate, and real-time.
🔗 Create your Tellar profile
🔗 Check your Zara size
🔗 Download your free measuring tape
“Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.”
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