With the high temperatures set to return, my calendar is steadily filling up with a series of al fresco plans. Park picnics are set for the weekend, spontaneous rooftop dinners are being squeezed into evenings, and now I’m readying my wardrobe to take on the heat in style. Looking expensive and staying cool this season are my main priorities, and my wardrobe is calling out for a few new additions to bring that final touch of polish to my summer looks. With £100 to spend, I turned to the brands that do expensive-looking high street buys so well: Zara, COS and H&M.

When putting together our summer wardrobes, it can be easy to think that you have to spend a serious amount of cash to embody an elegant summer mood. Actually, if you know where to look, there are plenty of high-end passing pieces that could convince any onlooker that you’ve invested a lot in your summer wardrobe. My first port of call is Zara, COS and H&M, each with its own specific way of creating expensive-looking pieces at a fraction of the price. Zara excels in intricate throw-on dresses and sweet blouses, whilst COS brings a luxurious edge through quality linen and cottons throughout. H&M’s tailoring comes into its own in the warmer months, making it the place to go for smart trousers, longline Bermuda shorts and summer-ready denim.