I get sent £5k worth of FREE clothes every year but these are the 6 items I spend my money on as Fab's Fashion Editor

The Sun

29-04-2025

GETTING sent free stuff isn't all it's cracked up to be.
I know, that does sound crass, but hear me out.
At Fabulous HQ we are fortunate enough to be sent clothes, shoes and accessories as a part of our job.
This is how we test and figure out what pieces are actually good, what you should buy and what you shouldn't invest in.
We have a whole room full to the brim of samples of clothes we use for photo shoots, which lights up the eyes of every woman who walks past.
It's not as pristine as The Devil Wears Prada but we try our best.
When colleagues ask where all the clothes end up the glint in their eye quickly fades when they find out they are returned to brands who sent them.
But I always explain: "No one has enough room in their house for all this stuff - or the need."
When I first started interning at 18, I too was overwhelmed by all the clothes, shoes, accessories and jewellery that would pile up in the office week after week.
But by being surrounded by everything a teenager could ever want, I quickly learnt what I didn't.
Now, at 34, I'm a neat freak and I'm quite strict on what I do and don't have in my wardrobe.
So when it comes to the thousands of pounds worth of freebies - I get sent about £5,000 worth of stuff I can keep every year - I give 90 per cent away to other people in the office or family members.
Also, as a chunk of my job is essentially window shopping, I have to remind myself of what I would actually want to spend my money on.
Would I shell out £60 for a T-shirt? Absolutely not. Should we all be buying £200 trainers? No, it's a rip off.
But these are the six things I do spend my own, hard earned cash on - and so should you.
1. THE JEANS I'VE GOT IN THREE COLOURS
You can pretty much guarantee that any given day I'll be in jeans.
And over the years I've tried pairs from bargain styles from Primark to designer styles like 7 For All Mankind, and now my go-to brand is Gap.
I rediscovered Gap after living in their jeans as a teen, then in my mid-twenties but fell out of love with them when they closed stores 2021.
For a feature I went back to Gap to see if I could fall in love with their denim again - and I did.
I now have the barrel jean, £55, from them in indigo blue, pale blue and white.
They're only slightly barrelled - not too bow-legged looking that they're frightening - and have a real secure feel to them which I also prefer in my denim.
I always think, I don't want to try and find the perfect fit for them to stretch out and then look wrong, so fingers crossed this pair doesn't do that.
I get so many compliments on them and strangers ask me where they're from - they're the best.
Jeans, £55, GAP
2. THE BOTTOM-OF-THE-BAG SUNGLASSES
I have sunglasses for under £20 that I mindlessly throw in my handbag and get bent out of shape or scratched, and I've had designer pairs that come with a posh case that's too clunky to carry around all day.
Entre Le Specs, or as I call them, my bottom-of-the-bag sunglasses.
They're by no means cheap, with prices ranging from £45 to £120, but they are really durable and stylish.
I have aviator, round and cat eye styles that I love, look designer and manage to stay in good nick amongst the other essentials in my handbag.
3. THE OUTERWEAR THAT'S WORTH THE MONEY
Much to the annoyance of the people who sit near me at work, I often bang on about coats and jackets and how a lot don't function as coats and jackets.
So many outerwear pieces aren't even waterproof - and we live in Britain where it rains a lot.
What's the point in paying anything from £30 - £200 for a coat that doesn't actually function as a coat? It drives me nuts.
For outwear that is practical and stylish I go to Uniqlo. For tailored blazers, trench coats and puffer jackets that really keep you warm they're the best.
Well made, long lasting and just a bit cooler than everyone else.
The 'Puffertech relaxed jacket' gets the most wear. The diamond quilted design is filled with a down alternative that traps warmth but is still lightweight and it's coated in a water-repellent substance so rain just runs off it.
I have it in black and khaki and wear them all the time but for nearly £60 it's on the expensive side but you'll get tonnes of wear out of them.
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Jacket, £59.90, Uniqlo
4. BARGAIN TRAINERS THAT ARE COMFY & LAST
In recent years the cost of trainers has skyrocketed and it angers me.
Around 2010 I remember shelling out £60 or £70 for Adidas Stan Smiths, the 'it' trainer of the day, and feeling like it was such an expensive purchase for someone who hadn't worn trainers since year 9 P.E. lessons.
Fast forward to now and Adidas, New Balance and Nike trainers can fetch upwards of £90 to £335. What are we all doing? They're not the trainers for running or the gym, they're 'fashion' trainers.
I find Sambas are the most aggravating trainer. Their flatter than flat sole with zero cushioning hurts after a long day of walking the length and breadth of Oxford Street and the tongue digs into your ankle.
For me, it's got to be M&S.
They've developed their own technologies such as Insolia which is a genius and comfortable sole that, they say, "ensures your foot is correctly placed within your shoes, and improves the natural rotational movement of the ball of the foot".
I have a plain style because I want them to be simple and go with absolutely everything, they're £25 and I've had them for roughly three years, and only bought new ones because I wore out my other pair.
Other trend-led styles start from £39.50, like their Onitsuka Tiger dupes that will save you £110, which is a bargain for a well made, comfortable shoe that will last you years.
Trainers, £39.50, M&S
5. THE NO-RUB SUMMER SANDALS
I've had the same pair of summer sandals probably for about nine years, at a guess.
And before them I had a pair from the same brand that I always wore for comfort, price and of course longevity - and they are both from Havaianas.
My first pair were the ' Brazil ' pair in white with green and yellow detailing, but avoid these.
White and sun cream don't go hand in hand when walking around, and white doesn't look good after a day strolling around London.
Despite their mucky appearance I couldn't let go - they were just so comfy and were like wearing a lighter-than-air slipper.
Then, for holidays at the beach, to dinner in the evening, or in the UK with jeans or even tailoring I wear black Havaianas Slim, £30.
They have thousands of colours and styles and collaborations and you can guarantee they'll last you years and be comfortable.
6. THE WHITE TEE THAT WILL KEEP ITS COLOUR & SHAPE
Along with jeans, I live in plain white T-Shirts, the majority of which are round neck.
I've been long committed to M&S and their T-Shirts and keep a couple on rotation throughout the week - but the best are from Cos.
Now, for £30, you might think that's too much but if you're wearing them and washing them as much as I do - you need a good one and this is the best.
Firstly, it's in the shape of a T so the sleeves are the correct length, about two inches above the elbow, and the body of the top isn't clingy or baggy, it's just straight.
The round neck is ribbed so it holds its shape, it washes really well and is back to good as new at 30 degrees.
It's also 100 per cent cotton making it soft which adds to its longevity.
It comes in 14 different colours and prints and is a constant big seller for the brand.