4 days ago
Get the Farm Rio colourful, designer look, loved by celebs for over half the price this summer
If you want to inject a sprinkle of sunshine, a flurry of fun and a whole lot of carnival into your holiday wardrobe then Brazilian Label Farm Rio has it all.
Banana prints dresses, Toucan T-shirts and red-hot chilly rompers all feature in their fun-in-the-sun designs.
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Born out of a Brazilian market stall in 1997 by two friends, Kátia Barros and Marcello Bastos, Farm Rio's famous prints are a love letter to Rio's de Janeiro's vibrant sun-kissed style.
Loved by the likes of Selena Gomez and Priyanka Chopra the brand has infiltrated the UK and most recently made its way into Selfridges.
However, the designs do come with a price tag with dresses often retailing for hundreds of pounds.
If you love the style, but don't have the budget then the high street is full of alternative options to give you the same look.
So, whether you are heading to Copacabana Beach or just popping to Croydon for a coffee this summer the fashion team are here to show you how you can get the Farm Rio look for not as much buck.
Tracey Lea Sayer, 53, Fashion Director
My obsession with Farm Rio knows no bounds but unfortunately my budget doesn't always stretch that far, not even on Vinted.
In the summer I always become obsessed with colours and prints. I start dreaming of holidays from May onwards and can't stop browsing the Farm Rio website.
Luckily the high street is all over this trend with prices to suit every budget.
I have chosen this gorgeous mid-price range co-ord from Reiss.
The lily and lemon print makes me think of soaking up the sunshine on a terrace, drinking a G&T while reading a new best-seller. Total bliss.
Emily, 25, Fashion Assistant
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Dress, £150, Forever New - BUY NOW
Bag, £59.99, Zara - BUY NOW
Bag charm, £19.99, Parfois - BUY NOW
I'm a big fan of summer dressing, and Farm Rio always gets it right, though their prices are a bit out of reach for me.
Thankfully, the high street is full of budget-friendly, boho-inspired pieces that look just as good.
This printed dress from Forever New is available in a midi and mini length and looks like it could be designer.
The pattern is stunning and super detailed and I'm obsessed with the red bow straps.
Plus it's super versatile, you could style it over a white baby tee with sandals for a daytime look or add gold wedges like I have for an evening on holiday.
I finished the outfit with a stack of colourful bangles and a pearl bag from Zara.
All of their pieces are fun, bright and just ooze holiday and hot weather style - what's not to love, aye?
Clemmie Fieldsend, 34, Fashion Editor
Despite having a mostly neutral wardrobe, I do love Farm Rio.
My personal style does tend to steer away from over the top, statement frocks but that doesn't mean I can't channel the brand.
Punchy colour and tropical prints are at the heart of Farm Rio and this shorts and cardi combination embodies that.
This cardigan from Never Fully Dressed, who have heaps of looks similar to Farm Rio, is more me.
Holiday inspired detailing I can wear on cool summer evenings and I'm in love with this bright green shade.
Topped off with a lot of texture, like this amazing bag from Reserved and shoes from Mango.
Finish with gold jewellery and my go-to cat-eye sunglasses and get me to Rio.
Abby McHale, 30, Deputy Fashion Editor
Summer is my favourite season to dress for and this kind of style just screams holiday.
The colours, the prints, all the accessories, it's such a fun style to play around with.
River Island is smashing its summer looks currently and its new range with Atlas is really hitting the spot.
I'm obsessed with this asymmetric dress from the collection, the print is so vibrant and fun.
Paired with some sun jewellery, a pair of bright heels and a raffia bag - now all I need to do is book another holiday.
Why you should always buy a dupe over designer...
Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend says it's time fashion snobs stopped looking down their noses at affordable versions of designer buys.
Bargain US supermarket Walmart became a social media sensation when its £60 dupe of Hermès' Birkin bag, dubbed the Wirkin, went viral.
Influencer @styledbykristi gushed: "Eighty dollars (£60), you can pretend that you got a Birkin. I mean, everyone will probably know it's not, because who the hell has the money to spend on the real Birkin? Not me.'
Me neither. And why bother? I would never spend that on a designer bag (although if someone wants to buy one for me, that's a different story).
Plus, if I splashed that much, I'd feel I was being ripped off...
We've all been told how the leading brands use the finest leather, thread, dyes and craftsmanship in the world.
But all that is inflated by fashion houses to create the desired illusion of exclusivity.
Just last year, Dior came under investigation for paying £44 to assemble a bag that sells for £2,000.
So while you might think you are paying for top-level craftsmanship carried out by a true artisan, chances are the poorly paid workers are not seeing any of your hard-earned cash.
Dupes — not to be mistaken for knock-offs that copy everything from the logo to the inside label — are a more practical and all-round sensible way to go.
I bought my first when I was 18. It lasted me four years and only broke after I wore it in the shower.
And these days, British high streets have plenty of dupes. In the past three years, Marks & Spencer, H&M and Mango have all seen huge spikes in sales thanks to their canny copies. They use the same viral, must-have marketing tactics that pricey brands have.
Fashion folk will tell you that you are making an investment and buying a 'heritage piece' and will turn their noses up at a high street equivalent. But we've been wearing looks inspired by catwalk designers for decades.
If we can buy a bag that's the spitting image of the pricier version, but doesn't mean you have to remortgage, why not?
