15 anti-trend items from Zara, M&S and COS that my 58-year-old mother and I are attracted to

Those who know me know that I know No Buy something without my mother’s permission. After more than three decades as a fashion buyer, she is an expert in knowing exactly what is worth investing in and what is not. She’s ruthless in the best way: always ready to experiment with new cuts, colors and styles, but never one to buy anything without thinking. The biggest thing is that she avoids wearing everything that is in trend at the moment…

Interestingly, despite a 30-year age difference, our tastes are more similar than they are different. Trends may come and go, but we’re both drawn to pieces that are long-lasting – clean lines, great fabrics and silhouettes that never go out of style. This week, instead of our usual back-and-forth on a brand, we compared notes on three of our most reliable high-street go-tos: COS, Zara and M&S. The brief was simple: We were looking for spring pieces that feel anti-trend but still fresh. TKTK think tktkktktkt

outcome? We both immediately agreed on fifteen oppositely inclined purchases. See our favorite anti-trend Zara, COS and M&S buys for spring 2026 below.

Despite our age difference of over 30 years, my mother and I regularly share the contents of our wardrobe with each other.