10 Places To Start Shopping For An Elevated Style In Your 30s

When you reach your 30s, there are a few changes you may begin to notice. You become more self-aware in various aspects of your life. Your career might be taking a more defined path. Romantically, you are clear about your love goals and deal breakers. Overall, you will focus more on what you actually want, instead of what others want or expect.

Style-wise, you know your body better than before, and what works for you or not. You learned a lot through trial and error and played around enough with passing trends to identify your individual fashion tastes. You know what silhouettes flatter your shape and which colors complement your skintone. You no longer fall into style traps such as buying shoes that will inevitably hurt your feet or buying tons of party dresses when your ideal evening is to Netflix and chill. You have your favorites based on what is useful for your lifestyle and needs. Sure, suits might not be your cup of tea, but if your work dress code requires them, you make it work. And having children may require an increase in casual, easy-to-wash pieces. As you know, fashion evolves as life happens.

None of this means that you will become a completely different person after hitting 30. But with experience and growth comes a natural upgrade. And so, thinking of that important milestone in your style journey, we selected 10 brands and stores across different price points that will help you shop this decade.

If the looks from TV series such as "Scandal," "The Good Wife," "Mad Men," or "Revenge," tops your fashion inspo list, this beloved premium high-street British label will become your dream brand. Karen Millen specializes in beautifully tailored pieces, from business and evening wear to fabulous coats and smart suits.

To really put their expertise to the test, however, try their structured sheath dresses, like the Forever Bar Belt Midi Dress. The impeccable fit will give you a stunning, flawless silhouette similar to the likes of fashion powerhouses Dolce & Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood, or Alexander McQueen, and for a fraction of the price. If you have a natural hourglass figure and take pride in your waistline, Karen Millen's dresses are made for you. But even if you don't, their garments will give you that feminine curves-in-all-the-right-places effect. 

Other reasons customers love the Karen Millen brand? They ship internationally. And their customer service is top-notch, going the extra mile to solve any client issues — even if they are last minute, as a happy buyer shared on Trustpilot: "The dress I ordered was faulty but I needed it for an event the next day. Sahara was brilliant, she arranged for a replacement to be delivered the following day and for me to return the faulty dress. Excellent customer service."

If you are looking for impeccable tailoring, lovely details, great finishings, and affordable luxury overall, look no further. As the more grown-up, sophisticated, and often overlooked sister brand of Zara, Spanish brand Massimo Dutti offers high-quality design and fit with a focus on business wear and classic pieces. Its best — and lesser-known — attribute, however, is its use of a lavish and unusual selection of materials in the making of its clothes and accessories. Think Zara-like dresses and coats but in cashmere, real leather, mohair, silk, and luxurious cotton blends, and all at a price that doesn't break the bank. 

Massimo Dutti is also a great transition brand if you are taking your first steps into a more polished, affluent, and formal style, but want pieces that are streamlined enough to mix and match with those you already have in your closet, such as this poplin shirt with tweezers, black mesh legging pants, and belt trench coat.

The brand is available in over 74 countries and offers free delivery above a given purchase amount, depending on the shipping destination.

One of the top high-street brands in the UK, Reiss became synonymous with great British style by being a well-known favorite of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Self-described as an attainable luxury label focused on fool-proof, steady elegance, this is a tailoring-oriented house that specializes in a timeless, sleek elegant office, off-duty and occasion wear with lovely detailing.

While loyal buyers praise the overall quality of their full lineup of clothes — from the refined craftsmanship to rich fabrics like silk and broderie Anglais — it's their dresses and suits that truly stand out. True to Reiss' origins as London-based tailors in the 1970s, they are flawless. Also noteworthy is how durable Reiss clothing is if properly cared for.

The brand offers a large variety of sizes but pays special attention to height-accommodating pieces. If you have a tall, willowy figure, you will find your fashion heaven. Reiss delivers worldwide, with free-to-store delivery and free returns.

British online retailer ASOS is a household name with a reputation for being very on-trend. However, it is also a store that can grow with you. Among the trendy and casual novelties, there is a large, excellent selection of business and occasion-wear beauties to fill a closet. Their namesake brand is especially good at making tailored trousers, pencil skirts, and dresses — such as the long sleeve midi dress with obi belt in green – that look amazing and are known for remaining impeccable no matter how many times you wash and dry them. 

ASOS is especially recommended if you follow a strict professional dress code and need lots of pieces in your daily rotation. From cinched-waist or boyfriend longline blazers that give you a figure to die for to polished pants, suits, and skirts, you can build a work wardrobe from scratch for a wallet-friendly price that you will be sure to love for years to come. There is a variety of sizes available to fit many body types, from petite to tall and plus-size. Also worth mentioning is ASOS' selection of maternity wear, which offers great fitting staples like pants and dresses, but also a number of striking seasonal pieces. 

The brand has a legendary worldwide delivery and returns policy, one of its most popular features.

Your 30s is the perfect time to start upgrading your wardrobe with investment pieces. With their large selection of over 1,200 brands curated by the very best specialists and a reputation that speaks for itself, Net-a-Porter is the place to trust with your long-term purchases — or just to treat yourself with those charming bags delivered to your door.  

In addition to its editing process that gave Net-a-Porter its unquestionable authority in the fashion world, its five-star customer service — always going above and beyond to please its buyers — is the brand's forte and something this fashion giant takes great pride in.

This impressive customer care includes express delivery to more than 170 countries (with same-day delivery to Manhattan, London, China, and Hong Kong SAR, plus next-day delivery to the UK, the U.S., Germany, France, Australia, and Singapore), Net-a-Porter's coveted signature luxurious packaging (pretty boxes with ribbons delivered at your doorstep, and by an elegant gentleman no less), and easy returns. You can also rely on the help of multilingual customer service assistants and personal shoppers, available 24/7, 365 days a year.

A popular Spanish high-street brand known for its sophistication and femininity, Mango offers fashionable but refined pieces at very wallet-friendly prices. Founded in Barcelona in 1984, Mango stays true to its core inspiration of classic and timeless yet on-trend looks that blend clean lines with exquisite details and a Mediterranean flair. If your ideal style is a mix of European heiress, socialite, and businesswoman, Mango is the right store for you.

Their jumpsuits, trench coats, slacks, and party dresses — love this velvet dress with puffed sleeves! — are especially good and last a lifetime. Another plus is that in each collection, there are items often made in luxurious materials such as pure silk, 100% cashmere, and genuine leather. Pro tip: Mango's leather coats and biker jackets are smooth as butter and will last for an eternity. Also worth mentioning are their special editions by stylish celebrities and fashion gurus, with pieces that will easily win iconic status in your wardrobe.

With over 2,000 shops across the globe and worldwide accessible online shopping, Mango offers free shipping with a minimum purchase price and easy returns.

Known to offer a range of brands, from very affordable to sheer luxury and everything in between, Nordstrom is an iconic American department store that has all you need to build a dream wardrobe — including a particularly extraordinary selection of shoes. The store's price match guarantee assures competitive prices on designer items and has earned Nordstrom a reputation as one of the finest places for smart shopping.

Other reasons the store is loved by American fans include free shipping, customer service that bends over backward to accommodate the needs of the client, and an extremely liberal return and refund policy, according to blogger Angela Davis from Frugal Living NW.com. "Because of their generous and amazing return policy, this is the only place to buy shoes," she said. "If they hurt your feet a month after you buy them, return them. If they break a year after you buy them, they'll fix them."

International buyers can benefit from the American retailer's prices and famous sales as well, since Nordstrom ships to 100 countries worldwide.

Delivering to 50+ countries, Vestiaire Collective is the most notorious place to shop for or sell authenticated luxury pieces. If you are on a quest to upgrade your wardrobe without going overboard with your spending, it's worth it to keep an eye on their huge selection of over 10,000 covetable brands. Buying pre-loved items is not only a sustainable option to up your fashion game, but it is also a low-risk way to test whether or not that statement bag you always wanted is as great as it seems or if that new luxury brand that everyone is talking about really works for you, without paying full price. 

Another pro of buying second-hand items, especially when it comes to high-end pieces, is that you can find vintage pieces or obscure products that are no longer available on the regular market. Looking for classic Chanel tweed dad sandals? Watch Vestiaire Collective's listings like a hawk and pray that someone sells a pair in your size. Need to buy three Louis Vuitton's Neverfull bags as Christmas presents, but you maxed out your in-store limit? Purchasing pre-loved items sort out that dilemma for you.

Since Vestiare Collective operates as a community of both professional and individual sellers, they have an interesting return policy in case a purchase doesn't go as planned. For example, if you made a purchase from an individual seller, returns are not allowed, but you can re-list the item for free.

Since its debut in 1909, UK-based Selfridges & Co aimed to change the art of shopping and continues to do so today through art, high fashion, and progressive, inclusive, and sustainable views. With its mix of up-and-coming design sensations and established brands, the store, which is synonymous with the finest London shopping, has kept up with the times and comes across as edgier and trendier than its counterparts, without losing its historic charm.

Aside from a vast offering of every high-end item in the book, from the most exclusive luxury fashion pieces and accessories to top beauty buys, Selfridges is loved for its environment-friendly efforts, regular promotions, and generous shipping policies. Delivering to 130 countries around the world, the notorious retailer offers free standard shipping for UK customers on orders over £150, and for U.S. and Middle East buyers on orders over $300.

Furthermore, the upscale department store now allows you to shop for pre-loved pieces, or to sell your own in exchange for in-store credit through its sustainable fashion project Reselfridges.

Known for their affordable pieces, that are still very well made, Japanese retailer Uniqlo is a great option for basics to build up and supplement a transitional wardrobe. After all, no grown-up wardrobe is complete without an abundance of great essentials.

Featuring comfortable and classic silhouettes suitable for both the office and relaxed, weekend fun, Uniqlo ingeniously also offers custom alterations on some pant and outerwear items to ensure you have the perfect fit. The brand also regularly features special collaborations with up-and-coming and established designers and brands, such as Marni, JW Anderson, and Hana Tajima. 

Uniqlo's newly launched app makes placing orders even easier by offering free in-store pick-up, size and fit tips, styling recommendations, and real-time notifications when your most-loved items are back in stock. Brick-and-mortar stores are available in countries such as China, South Korea, Australia, and the UK, but international shipping on online orders is not available. The brand offers standard return and exchange policies.