7 Brands Who Have Mastered Edgy Style (and What I'd Buy From Each)

If you read Who What Wear on the reg, you know just how much we love timeless and classic style over here. But as much as we go on and on about putting together the perfect polished ensemble, there’s also something to be said for adding a bit of an edge to your wardrobe. It can be as simple as a pair of leather trousers or as daring as a cutout dress—the amount of edge is totally up to you.

To help you bring a little toughness to your look and serve as a shopping guide if your style skews edgy, we've put together a list of the seven best edgy clothing brands right now that strike the perfect balance between subversive and stylish. The labels below bring a lot of look, if you know what I mean, so I took the liberty of curating a mini shopping list of what I'd personally buy from each of them. A few of these items are even residing in my shopping cart as we speak. Scroll down to see and shop them all.

1. Dion Lee

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(Image credit: @oumaymaboumeshouli)

Dion Lee is the Australian label has the entire fashion world hooked (myself included). Each season, it offers a distinct fusion of tougher elements like sharp tailoring and leather alongside softer details like lace and lingerie-inspired boning. Signature pieces like corsets and blazers are not to be missed.

What I'd buy: Corset tops, creative knits, and cutout pieces

2. Christopher Esber

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(Image credit: @lifeofboheme)

If there's one brand that's singlehandedly responsible for igniting the lace-up trend, it's Christopher Esber. There's something utterly and effortlessly cool about the way these dresses, tops, and skirts expose a bit of midriff. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a fan of the suiting, while Emily Ratajkowski and Zendaya have been spotted wearing its dresses.

What I'd buy: Cutout and lace-up pieces and summery dresses

3. Peter Do

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(Image credit: @the.peterdo)

An alum of Céline during the Phoebe Philo era, Peter Do launched his eponymous label in 2018 and earned the attention of retailers like Net-a-Porter and MyTheresa shortly thereafter. The collections include menswear-inspired silhouettes and innovative cuts that feel futuristic and forward-looking.

What I'd buy: Leather pieces and statement accessories

4. Anine Bing

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(Image credit: @aninebing)

Fact: Anine Bing knows good basics. The L.A.-based designer is the stockist of classic blazers, cool trousers, and graphic tees for a certain crowd of in-the-know women who prioritize the brand's quality staples. Bing is also a big fan of leather separates and a muted neutral palette that place her line towards the edgy end of the spectrum.

What I'd buy: Reinvented basics, graphic tees and sweatshirts

 5. Acne Studios

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(Image credit: @meganadelaide)

With its signature moto jackets and brilliant balance between feminine and masculine, the Stockholm-based label is an obvious choice for this list. Unlike the all-black ensembles that might come to mind when you think of edgy style though, Acne Studios is a master at creating unisex-friendly color palettes that somehow still read as tough.

What I'd buy: Leather jackets, layering tops, and colorful pieces

6. Marine Serre

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(Image credit: @badgalrara_)

What I'd buy: Second-skin tops, utility-inspired separates

If you follow a certain set of influential people in the fashion world, you've definitely seen versions of Marine Serre's stretchy tops with their smattering of crescent moons printed all over. Aside from these second-skin tops (which are definitely on my wishlist), look to the brand for utility-inspired staples and other basics emblazoned with their signature logo.

7. The Range

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(Image credit: @catchmeeksifyoucan)

When we talk about special basics, The Range is one of the first that comes to mind. Easy, versatile, and cool, their collection includes the kind of seasonless, day-to-night pieces that capture New York’s cool vibe.

What I'd buy: Special basics

Up next, peruse these 30 spring finds only a true Nordstrom stalker would know about (hint: it's me). 

Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.