I’ll reach for the same core pieces in my wardrobe to start an outfit without a thought as to how it will look when finished. Jeans or an all black base comes to mind first, then I’ll spontaneously layer the rest. That’s where personality and mood of the day come in. That always varies and is why I like to have a lot of options – specifically in the shoe, bag and accessories department. All three are my favorite categories to shop and play with. I think many of us get dressed in a similar fashion with the comfortable, tried and true as our first thought. Adding special pieces to that base give daily dressing a bit of flair.
sweater, jeans, black jeans, loafers, studded flats, bag, fur scarf, necklace
Image: Bally; jeans, black pants, knit top, bag, boot, belt, studded flat, grommet Mary Jane, silver necklace
Add an element of punk. Treading lightly will provide major impact without looking trend driven. Bally’s studded Mary Jane flat is a great example. Wear them with any all black outfit and you add a punctuation mark to the look. Ditto for styling them with jeans, black and white, prints, neutrals, etc. I’d keep the rest of the outfit clean and understated with perhaps a belt as the only other hardware visible.
Gold (top to bottom): pendant, bracelet, wide cuff, cuff, enamel fish. Silver (top to bottom): cuff, cuff, necklace, cuff, necklace
Add bold jewelry – gold, silver, vintage, costume…whatever strikes your personality. A black knit serves as the perfect canvas to highlight a single statement pendant or oversized cuff. Scavenge consignment stores or flea markets (especially when traveling) for unique one-of-a-kind finds, or make an investment in a solid purchase such as an Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff (here resale) or Jennifer Alfano’s Circle Diamond Pendant.
scarves from top left: black satin, fur scarf, burgundy silk, embroidered, cashmere knit, sweater, pants
Scarves are underrated. I mentioned in this post how I’d like to start wearing the old Hermes scarves I’ve collected over the years. Solid, textural finds, like Toteme’s embroidered scarves (they tie so well), cashmere knit triangles, and this beautiful shearling accent (it’s not spring yet!). This is good too.
Embrace the Year of the Snake…lightly. A printed ballerina, belt or small bag is where I’ll focus. Years ago, I had a snake printed flat and wore them as a neutral year round. They surprisingly accented and disappeared at the same time which describes pretty much the goal. A whisper, not a scream.
ankle boot, loafer, bag and here, v-neck sweater, jeans
Beige suede is the new white…in shoes, that is. White shoes and bags have been a stylish way to elevate a look for several seasons but beige suede has taken over as the chic option. The perfect shade is less important than how to wear it, which is with everything. Beige is especially good used as a stark contrast rather than worn with a head-to-toe neutral palette (always in style, but not the point here). Think all black with a beige suede shoe as a starting point to visualize the impact.
Moving forward into spring, I’ll work this same concept of adding daily flair to another favorite base layer of all white or my standard uniform of jeans and a white shirt.
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