I recently returned from a trip to Europe, and I cannot help but drool over all those well-heeled women abroad: the je ne sais quoi of ladies in the Marais, the vintage-clad club kids on Brick Lane, and the edgy Dover St. Market dwellers all upped the style ante. And perhaps I am a bit wide-eyed, but I think the gals in Paris and London have got the fashion thing down. But what is it that makes their shoes so shiny, their outfits so effortless, and how can I be so chic?! The most important style note I picked up from abroad is the need for classic, timeless investment pieces: Women always seemed to dawn one high-quality item—be it incredible black pumps, a designer handbag, or the perfect white oxford shirt—that made the rest of their outfit shine a bit brighter. Now, I am also cleaning out my closet at the moment, and am astonished by the amount of trendy, cheap garb I’ve picked up over the years—so appealing at the time given the price and timeliness—but that I no longer wear, or ever wish to see again. (Did I actually weeear that leopard print muscle-tee? Eww, embarrassing.) So, I’m putting two and two together, and re-thinking how I shop and how I spend my money. Hey, not a bad idea given these times and my minimal closet space! The result? I am prohibited from impulse buying. Instead of that $15 shirt here and this $30 sweater there, I’ll hold back and, ideally, buy something that I won’t look at in shame in a few years. I know it’s nothing new, quality over quantity, but my recent trip served as a well-to-do reminder! Furthermore, taking notes from the babes on Brick Lane who mixed wacky 80s fashion with classic pieces, I’ll head to the thrift store if I’m craving a closet addition for more funky and eco-friendly fashion at that. So, here I am, giving it a try. I tried to keep my outfit simple—khaki trousers, a simple blouse, and a black cardigan—to let my shoes do the talking. Wish me luck!
steven alan for uniqlo blouse, marc by marc sweater, h&m trousers, anhropologie shoes.
