Time to get dressed
The clothes I'm excited to wear this Fall
I am a bargain hunter (it’s kind of my whole brand, if you didn’t know). But I am not averse to investing in pricier items, so long as I know I can use them for years to come. That might mean buying a beautiful couch that is both stylish and timeless; or it could mean purchasing a face serum that has made an actual difference in my skin.
When it comes to my closet, my investment pieces are those I know I can get a lot of mileage from. And the key to mileage is material. Denim, leather, silk, suede… these are the fabrics that will last, and still look good four years from now. And the bonus of buying well-made classics is that they serve as the perfect backdrop for the fun stuff — the thrifted blazers, the vintage statement necklaces, the flea market scarf draped artfully around your neck.
Buying high-quality basics also ensures you have a go-to wardrobe — one you can play with and change up, but one that makes getting ready each day that much easier.
With that in mind, I wanted to round up all the investment pieces I am most drawn to at the moment. All of the below are pieces that, IMO, are both trendy and timeless (and I have a feeling you’ll be seeing these trends trickle down to some of the fast-fashion retailers soon enough; might as well get ahead of the trend while you can).
In the interest of keeping things budget-friendly, I included a couple of options for each trend: a luxe version, and a more affordable option.
Let’s get dressed, shall we?
Oversized Denim Button-Downs
Prada’s oversized denim shirt is a truly perfect iteration of this trend (so much so that it’s sold out everywhere). It is, of course, very pricey, though lots of other high-end brands have created their version. The Row’s is a classic, as-is Versace’s. But nobody does oversized denim like The Gap. (In other words: you’ve got options.) You can also pretty easily turn to the thrift store for this trend. My most-worn shirt is an oversized denim number by mall brand Karen Kane. It literally looks exactly like The Row’s version. Keep in mind that when styling anything oversized, try and keep the rest of the item fitted/small (so, an oversized button down over shorts and a tucked-in shirt, or a miniskirt and tank combo).
Monster Loafers
The Prada Monolith combat loafer burst on to the scene a couple of years ago, and it’s still relevant (and still hanging out in my online shopping cart; just need a particularly stressful day to push me over the edge at this point). Lately, many other brands are copying the monster loafer, including Gucci and Marni. There are far more affordable takes on the trend, like these from Lisa Vickey or the classics by Dr. Martin. And you really need these socks to make it a that girl kinda moment.
Grown-Up Sweats
During a recent jaunt to Portland, ME, I splashed out on some very luxe sweatpants by the designer Lauren Manoogian (found at the stellar women’s boutique JUDITH). While pricey, I have already worn them five times in the past two weeks — and it’s not even cool out yet. When buying investment sweatpants, I recommend keeping an eye out for cut. Mine are short enough that I can wear them with slip-on clogs, or I could do a combat boot or even heels. Similarly, these Nili Lotans could be styled in a number of ways. So could these under-$100 sweatpants. The construction ensures they can easily transition from couch to cocktails.
Simple Jewelry (That You Can Layer)
Over the past two years, I’ve fallen in love with the idea of wear-it-every-day jewelry. I have three pieces I wear nearly every single day (“V” earrings and a necklace from my grandmother, and a chain necklace from my Tom) and sometimes I’ll even layer my classics with trendier items. I have never really been a fine jewelry person and there are so many great faux options on the market. This faux diamond tennis bracelet is one of my favorites (and coincidentally, looks so good worn with oversized denim). I also love this version, which has both faux diamonds and a chain, so it goes with literally any aesthetic, from twee to punk.
I’ll have what she’s having:
Recommended reading/listening:
As the crypto market crashes, all the rare luxury watches the crypto bros bought are now flooding the market. (This is why you work with an adviser, both before you invest in crypto and before you decide to buy a Rolex Daytona. Turns out, neither is worth as much these days as they may have been a year ago.)
ABC News’/Hulu’s The Murders Before the Marathons looks into a 2011 triple homicide — and how preventing it could have prevented the Boston Marathon bombings. This was a great, very informative watch.
A look inside the $15,000-per-night new Aman location, in New York.
I love Nate and Jeremiah’s Fifth Avenue home. It still has echoes of the 50 shades of beige/Athena Calderone look that just about every interior influencer is going for these days, but it’s got really fun doses of pattern and more bold, dark hues, as well.
And I'll leave you with this….