Lately I’ve been feeling very back to school. Very new year, new me - though it’s not technically a new year, September is fashion’s January, after all. I’m feeling like trying some new things with my style - feeling like out with the old, in with the fresh (see my Closet Cleanout series for more on that…).
Part of the fresh for me is trying to reincorporate color into my wardrobe. Since moving to LA two years ago, I’ve really shied away from color. It makes me feel too LA, and thus, too detached from what I still feel are my roots (NYC). This is highly specific to me, but that’s what it is. Sometimes I feel corny in color, or too loud. I gravitate towards navy, black, and gray, but I’m challenging myself to weave in some color in a way that still feels me. And traditionally, people lean in to color in spring or summer - ironically, that’s when I find myself leaning most heavily on black or navy. I like the idea of wearing more color into fall and winter because it feels a bit less conventional.
Anyway, here’s how I tried to wrap my head around all of it.
OLD FAMILIAR NAVY
First up, a minty color but styled back to some old familiars to keep me in my comfort zone. Pairing color with neutrals is one way to make it a little easier to swallow.
1. This is a dress I’ve wanted forever. The shiny mint velvet is so beautiful in person, and it has a super sexy low cut back and mega thin straps. However - it is a lot of color! The velvet texture makes it slightly more interesting than a satin slip, and it pairs well with navy. It feels mega summery because of the cut, but with a great pair of boots and a knit, it feels appropriate for fall. Jil Sander dress, $375 (via RealReal); $845 (via Net-a-Porter)
2. Navy and poppy red are my favorite colors, though I think of navy more as a blank canvas than a true color. The hues I like a deep midnight, almost black, but not quite. This men’s sweater vest is the perfect color, and also a great fit on me. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve added it into an otherwise tricky look and it’s solved the problem, I’d have a lot of dollars. I haven’t been able to find the exact one I own for a while, but now it’s listed on Bergdorf Goodman, so have at it, sisters. It’s 100% an MVP for me. Lisa Yang sweater vest, $425
3. Similar idea to the above, but with sleeves if you want to truly chill-proof this concept. G. Label sweater, $595
4. I got this belt ages ago, and while I usually have trouble with metal buckles, this one feels kind of burnished and not too shiny. I actually like the little metallic accent here in the middle of the shiny dress, shiny boots, and shiny gold necklace. it ties everything together nicely without stealing the show. Doen belt, $148
5. THESE BOOTS! I love these because they can totally transform with different styling. They can look very organic and bohemian, but with crisp, minimalist styling, they look crisp and minimal. Similar to the belt, the shiny texture of these carries through the shiny texture of the dress & belt buckle & necklace, helping to pull the whole thing together, despite being an odd mix of colors and materials. Doen boots, $558
6. I can see a sequin skirt working equally as well here, I’d just make sure the knit on top is very oversized so that it doesn’t feel overly sweet or retro. J.Crew skirt, $168
COLOR CLASH!
Wierdly, wearing two kind of clashing, or not traditionally worn together colors (correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe there are “rules” against wearing black/navy, black/brown, and pink/red) makes it easier. I also think the shapes of these pieces help - they’re so boxy and low key - and then a good pair of grounding shoes bring it back to my comfort zone.
1. The picture of this on me is really more the accurate color. It’s a great poppy red - and is neither too oversized nor too fitted, and it’s very soft. The fuzzy texture of it is also a nice counterpoint to the smooth cotton of the dress. It brings a summer dress into fall, an also improves an otherwise extremely simple outfit. Generally, I have a problem with red sweaters where they feel too holiday to me, but the orangey hue of this one does not gave me a Christmas vibe at all. Plus - it has my favorite quality ever, tonal buttons. An all around winner of a cardigan. Doen sweater, $298
2. I bought these loafers two weeks ago-ish, and I can’t take them off. I initially didn’t like the shape of them in photos, but on they just work some inexplicable magic. They’re made of brown eelskin, and I know they’ll wear in beautifully and get better with time. The tomboyish-ness of them also helps me feel more comfortable in a dess - let alone a pink dress! The brown color is mostly sold out, but there are some here, and there are also lots of sizes available in black here. The Row loafers (top right), $1,290 (in brown) ; and black
3. These Emme Parsons embossed croc loafers do a very similar job, but for less than half the price. I love the embossed croc here, and that these also have a bit of shine. Emme Parsons Loafers, $495
4. My never-take-off, most special (besides my wedding ring) jewelry, I love it so much. Sherman Field Chain and Locket
5. Ok, this dress - I bought it at the Turpan store in the Brentwood Country Mart, and I was shocked that I loved a bright pink dress as much as I did when I tried it on. It’s so not me - every time I wear it a handful of people tell me they’re surprised to see me in color, but it’s so easy and so soft - the cotton is an unbelievable quality. I’ll wear it for years, and honestly, I might also buy it in black. Manuelle Guibal dress, €490.00
TEXTURE TOWN
I fucking love this satin camisole - it’s more of a vivid green than it looks here, but the shinyness of it, plus the scalloped edges are so SPECIAL. However, it’s very out of my comfort zone naturally - I have a hard time with these little cropped camisoles, but this felt excellent to me.
1. The camisole! Sexy, slinky, light - I’m going to keep finding other ways to incorporate it into my wardrobe. It’s such a sophisticated color, and has the prettiest details. The green also works for fall, in my opinion, because it’s kind of an off green. A little bit like an ocher? It’s very vivid, but it doesn’t read like SPRING. Doen camisole, $178
2. I’m wearing a men’s Dries blazer here, which is made of a very unstructured cotton. This Sunspel version feels similar. Because the camisole is so slinky, I wanted a sort of slinky, but matte blazer to go with it. The finish is different, but the movement is the same. I felt like with the structured skirt, a structured blazer would feel too tightly wound. This keeps the whole thing feeling loose and easy. Sunspel blazer, $381
3. This is a women’s version, a little more structured, but made of twill. It’s matte, and thick, and has nice puckered pocket details if your personal style is a little more feminine than mine. Dries van Noten blazer, $532
4. I LOVE Dorsey - and this little tennis bracelet feels incredibly special and sparkly, but because it’s made with lab-grown sapphires instead of diamonds, it doesn’t come off as serious as a diamond tennis bracelet. Dorsey bracelet, $270
5. Ok, this might be crazy, but if you REALLY want to do color, I would consider a shiny, structured bright orange/red jacket with this. This also transitions it a little more into fall, and is 100% a look. I love the contrast of this kind of precise, boxy jacket with the softer, swingier, more bohemian skirt. Stand Studio jacket, $248
6. The damn loafers again! I tried to wear a different pair of shoes for the purpose of demonstration, but truth be told, these are going to be my every day everywhere shoes. The Row loafers (top), $1,290 (in brown) ; and black
7. Ditto these! Emme Parsons Loafers, $495
8. And finally, the suede skirt of dreams! It’s thick, heavy, substantial, but also soft. I love the color, I love the stitching, and it feels very, very fall. But because the chestnut color is so neutral it works with any bright colors and also takes them down a notch. This skirt would also be gorgeous with the croc-embossed boots - the shine of the boots (or of the camisole) works beautifully with how matte and suede-y the suede of the skirt is. Doen skirt, $598
And that! Is! That!
Happy fall, happy back to school, happy everything to you.
Your friend,
Laurel
Love the sweater vest! What size are you wearing?
Chef's kiss to everything! But that MG pink dress - YES!!! Gorgeous :)