A Fashion Editor Shares Her Style Rules
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My personal style is best described as ‘power dressing’. In my early 20s I was a lot more experimental, and it took me a while to understand what really worked for me. I used to work in the corporate world, in a male dominated environment with a formal dress-code. Being too feminine made me feel unheard, so I did away with florals and colour, and focused on cleaner lines, blazers with shoulder pads, and dark colours. I even got rid of fragrances that were too sweet and only wore unisex scents. It might not sound like a positive thing, but I think it actually helped me develop my style and the look I have now.
Stick to a style formula. Mine usually consists of a baggy or a wide-leg pair of jeans, a t-shirt and an oversized blazer. It’s a look I can dress up or down simply by switching out the shoes or changing my bag and adding jewellery. The structure of an outfit is what makes it more interesting – is there an exaggerated shoulder, perhaps a deep neckline, or slouchy tailoring? It’s those shapes and volume that really add interest. If the occasion calls for something dressier, I’ll wear some tailored trousers and a blouse. If I’m working from home, I’m in sweats.
Find the brands that work for you. Popular labels I always look to include COS, Massimo Dutti, Tibi, and Raey. They all do great oversized tailoring, as well as denim and the basics. A local label I love is Bouguessa – the aesthetic is right up my alley. The last thing I bought there were these faux leather chocolate brown pinstripe trousers. Second Summer is another one – there’s a really lovely tailored wool jumpsuit I’ve got my eye on, and the linen pieces are really easy to dress up or down. I also enjoy St. Agni for the 90s minimalism, and South Asian labels Dhruv Kapoor and Reik Studio do cool wearable pieces.
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Work on creating visual balance. This is my best piece of style advice. I always say, dressing is an illusion because our bodies are not a one-size-fits-all, so it’s important to play around with what you have and create your own styling hacks. Don’t be afraid to try things you wouldn’t normally go for. As someone who is 5’1”, I was always told to shop from petite ranges, but I didn’t like the way the clothes fitted – they were always too unflattering – so I started to ignore the sizing. Sometimes I buy a shirt in a large if I like the fit, or jeans that might be too long – then I just have them altered to fit the way I like.
Invest in your outerwear. My favourite piece this season is from COS. Lu Hough totally influenced me to buy it – a double-breasted winter coat which is ankle length on me and has an exaggerated shoulder without looking too sloppy. It’s one of my favourite purchases of the last year.
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Don’t get too caught up in trends. I try to only purchase pieces that complement my signature look. However, I’m a sucker for a good shoe and did buy the Alaïa mesh flats last year – just before the trend took off. It takes me a really long time to warm up to trends in general, especially as I have to be able to justify the cost per wear. Currently, I’m loving suede bags. I haven’t bought one yet – but it’s high on my wish list. I’ve seen some nice slouchy ones on the high street like this Zara one, and this black belted one from Toteme – and, of course, there’s The Row’s Margaux 15 in black suede, but it’s always sold out.
Rely on hero pieces. I think the three pieces everyone should have in their wardrobe are a good white t-shirt, a strong pair of jeans and an oversized blazer. The best white t-shirts I own come from COS and Loulou Studio, and I always have them dry cleaned – especially if they’re a really good fit. For jeans, I tend to rely on Raey’s really exaggerated styles. Some of the best oversized blazers I’ve found come from H&M – otherwise it’s worth checking out vintage stores. I did find an incredible Daniel Lee for Bottega Veneta black menswear blazer in a vintage store in Milan – it was brand new and now I share it with my husband.
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Pay attention to the smaller details. For example, silver jewellery is having a moment, and these are the pieces I reach for when I’m trying to elevate any look. For my birthday this year, I got the Elsa Peretti Tiffany & Co. Bone Cuff, Hardwear Link Earrings and matching Graduate Necklace. They’re a great investment.
Find inspiration in your own closet. It’s a healthier way to shop after all. That said, I also really enjoy following street-style photographers like @TheSartorialist and @NoorUnisa as they showcase a variety of aesthetics. Another person whose page I love is Tibi founder @AmySmilovic. I like the way she styles her outfits. It’s minimal but interesting, and always looks so effortless.
Never stop experimenting. Try things you wouldn’t usually and don’t listen to how others want you to dress. I’m petite but I love an oversized fit. Stay curious – try on pieces you like the look of – as the worst that could happen is that you don’t like it.
Finally, know your colours. Black is my favourite, but I like neutrals in general. I’ve enjoyed the ‘pop of red’ trend, so if I were to introduce colour into my wardrobe, this would be the way I would do it – perhaps with a bag or a pair of shoes.
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