Fresh ideas to revive your fall uniforms
Creativity is always the answer to boredom
I noticed myself feeling a little bored recently, with regards to my outfits. (Given my 365 no buy challenge this was to be expected). After what has felt like an endless summer here in LA, i’m ready to mix things up. Sometimes you just need to think outside the box and put your thinking hat on. I carved out some time to play in my wardrobe and peruse some new possibilities using my existing items to shake things up a little. Thanks to my 365 no buy, I get so excited by the challenge of making my existing pieces feel fresh, and new again. Here’s what I came up with:
Belt your blazer
One of the quickest ways to mix things up is to play with your existing silhouettes. It’s no secret I love the proportions of an oversized blazer, and one of my favorite ways to make this piece feel new again (or fresh) especially as the weather cools, is to add a belt around the waist to cinch the blazer. Experiment with different thicknesses and different patterns/textures when it comes to the belt you choose. Above i’m wearing a long navy summer dress and I love how the cinched blazer almost acts like a tier over the dress. It creates a sort of ruffle, without adding too much volume. This is also works well with a coat.
Use a brooch as a focal point
I found the gold brooch in a thrift store when I was at University (many, many moons ago), and after digging it out of storage on my recent trip to England, I decided to bring it back with me. I'm still pondering on adding this Agmes silver brooch to my collection at the end of my no buy, but this was a fun way to think about how I could experiment with what I do have. Against a black cotton shirt it really pops and draws the eye in, for that reason I just kept all my other jewelry super minimal, and just wore my Mejuri small bold hoops. Given that one of my go to fall uniforms consists of jeans, shirt and blazer, this is a nice way to add little something to mix things up but still feel like me.
Mix a formal piece with something more casual
I love both of these pieces (the jeans and jacket) as separates, and for whatever reason had never thought to put them together, but I love the contrast. The casualness of the denim against a more sculptural jacket that generally reads more formal. The black suede pump is a nice nod to the piping on the jacket. It feels like it shouldn’t work, but it does. I’ve done this before with men’s satin lapel dinner jackets, but this feels even more interesting because the jacket reminds me of a 1950’s Dior silhouette at the waist.
Go lighter
We have a tendency to move towards a darker, moodier color palette in fall yet there’s something so elegant about cream, off white, light grey and shades of butter, especially when they’re paired together. I also like the fluidity of these trousers, they offer a nice contrast against the rigidity of the denim jacket on top. Paired with a chunky gold earring this feels like an incredibly chic outfit I could see myself wearing for meetings or a dinner with friends.
Wear your underwear on top
I wasn’t sure if this would work (or feel like me), but I have to say once I added the oversized blazer I was into it. I could imagine wearing this for cocktails or as a date night ensemble. For this look I used my Quince silk slip dress as the base and then added an old negligee that ends at the top of my thighs to add some texture and pattern. When worn with the blazer I like that the negligee creates the impression of a lace cummerbund. I also low key love it with these 90’s vintage Prada mules that my mum gave me, they’re kind of ugly good.
The key is to try things on and get creative. This is when I find getting dressed the most fun, when I challenge myself to try new things, using what I already have. I hope this was helpful, and i’d love to hear what you’ve been trying out recently.
Thanks so much for reading and all your continued support!
Harry x
*Some links contain affiliates*
Love these ideas, Harriet.💕 Belting oversized blazers is a great way to emphasize the waist, and I’m all over brooches, which can be found easily in thrift shops. The lingerie look is not really my style, but I can’t deny how fab your last outfit is!