New year, new outfits (same clothes)
7 days, 7 outfits and 7 takeaways to make your existing wardrobe work harder for you.
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After living out of a suitcase for the best part of a month over Christmas, it’s felt so good to be reunited with my wardrobe, and to spend January thinking about how I can make new outfits shopping my wardrobe.
I’ve said this many times, but this is the best bit about my no buy challenge: the ability to approach my closet like blank canvas full of possibilities and finding new ways to wear the hell out of my clothes. It’s my favorite way to play, and today, I need to play. January has been a heavy month, and I need lightness. I need frivolity. (I’m working on a piece about frivolity and fashion which i’m hoping to share soon.)
My aim is to approach this exercise as intuitively as possible over a 7 day period. I want the pieces I pick out and what I put together to have less to do with practicality and more to do with what i’m drawn to. What speaks to me is what’s important. I’m not necessarily trying to make uniforms but that could end up being a result, as it often is when I just let myself play in my wardrobe.
What is intuitive dressing?
I describe it similarly to anything intuitive, it’s not based in right or wrong but comes from leaning in towards how you feel, and what speaks to you. If everyone dressed like this (outside of situations that require a specific uniform etc) I imagine we’d all feel get a lot more enjoyment out of our wardrobes.
7 Days, 7 Outfits. Here’s what I came up with…
Sunday: A trip to the farmers market
While most people in LA opt for leisure wear, or jeans, tee and converse/some kind of loafer and socks situ this time of year, I wanted to wear a boot. I went for this old pair of Mango boots in a chestnut hue that I found myself building an outfit around. I wanted something that signaled to my brain LA winter even though the sun was shining. I found comfort wearing my mum’s knitted tee she made me back in the summer. Wearing it reminds me of her warmth and that gave me a lot of comfort after saying goodbye at the airport for the umpteenth time. No matter how much LA feels like home, I still hate saying goodbye to family. It is always incredibly bittersweet. I paired these items with a linen blend drawstring trouser, my trusty Lie Studio Julie earrings and a chocolate brown woven leather bag. I felt good, I felt a sense of being in my own little cocoon as I started to feel more at home. LA certainly seems to be getting dressier at the moment, at least on the east side.
Takeaway/Tip 1: Changing even just the shoe on a go to outfit makes your brain feel like you’ve made something new (which you have by all accounts) but in a way that still leans into a look you know you feel great in.
Monday: Errands and working at a coffee shop
I spent a fair amount of time thinking about what I haven’t worn for a while. I felt drawn to my belts today, in particular brown or some shade of brown. I went for this old Mango suede belt (one I bought as a great dupe to a Toteme one I saw a while back.) I paired it with two basics, my Aritzia effortless pants and a white vest/tank top. Then I felt called to a minimal earring, with just one gold bracelet. I finished with the same woven leather bag as yesterday, and a thrifted men’s blazer in a lighter tone. For shoes I knew i’d be walking so I went for my comfy Toteme gladiator sandals which added the perfect finishing touch; a little shine thanks to the glossy printed leather. Between arriving at this final ensemble, I tried on various belts, and different iterations of this outfit. I tried a cardigan, more jewelry, each time asking myself how does this feel?
Takeaway/Tip 2: Intuitive dressing is incredibly cathartic, but it’s hard to do in a rush. I think the key is prioritizing some extra time the same way you would say meditation or walking the dog. Getting dressed is one of my favorite parts of my day. A chance to see myself, to be honest with myself and listen to what my creativity wants to try. Also don’t underestimate the joy of building an entire outfit around an accessory, normally I ice the cake after i’ve made it, but it’s fun to mix things up and let the accessories guide your decision making.
Tuesday - Breakfast out and working from home
I woke up and wanted comfort. I wanted to feel like I was being enveloped in a big hug. Call me crazy but I’ve never not thought of leggings as eternally chic (maybe this is a post too lol). No not Lulu Lemon I’ve just come out of yoga…(although that works too) but as part of an intentional put together outfit. I love the look of a black boot with a legging, offering one continuous column of black. I felt called to play with some antique jewels and a simple beaded necklace I made with my nieces. The boots and leggings are giving a Peter Pan vibe that i’m really into. I also love the way this sweater moves. More like a dress.
Takeaway/Tip 3: Try experimenting with leggings as an intentional part of your outfit, and don’t underestimate what sentimental pieces can do for your mood.
Wednesday: Doctors appointment then working from home
The leggings were out again today, based on the comfort factor of yesterday’s outfit, I wanted to see if I could make the look a little more polished, but without overthinking it. The blazer added the polish while the bigger bag made it feel more casual, balancing out the look. I’m always impressed by the fact a jacket alone can be the focal point of a look, especially when it’s breaking up a monochromatic look or continuous column of color. This felt a lot like something I used to wear working as a makeup artist as it was always comfortable to travel in, and easy to bend down in (I was forever putting makeup on people’s legs, in addition to their faces). When I travel long haul flights I sometimes opt for a breathable legging instead of sweat pant, as it’s a look that pairs well with a huge tote bag and an oversized mens shirt.
Takeaway/Tip 4: Use a jacket or a piece of outerwear as your focal point. Experiment with a base outfit that is all one color, or has a monochromatic feel so the outerwear breaks it up.
Thursday: Working from home & working in a coffee shop
I’ve come to realize it’s imperative for my mental health to walk outside at least once a day, and during my workday my brain benefits from being around other people (even if they are strangers). For the past few months i’ve been switching up part of my WFH day to work in a coffee shop, as the buzz of other people makes me a feel a little less lonely. I often do my best work in a coffee shop surrounded by the hum of other people going about their daily life. Today I wanted to lean into the idea of a relaxed take on corporate dressing, like how would I make those pieces feel like me, and the answer was simply using micro tweaks. (I made a reel about this here). Swapping what arguably would be a pump or some kind of heel in a corporate setting for a gladiator sandal was the finishing touch the outfit needed to help relax it. To give it a more undone, playful feel.
Takeaway/Tip 5 : A fold here, a tuck there, a roll of a sleeve can add so much character to an everyday outfit. Even switching up how many buttons you do up on a shirt can make a huge difference to the overall feel and stylistic outcome.
Friday - Meeting a friend her birthday lunch
I never find I need an excuse to dress up, but if i’m celebrating a friend…well that calls for Kelly AND cocktails! I’ve loved wearing this sleeveless blazer Dave bought me for xmas, it has been such an easy piece to style. I felt like an absolute boss in this outfit! I want to use other words to describe how I felt but that feels oddly accurate. I also love that the trouser is slouchy and the blazer adds an oversized element making the whole outfit read a little loose. I think there’s still this misconception that you can only wear one oversized element in an outfit and that it has to be balanced by something tighter or smaller to work, but I wholeheartedly disagree. I really loved this look, what I call relaxed tailoring.
Takeaway/Tip 6: Try pairing oversized pieces with other oversized or loose fitting elements.
Saturday: Out and about & going to the Movies
Saturday we went to see Sing Sing (a beautiful film, highly recommend). It’s not often that I get to break out the real wool sweaters in LA. My heavy weighty knits tend to see more wear on trips to New York or London. But on this day the weather was cold enough for this sweater (truly a heavy knit) to have it’s moment to shine. I went for a looser fit linen blend pant to keep everything more relaxed. I knew we’d be walking around a lot (and the movie theatres always blast the AC) so I opted for a comfy pair of leather boots and my Loewe puzzle bag as it’s such a great crossbody. I’ve never understood why some people consider navy and black so controversial together, I personally enjoy the pairing. I often think of navy as a neutral and while this sweater is a very dark navy, I love the look with a black trouser. It’s funny to see I went a whole week without wearing jeans, which tbh is’t unusual for me.
Takeaway/Tip 7: Try mixing colors you’ve been told shouldn’t go together, break the rules! What do you have in your wardrobe that you've always thought couldn’t go together that has the potential to create a magical combination you’ve never thought of? And remember, creating a new outfit doesn’t have to be ground breaking. A little tweak, a quick substitution or addition can help you create so many outfits using what you already have.
Thanks for reading
Harry x
ICYMI
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Harriet, you have some amazing pieces. May I ask how many items are actually in your closet? Incl. bags, shoes and belts. I wonder if there is a threshold every one of us. A number of items that are necessary to feel inspired and be able to unfold creatively. Best from Copenhagen where I'm trying to shop my own closet more and more. :)
Can I ask what size you wear in the Toteme gladiators?
Thanks a million- love your content