THOUGHTS ON BUILDING A WARDROBE
If you are going to set up your wardrobe as a collection, start with bold, statement pieces. Statement pieces have longevity. A statement piece that excites you will make you want to dress around it. It adds your personality into the mix. Although I adore the feel of a very lux cashmere sweater, I’d rather purchase a fabulous coat, bag or boot that might be a little off-the-wall but unique. Your splurge and luxury items should reflect who you are out in the world. A simple cashmere sweater will rarely do that. It’s the vintage Lanvin pendant you wear on top of the sweater that will elevate your style.
The most essential items a woman can have in her wardrobe are the ones that speak to her for decades. For me it’s platform boots, a pair of Army green paper bag waist-cropped pants, a simple tee shirt, and an oversized floral opera coat in a sensational pattern or color. I’m wearing those pieces together. I have been purchasing different iterations of that same look for 30 years. That is my personal style, therefore it’s essential to me. If you don’t listen to your inner voice and constantly chase trends, you’ll end up looking like an advertisement for somebody else’s ideas.
Look at the piece and think about how to wear it in a less obvious way. If it’s a form-fitted black cocktail dress that you have been wearing forever to cocktail parties, buy a fabulous trendy neon blouse to wear underneath it, add black opaque tights and a construction boot for day. If it’s last year’s slip dress that you always wear with sexy, strappy heels, pair it with flat Roman sandals and a big vintage hip belt. You need to do a little work to style your pieces so that you see them differently. Accessory hacks are the easiest way to do that.
HANGER APPEAL
TIP OF THE MONTH…FINDING YOUR HERO PIECE
I love shopping. In fact, if shopping was an Olympic sport, I would definitely win gold. Before the “scroll” there was the “stroll”, whether vintage shops, malls, boutiques, flea markets. I love to see colors, touch fabrics, and try on items. Now so much is online but that’s also fun. My recommendation, follow the rabbit down the hole. If a beautiful, eccentric cocktail ring catches your eye, follow that trail to the complementary bracelet to finish off your accessory vignette. Then it’s time to build the look!
DEAR CARLA
From fashion SOS moments to everyday dilemmas, ask me anything right here.
XO
CARLA