A monochrome OOTD
We all find our influences from different places. Mine are plucked from the fashion world by and large. But although I find my inspiration from fashion, it doesn’t always come from the most obvious places. I am a high-end fashion lover -always looking to elevate and luxuriate even the simplest of outfits. So you’d assume my inspiration comes from the runway, but years ago I fell in love with Jenna Lyons and daring approach to styling transformed the way I dress.
Creative director and president of J.Crew (or shall I say former CD and pres, she recently left), Jenna Lyons is the brilliant visionary responsible for turning an otherwise preppy all-American J.Crew catalogue into signature essentials with a distinct and editorial look for 27 years. She now has a show on Crave called Stylish, along with former JCrew colleagues Sarah Clary (stylist) and Kyle DeFord (chief of staff @loveseen, Lyons’ fake lash company) and I kid you not, after shooting my OOTD, I started to remember just how much of an influence she has had on my sense of fashion.
Mixing prints and patterns is a thing many try to do but few execute with flare. I’ve played around with daring patterns and bold prints for years and it’s become somewhat of a signature style for me. I throw in subtle accents and accessories when I go monochrome and I cinch and texturize when I go tonal – there is always a little Lyon expressing herself through my closet choices.
Here’s the thing: mixing and matching isn’t simply about throwing a floral blouse atop a striped sweater. That is too obvious and not what the expression is all about. There is an art and aesthetic that needs to be upheld: play with proportions, mix in accessories, and while combining prints and patterns also think about texture or else it all falls flat.
When I put together my Praise sweats with Gucci socks and shoes, I was thinking about elevating a functional execution with a little glitz and sparkle. Making a statement while staying polished, is woven through on top as well with a textured sequin cardigan with an oversized jacket (both from Zara). Underneath you see a Cos turtleneck that adds a layer of monochromatic off-white, and draped across is that gold-sparkly Chloe bag for accent. The mix of textures, proportions, glam and basic all tell the story of me.
I’ve soaked up so many style lessons at fashion weeks over the years and through my research of designers and all that jazz, but something about Lyon just speaks to my heart. Here are 5 tips that have become intrinsic to my styling. They are simple, easy to execute and make so much sense:
balance with basics to achieve maximum polish & minimum effort
give yourself permission to wear special things any day of the week
try layering with different textures like silk, tweed, sparkle & denim, and add a hint of sparkle for glam
use the whole palette, but a little goes a long way, so don’t overwhelm
elevate affordable pieces and mix in designer that tell the same colour story
Don’t let your clothes die in your closet – look through what you have and see how you can revive and revitalize some of the items you have in there to create looks that combine high and low alongside that elevated essentials that Lyon made so iconic. Play it up and remember to have fun!
Photography by Patricia Brochu