Classic pieces are a bit of a catch 22. Worn alone and not personalized, like they are in this shoot from Vogue‘s September issue (shot by Zoe Ghertner and styled by Camilla Nickerson), they are a bit boring. But herein lies their genius, because timeless pieces are like a blank canvas that highlights the wearer and can be manipulated in multiple ways.
Case in point: I have a pinstripe Nili Lotan suit I bought last year, which I either wear with a vintage band tee replete with safety pins and sneakers, or with flat combat boots (The Row ones so….) and a clean black turtleneck. Plus I wear the blazer and pants separately, with jeans, chunky sweaters etc.
Vogue‘s September issue is dedicated to “Wear Do We Go From Here” and discusses (though not at the profound level it should) fashion, it’s role in waste, the environment, etc. Well-made clothes that have long shelve lives are one solution to this growing problem and the premise of this shoot. Buy less, buy better is also an ethos The Flair Index puts front and center, and I plan to hammer it home repeatedly. Perhaps you already have several similar pieces in your closet now. And you should feel comfortable with wearing a five-year old Maxmara camelhair coat day in and day out (it can’t look any different than the new ones, in fact a 30 year old version is almost identical). I bet if you visualize your favorite style icon and their clothes, you’ll find it is something repetitive and simple, not some outlandish costume. And, if you’re looking for something new, I suggest you go classic. You can’t go wrong.
I’ve wanted that Max Mara camel hair coat at least my entire adult life…
Love the post and that coat and tux especially. I 100% support buy less buy better, but the pieces pictures are out of my price range. Do you have any favorite bridge lines?
Hi Christine—This sounds like a post I need to do. Thanks for the thoughtful comment and stay tuned!
Thought the same thing as Christine when I read this post. Of course the Celine blazer is gorgeous, but if you were to spend $3400, is it truly distinguishable from a blazer that is $1000 less or even $2000 less? Is it because Hedi Slimane knows women will pay that? The Max Mara full length coat is less. I honestly think us blinding ourselves to a designer’s label should be considered in this topic.
I agree 100% Kim. Spending $3400 on a blazer is not something I am sure I would do if I could.