Investment dressing and the strategy behind it is something that I try and work towards.
Is it an age thing or have I simply wised up?
As a rule I would say that I pay more for each major piece but I buy less.
My strategy is to mix and match the price points of fashion. I invest in the long term, like a blue chip.
Each season, to stay with trends, I will add garments to my wardrobe that are relatively inexpensive knowing that they will probably not see more than a few seasons wear. I won’t invest heavily in these. They will be worn frequenty and worn together with an investment piece. I don’t spend a great deal of time mulling over the decisions; if it looks good and the pricepoint is reasonable then I’m in.
Fashion that is easy come, easy go.
Investment pieces are a different story and with these I do strategise. I take my time and think about the quality, the fit and the timeless factor. An investment piece must be timeless. Timeless, in that they stand the test of time and timeless in that they will wear well and last forever.
The Cropped jacket à la Coco Chanel are one of my key investment pieces.
On a cost per wear basis I must be well into the black. A cropped jacket works for me when a blazer feels too official or too casual. A beautiful cropped jacket, with embellishement, fashioned from tweed or classicly simple, is something I would wear at least once or twice a week. Trends race up and down the catwalks but this style is never out of date. The key is how the jacket is worn.
This season I have been wearing the cropped jacket with a long white grandpa style shirt underneath, or the black turtleneck. Together with the leather pixies, flats or heels it’s an easy look. The cropped jacket also works beautifully with jeans or over feminine dresses as Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld styled for The Little Black Jacket book.
Many of my cropped jackets have been designed by St John. Beautiful pieces that endure and work well in my wardrobe. Distinguishable but not too distictive; well cut and flattering with a slight emphasis on the waist.
Nordstrom have invited me to curate the St John Collection again for this coming season, I couldn’t focus on anything but the cropped jacket.
Investment dressing: Tick.
Wise strategy: Tick.
xv
Button Up
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milano knit // bead embellished milano // diagonal chevron // salt and pepper tweed knit
novelty eyelash shantung silk // twilled knit with georgette trim // inlay knit with fringe trim // punto riso knit
investment dressing, the strategy #1
images from the little black jacket book by karl lagerfeld and carine roitfeld
