My 6 Best-Ever Fashion Buys
There has been much written about timeless style: about the investment pieces that last the distance, and the great basics that every wardrobe needs. We all know that white shirts and black pants and blazers are classics. But what makes a person truly stylish is what they add to this combo. Do the pants fit well? Is the blazer in a great fabric and cut? Is their haircut good, their skin gleaming? Have they teamed their clothes with a cool shoe? A belt? (Add to that, of course, do they have anything remotely interesting to say?) To be frank, some people just naturally do all this better than others. They understand proportion and know what silhouette best suits their body shape.
Then there are the people who can look good in anything. I’m quite sure that me in a white shirt and jeans isn’t reminiscent of, say, Christy Turlington in the same outfit. I would have to add something extra for people to look at – a nice bracelet, a perfect pedicure or a cool sandal. But neither is it necessary to be a supermodel. I had dinner recently with a woman who arrived at the restaurant wearing black pants and a white shirt, with one fine gold chain necklace and three simple gold rings and I couldn’t take my eyes off her all night. It was the cut of her trousers, the way she rolled up her sleeves, her fab short curly hair. She just had style; it was inherent. Plus, she was interesting, which sealed the deal.
However, recognising that some fashion items have innate style or timeless appeal does make looking your best a whole lot easier.
According to experts, we should be aiming to wear a piece of clothing, or an accessory, at least 30 times, rather than jumping on the wear-it-once fast-fashion train. It was an interesting challenge to apply to myself, so I combed through my wardrobe to see which key pieces have stood the test of time and why.
Dark blue jeans
Jeans don’t need to be expensive – they just need to fit beautifully. A flattering, comfortable pair of jeans can be worn hundreds of times, often getting better as they get older and more faded. They are still my go-to most days; they feel a bit youthful and a bit cool, and I intend to keep wearing them as I get a bit older and a bit more faded.
A soft, dark brown man’s cashmere sweater with a V neck that I bought in a Marni outlet store about 15 years ago
I prefer men’s sweaters as the cut tends to be slightly longer and roomier, and they don’t cling to every bump. I’ve worn this sweater with a pencil skirt and high heels, with evening trousers and diamond earrings, with leggings and sneakers, and on the couch in my trackpants. I have lovingly handwashed it for all these years and it has never pilled. It has also miraculously escaped moths and silverfish, no doubt because I wear it so frequently. It’s hard to chew on a moving target.
A mid-calf, teal blue column dress with a boat neck and three-quarter sleeves by Dries Van Noten, bought in Paris in 2009
The simplicity of the drape and the cut has meant I can wear it in the boardroom, or to a lunch, a cocktail party, or a wedding, and always look appropriate, and the beautiful blue shade always makes me happy.
A floppy, long-line, khaki silk DKNY trench coat I bought on my very first trip to New York 28 years ago
I wore it to a cocktail party just last Wednesday over silk pyjama pants, a T-shirt and sandals. It is one of the most chic and useful things I have ever owned – thrown over anything it instantly makes me feel pulled together. It’s sadly not going to last another season; it has been dry-cleaned too often and the inside collar has started to fray, but it is something I will replace now that I know how useful it is.
My divine black wool ’50-style swing jacket, with leopard-print cuffs and collar, again by Dries Van Noten, bought at a 75 per cent off sale in Barneys, Beverly Hills four years ago
It is on the first part of its journey, but I intend to still be wearing it in 30 years, with too much blush, comfortable shoes and my wig tilting a little bit sideways.
An unstructured navy wool Emporio Armani overcoat with raglan sleeves I bought in 1990
It still looks perfect today, worn with a simple sweater, navy pants and white trainers, in the classic style of Mr Armani himself.
There’s a common denominator to all these items: quality fabrics. While the initial price tag might be daunting, buying quality clearly makes the best financial sense in the end. Plus, you’ll look fabulous along the way.
This is an edited excerpt from Why Did I Buy That? Fashion Mistakes, Life Lessons by Kirstie Clements, published by Murdoch Books, $39.99. Kirstie Clements was editor in chief of Vogue Australia and features director at Harper’s Bazaar Australia.