What I Wore: May 2024, part two

Details: Toni T dickie, Bonnies Strauss dress, Nocona belt (all thrifted)

Thoughts: To the surprise of none, I was quite inspired by the Ralph Lauren FW 2024 runway and took notes. There was a lot of beige involved, which admittedly is not my bag, but the styling is always noteworthy, and there were some all-brown and all-black outfits I loved head-to-toe. This was my attempt to recreate one of them. To add a white collar to the dress, I added my trusty dickie, and I wore the dress backwards (and pinned the V-neckline at the back) to create a different silhouette. I loved the result! A concho belt — a Ralph signature accessory — was the perfect finishing touch.

Details: Ralph Lauren shirt, Chaps tie, Gap jacket, Esprit belt, Banana Republic pants (all thrifted), Mia shoes (retail)

Thoughts: This was another runway-inspired outfit, translated to my own wardrobe staples. The thing about inspiration is that it doesn’t have to involve slavish copying; the fun part is tweaking the idea to suit yourself and your preferences. And your existing closet. These days, when I look at runway collections, I am not looking for new things I need to buy; I am looking for new ways to wear the things I already own.

Details: Babaton turtleneck, Miss Sixty skirt, Ralph Lauren jacket, Old Navy belt (all secondhand)

Thoughts: This skirt has been in storage for a while and I decided to pull it out again and give it a wear. It’s so ‘me’ and yet I have struggled to style it in the past. I think the length is the issue. I love long skirts but this is too long and ends up making outfits feel a bit unbalanced. But a part of me is hesitant to hem it because it is so dramatic at this length, and I keep thinking that might come in handy one day. On the other hand, it means I don’t wear this skirt nearly as often as I could (or should). I think I need to make a tough decision and take the plunge to alter it.

Details: Tommy Hilfiger shirt, Lord & Taylor sweater, Ralph Lauren pants, Fossil belt, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I never thought the day would come when I would unironically wear a sweater tied around my neck but here we are. I loved this outfit way more than I thought I would, too! Maybe I just need to accept that I have entered my Peak Prep era? No, I don’t like that — I have never seen myself as a ‘preppy’ and I don’t want to start now. That being said, there is a reason why this styling trick is so popular. The yellow sweater, worn like this, provides the perfect touch of colour that “finishes” the outfit. Had I actually worn it, it would have thrown off the colour balance, and also made the outfit a lot more “buttoned” up. This felt more casual and fun, but in a very grown-up sort of way. I thought I looked like a person who very much has her sh*t together, which I am not but … fake it till you make it, right? 😉

Details: Wilfred sweater, Elisa Franti skirt, Manolo Blahnik shoes (all secondhand)

Thoughts: The friend who gave me the green Coach bag also surprised me with this Italian brand skirt. She really knows me well! I cannot resist a statement midi column skirt. And this one is really worth a statement — just look at that fab pattern, and the design. The front zipper slit is understated sexiness personified. I kept the rest of the outfit super simple to balance out the equation.

Details: Gap tank, DKNY skirt, Andrea Jovine top (all secondhand)

Thoughts: I wore this for (Orthodox) Easter supper at my in-laws, and it was a great choice, if I say so myself. Whenever a lot of yummy food is expected to be consumed, I try to wear the most comfortable thing I can that can be disguised as a “made an effort” outfit. In this case, a stretchy, elastic-waist skirt with a matching plain black top and a statement topper. The topper makes it all look much fancier than it is and, as a bonus, the cut is perfect for concealing any food baby I might conceive along the way. This is my version of Joey Tribbiani’s Thanksgiving Eating Pants, and I think I nailed it.