Two Opposing Sides of Style

And how to reconcile them for a more interesting whole

I have two totally contradictory style influences pulling me in opposite directions. On the one hand I’m practical. I like clothes that are comfortable, functional, timeless and without excessive details. This is evident in my recent Transition Edit post.  Shape, proportion and richness of fabric is key. Call it minimalist, or worse quiet luxury.

On the other hand I love extravagance; layers of necklaces, enormous earrings and a great animal print. This is on display in an earlier post, Inspiration Fulfilled Online. 

The distinct feel of autumn in the air has prompted me to think about how I want my fall style to unfold. The two opposing views kept creeping up and how to reconcile them. Then it hit me, they’re not opposing, they’re complimentary. Call it opulent minimalism. To gel my ideas I set out to find inspiration.

I can’t tell you how important the process of gathering inspiration is. For me this is when ideas begin to clarify and even go into unexpected directions. Creativity does not thrive in a vacuum, it needs to be fed. When magazines ruled years ago I gathered inspiration from them. I had boxes of tear sheets organized in file folders by categories. Now it’s so much easier and less cumbersome to simply make boards on Pinterest. I’ve been doing this for years and have an extensive collection of boards on everything style related.  You can find my boards on Pinterest at Prima Darling, the name of my old blog.

Once inspiration is gathered, I begin to apply it to real life implementation and hunt for the necessary pieces. It's crucial to have inspiration guide you to keep you on track. It's also a great time to shop your own closet. Real style is more about thoughtfully putting pieces together than endlessly acquiring new pieces. Your style is more personal when you pull from your own favorites and make strategic additions to wear them in new ways. Buy less and buy better. Over time you’ll grow your wardrobe exponentially.

 This photo of Gloria Vanderbilt perfectly exemplifies what I’m trying to say.  The tunic and pants couldn’t be simpler, but the addition of gobs of pearl jewelry brings it to another level. I love the idea of wearing a cashmere robe (I would just wear a simple white silk camisole under) with white pants (or these on sale) and pile on the pearls. Raid your own jewelry box and don’t be afraid to mix real with fake. I would attach the jeweled brooch to this triple strand of pearls or these and layer with much longer necklaces. Add a baroque pearl earring and multiple rings. If the robe is too much, a simple white sweater would work as well.

My inspiration here is Francesca Ruffini, the creative force behind For Restless Sleepers and the embodiment of unfettered Italian style. She is rarely without her multiple strands of gold chains. I would hem this Cos dress to tunic length and wear it over a slim black turtle and pants. In theory I like the idea of skirts worn over pants but in practice find it cumbersome, though I love the silhouette of a tunic over pants (back to Gloria). To spice this look up add multiple gold chains like this vintage necklace and add a pendant, this one is vintage Hermes. A ring or two wouldn’t hurt but keep it bold. In my dreams I would add this Elsa Peretti bone cuff in gold.

There is nothing more extra than a leopard coat as demonstrated by Jackie in the 60’s. Then it was legal to hunt these beautiful creatures for pelts. Thankfully that has changed, though animal prints remain a style staple with excellent prints and fakes. Case in point this Michael Kors Collection wool coat from the Real Real. Wear it over the same back turtleneck and pants from the last board, proving my point that simple clothes have more versatility, it’s all in how you put it together. Add simple but bold accessories such as these long gold earrings with a vintage signet ring. A gold shoe would pick up on the gold of the leopard pattern.

As always I appreciate your support. Thanks for reading and don’t be afraid to be extra!

xxx Jolain