Good accessories make ordinary outfits a little extra

Top coats for your simplest clothes

Not sure if this reflects where pop fashion culture is heading or if I’m tuned into a personal inclination that has a hint of newness about its flavor but these days, the only clothes that feel comfortable, honest, right, good — however you want to describe the click-in feeling you get after you’ve put something on that makes you eager to go out and do something — are so simple, it’s almost criminal.

I’m talking top and bottom (tank or sweater and jeans, flare trousers and button down), end of story. I think it works because the looks still feel personal, which is possible because of the range of accessories that overlay the clothes.

A Jennifer Behr gold claw clip with Carlota Cahis skinny scarf styled over LMND’s ‘Chiara’ shirt in olive

I’ve been talking about this for a while, I know, but the concept meets me face to closet every time I get in there. My hunch is that over the next several months, given how much attention we’ve dealt to configuring The Ideal Capsule Wardrobe, replete with Fewer, Better Things, we’ll be pushing even harder on the extravagant accessories to overlay those clothes.

Why? Because even if all the structural pieces are right, we’re still constantly changing — and the basic human desire to reflect what’s going on still underpins one premise why we care at all about what we wear.

There are 5 specific items I’ve been playing around with over the simple outfits, and exactly one that’s not that simple, but which is def made better with inclusion of one of the accessories. I’ll start with it because the teaser’s above and it’s a good headliner:

The skinny scarf ($123)

Tory Burch skirt, LMND button down shirt (in olive), Altuzarra slingbacks and the accessory in question: Carlota Cahis’ skinny scarf with metal fringe detail.

Can’t say enough good things about this skirt (it went on sale on the Tory site, but sold out, is still avail in a range of sizes here) or the slingbacks from Altuzarra, which I plucked right out of the window before the holiday break (sale!) but this is really about the scarf: It’s a thin-weave knit in a striped pattern that gives old Gap.

Serves as the main dish on something all-black like this:

Vince sleeveless turtleneck (here’s one from Intimissimi for $30, another from Letset for $140 — think it’s my choice, and if you prefer a shape that sets your shoulders up to look a bit broader (I do), Lisa Yang’s for $280), Toteme pants, Khaite belt (if you don’t already have this belt but want it, I’d get this one), A di Gaeta boots (the gators that make them length are removable)

A foil over a blazer and my pants of the season —

By Malene Birger fringe coat (my eye’s on this one looking ahead), Cos sweater, Callas ‘Jules’ pants (gone in green, here they are in black/navy), The Row loafers

Or something no-brain-necessary obvious, like this:

The scarf with an All Three tank top (coming soon!), Khaite jeans and Marsell boots. The bra is from Emi Mess and features as the next accessory

I’ll call it the outfit you wear when you know the heating system is sturdy. This is actually an ideal segue because the next thing is the lace bra styled under that tank.

Emi Mess ‘Ali’ bra, $195-220

Polo silk shirt, Aeron trousers

If you take just one pants rec from me, let it be these; Valentino ballet pumps (which I returned; love the shape but the bow’s not right for me. These appear later in the post as one among the lifts, but for a simple black flat, it’s looking more like these)

This one is from Emi Mess. Specifically fashioned the above one into a work-appropriate look to define the contrast the bra can bring, the little bit o’spice to a plain old toaster waffle.

…More casually, like figure for a Sunday brunch or something, I give you:

TWP ‘Big Joe’ button down shirt, Emi Mess bra, Rouje jeans (these are a great alt), Bottega Veneta boots (here’s a 36, here’s a 37.5), Aflalo sweater around neck

And a close up; that wood link bracelet is from my collab with Audry Rose

It’s great because the lace takes up a lot of chest circumference so you don’t have to work hard to ensure that it shows through your shirt (you get a better sense of this with the stripe scarf look ft. the ribbed tank).

One more for you with a linen top and corduroy pants for the sake of transeasonality:

A black linen Khaite shirt (a more tame version, or here it is in white) styled with navy blue corduroy trousers (velvet could be good)

Next up: a silk shawl/cape

Prada capelet (bought her for $600 from here, but it’s more expensive now though it retails for $995 everywhere else), Donni’s relaxed white long sleeve tee, Blaze Milano ‘Norico’ jeans

And Jennifer Behr’s gold clip/Altuzarra slingbacks one more time

Standing erect, I look like this.

This is Prada’s chiffon cape from last Spring. I found it on a website called Senser on sale for still a lot ($600) but knew it would facilitate the continued lack-of-outfit-effort, so I reasoned she’d be a sensible (Senserble?) purchase. Simply with a tee like up above, or over suiting the runway-way

It does do something nice for the shoulders

An approximation better suited to the climate last week with an Heirlome coat, Casasola white sweater, Argent trousers and Tory Burch’s Jungian loafers (Get it? Shadow part vs exposed self?). Khaite bag!

Or future wise, into warmer weather with a tank n khakis like this:

Styled here with a Frances de Lourdes tank top, St. Agni khakis and Louboutin mini heels

Actually wore it New Year’s Eve too, like-a-this:

With my hip attachment; here is a potentially strong boot alt

It got me thinking that any kind of shawl could do something similar for you, and reminded me of this sarong/scarf I got from an Opening Ceremony warehouse sale 100 years ago in LA (this is the same one, striped), which fully facilitated what has become the fourth accessory to add an extra:

A good wool blazer for you right this way (like the velvet collar detail; comes out to like $600 in USD, and a white t-shirt with a good crew neck; if you have a decorative shawl, use it, if you don’t, this fringe number from Toteme is it and so versatile (for context, see this). Pants are, you know it, Callas ‘Jules’ pants

The wood clutch can be found here (here is an alt), the wood bracelet is from my Audry Rose collab. We might be re-entering our hardshell bag era (good value, x 2) and I’m pretty sure they’re going to get so tiny we can’t take our phones out with us. The ultimate luxury!

Sarong styled over shoulders as an actual shawl, with a Sessei plaid shirt, old Celine trousers and Valentino mini heels

That silver ear cuff is from Eliou

Next up, there are the cuff bracelets. These are best served as the component that makes more interesting an all black outfit.

Juju Vera’s Grecian cuffs, $295

Attersee jacket, Gemsun belt, By Malene Birger wool pants, Polo Ralph Lauren boots

And Juju Vera’s ‘Elena’ and ‘Mayra’ cuffs

Admittedly sharing the weight of the work with the wood bead belt (from Gemsun) so here is another variation on the same event:

High Sport tunic (just as good with a black jersey mini dress, or something that feels more suited, like this), Massimo Dutti pants (they’re 50% off), Manolo Blahnik flat slides and an old Calvin Klein clutch

I wouldn’t leave out other use cases though. Here, for example, is how they toughen up a soft dress:

Styled with a collar necklace from the same brand, La Collection’s white dress, By Malene Birger’s tan belt (thick one’s sold out, but skinny one is still avail) and Gabriela Hearst riding boots. The brown suede Marsells come in black too, and would be good on a look like this.

And you can try wearing them two to one wrist, btw.

The rest of the fluff: Aflalo sweater (highly recommend), Callas ‘Jules' pants (in navy, there is still stock; the high rise ones might be next conquest), Chanel moccasins and Year of the Flood’s ‘Chai’ necklace in black rhodium.

Last up is a heel that’s neither cat nor kitten.

They’re an easy and literal lift with a sweater and flare trousers (my preferred shape of pants) —

Not just any sweater though! Bode’s mens cardigan — with Giuliva Heritage’s ‘Laura’ trousers (see also: these) and the mini heels in question.

But they’ll also add something nice for you if the preference is short things — capri pants, skirts, short-shorts. Wtvr.

Styled with exhibit A (the scarf) and Veronica de Piante’s single breast black jacket (alt 1, alt 2 or this collarless leather one from Veronica Beard has me in too)/mini skirt. Here are the sunglasses, Gucci bag

A black mini skirt/top combo would work just as well because the shoes are such a lift, even just for the color (I did debate this way too). This partic dress is from Aflalo (also comes black). The leather coat is very old — like was purchased in the 70s by my Turkish grandmother who still lived in her place of origin. Here’s one on sale from Loulou Studio, or…it’s a good thing we have Massimo Dutti now.

The idea is to mix them with something a little playful, a little tough because they’re the dose of lady that says “I do my taxes on time,” while the rest of the outfit is like “let’s get lost in each other’s eyes.”

A perfect place to say goodbye. Have a great week,

Leandra