The styling tip that launched a million outfits

The shirt sandwiches of Victoria Beckham’s pre-fall 2024 collection collapsed my wardrobe into perfect order

There is a moment at the end of every fall, where after weeks of writhing through my wardrobe — rolling through the motion of a minor identity crisis provoked by looking at all the familiar clothes I used to think I could trust forever but now seem not to recognize at all, the pieces finally start to collapse into place.

This collapse is often triggered by a tiny moment that unfolds in the expanse of open time: the sandals I notice a friend put back on with her socks and jeans as she’s leaving my apartment, the hat I see styled in a store front while out for an unplanned stroll, or the layering techniques I observe while scrolling through Vogue Runway from the freedom of empty time in bed at night.

Because December is kind of a season unto itself with holiday dressing fanfare on at the highest volume from the moment Thanksgiving turns over, Fall Dressing Season (at least as it’s formally known) ends pretty abruptly. No sooner than the rich green cords come in are they escorted out alongside the thick weave knits and lace-up boots and denim accents.

It can be a bit of a slap back and forth. Like you start figuring out how you want to look for the cold, then you stop because !GLITTER TIME!, then want to start again (because it’s cold) but the momentum is gone. So how do you get the momentum going again?

All it takes is one tiny moment. And this time around, it was thanks to the styling in Victoria Beckham’s Pre-Fall 2024 lookbook that the engine began to rev again.

The key reason why was in the shirt sandwiches —

• turtlenecks/silk scarves were styled under button down shirts or in between layers of shirt, knit and blazer or jean jacket

  

• this reminded me that jean jackets make an unconventional but exciting winter addition, and create nice texture paired with wool and silk

  

  A quality Loro Piana fisherman’s knit

• And also that I could do the same thing with the range of my knits that are crew neck, hoodie, polo, etc

  

• I especially like the one with hoodies

  

  This is, hands down, the best white tissue turtleneck

• silk bandana tie-ends popping out of the neck of some looks added cool character

  

• the shirt sandwiches styled well with a variety of relatable pants (jeans, flare legs, wool trousers)

• and structured a-line skirts (denim, leather)

• The red tights styled with single strap, backless sandals (here, here for lower heel) are an easy, no frills way to amp up any after-dark outfit

Overall, it was the right dose of “You can do that too” to help me recover intimacy with my closet. So I set off and made my own combos:

Here’s an adequate red turtleneck, Giuliva Heritage vest (comes in denim too), and a camel jacket (this one is Polo, this one is Max Mara and 40% off)/pants for you here. Oliver peoples sunglasses, Jimmy Choo sandals (these are very close, these are more practical). I like it like this too:

Swapped the suit pants for jeans

Styling a hoodie over a collar, plus t-neck has been the lowest hanging, highest yielding fruit of the month. Styled with Toteme jeans, a By Malene Birger belt and Manolo white pumps (here’s a similar pair from Gianvito Rossi for 30% off, and here is a somewhat more realistic pair as far as walkability goes)

LMND shirt, try this Toteme hoodie, Dries van Noten jacket (this one is divine, and this one is practical)

Khaite jean jacket (it’s a few years old. The closest fit seems like this), Loulou Studios skirt, Ralph Lauren cable knit (get this one from J. Crew), Splendid black t-neck (the white’s great too), and the sliver of white crew neck between the sweater and t-neck does something good for the shoes

Diff diff, but same

Another good, more all-encompassing shirt sandwich: cropped sweater styled over button down shirt tucked into jeans (these are men’s Levis, mine are a size 28) that are low rise enough to expose the crop. Khaite belt, Valentino heels you might be able to find on The Real Real (ding ding ding! here in a 6, here in a 10, and here’s another good style in an 8)

Boguessa khaki skirt (this one not so dif), Vince skirt (good comp), The Row pumps

Which gave me enough confidence, or got my mind jogging at a steady enough pace to fall back on my own taste quirks and preferences, to make some of the looks more my own.

Me as a gym teacher at PTC. LMND shirt, By Malene Birger sweater, here’s a good black jacket, Soeur khakis (try these from Nili Lotan) and here are good metallic sandals for you. Go silver, not gold!

Two denim shirts sandwiched between a green polo knit (thicker one on the outside, more of a chambray on the inside) with a white t-neck under. Plus Victoria Beckham pants (I think these/these are the same in orange) and Prada shoes

Proof of sandwich

Jean jacket, red button down, khaki pants, purple heels

LMND black shirt, Le Set white t-shirt, Giuliva Heritage pants, old Celine brogues, Hermes red bandana, Christopher Esber sunglasses

Bally leather blazer, Khaite jean jacket, Splendid white turtleneck, Le Scarf ivory and black silk scarf (Toteme’s is very similar), here is a pair of similar jeans, Rue de Verneuil bag (really gunning for this one too) and Chanel sock boots

Splendid white turtleneck, it is surprisingly hard to find a good red button down, Smythe sweater, Nue Notes pants (we went deep last week), Jimmy Choo sandals

Ribbed tissue t-neck and t-shirt styled under Heirlome black jacket with J. Crew sweater around waist, straight leg black wool trousers and pumps from The Row

Dice Kayek wide lape blazer (option 1 for $508 by Another Tomorrow and 2 for $551 by Bella Freud), vintage t-shirt, Cashmere in Love turtleneck, Giuliva Heritage pants (same fit in fun green), old Celine brogues

St. John red leather jacket (a real good recent Real Real find for all of $70; she’s saucy too), Giuliva Heritage pants, same red tights as usual and ditto that the shoes

A million looks, one tip. That’s how this one ends. Have a great week,

Leandra