Just to clarify, my family doesn’t have a boat. We don’t belong to a country club, and we are
hardly American royalty. (Although, we
do have a castle in Ireland…or had a
castle in Ireland…Long story.)
Really, I’m not sure from where my obsession with the
stereotypically “preppy” look came. I’ve
always gravitated towards prep-school staples in nautical hues. (I attended a private Christian school, but
sadly, no uniforms. I was probably the
only person who wished we had uniforms.)
I think maybe I can point to a combination of Gossip Girl
and J.Crew as the catalysts that pushed me over the preppy loving edge. As an aspiring YA author, I devoured the
entire Gossip Girl series and waited
with baited breath for the television show.
Blair Waldorf quickly cemented her spot as the Queen B of my style
loving heart. I loved her school girl
inspired pieces in classic colors. (And,
I also loved that when I re-watched the first season years later, she still
looked stylish.)
Then, I started working at J.Crew to make some extra money
during college, and I learned the art of layering from dressing countless
mannequins. Now, I possess a closet that is 50% navy, 25% red, and 25%
black. Everything I own can be mixed and
matched and will always look pulled together.
I’ve fixated more on quality and staying power of my clothing, versus
freaking out over every new trend. (And,
when there’s a trend I kind of like, I buy it in a classic color that I can
wear for the next few years.)
Interested in pulling together your own classic wardrobe,
but not sure where to start? Let me be
your guide!
The Classic Blazer. Fit is important here, and if you need to,
buy a size too big and have it tailored to your body. I recommend navy because it works year round
in both the office and on the weekends.
In the summer, it can make a sundress work-appropriate or in the winter,
it can be worn over sweaters for a cozy layered look. This will also be an investment piece that
will get a ton of wear, so be prepared to spend at least $150. The whole point
is to have this for years!
Look for: Navy. Plaid.
Black. Gray. Herringbone.
Tweed. Camel.
The Sweater. I prefer cardigans because I think they
are easier to layer, but this depends on your personal preference. The kind of knit matters too. If you’re always hot, then stay away from
heavy wools and look for thinner cotton blends. I don’t spend a lot of money on my sweaters
unless they’re really special. (One of
my favorite things to hunt eBay for is vintage wool sweaters with
animals!) Also, I recommend to stay away
from J.Crew sweaters unless you’re getting their cashmere. Almost every sweater I have from J.Crew has
holes in random places (as compared to my cheap Old Navy versions that last
forever). Plus, I’ve noticed that Gap
and Target many times will copy-cat J.Crew’s cutest designs, which is a win for
our wallets!
Look for: Your favorite colors! Show your personality with bright colors or
prints, but make sure that they can integrate easily into the rest of your
wardrobe!
The Oxford. Button down shirts are your very polished
best friend. Like a blazer, they can be
dressed up and layered for both work and the weekend. While investing in a few basic colors (like
white or navy) is great, I really love bright, happy patterns (like gingham,
plaid, or even leopard!) I rarely wear
an oxford all by its lonesome, so look for options that have great detail on
the colors and sleeves.
Best brands for oxfords:
J.Crew. Tommy
Hilfiger.
Look for: Classic colors and
prints. Polka dots. Gingham.
Plaid.
The Bottom. Whether you prefer pants or skirts is a
matter of personal taste. I’m super tall
(5’11!) and I have the hardest time finding pants that fit properly. So, my solution is to wear skirts (or
dresses) all the time. It’s to the point
that I’m actually more comfortable when I’m in a skirt than when I’m wearing
jeans. (Plus, you have the added bonus
of always looking polished.) The same
rules apply to both pants and skirts—fit is important. Nothing too short or tight. Like with the sweaters, look for what makes
you happy, but make sure you have a few options in your classic range of
colors.
Best brands for skirts:
Land’s End. J.Crew.
Look for: Classic cuts. Classic colors. I tend to not like patterned pants since
they’re usually not super flattering, but patterned skirts are a win! (Weird how that works…)
The Shoes. Shoes are definitely a matter of taste, but
luckily there are several different options that all retain their classic
appeal. Remember, don’t look for what’s
“trendy”, but for what you can wear over and over. I usually wear Tory Burch Reva ballet flats
or Sperry’s loafers and boat shoes. I
think the boat shoes are better for weekends though—if you want a good work
shoe, I would look for loafers or ballet flats.
In the summer time, there’s nothing like a great pair of Jack Rogers.
The Rest. Once you’ve assembled all your building
blocks, you may start to see certain colors or styles become dominant in your
closet. When your aesthetic is pinned
down, you can start expanding to accessories.
Because I have so much navy, I don’t like to carry a navy purse. Instead, I’ll grab a bright red or deep camel
color for contrast. Personally, I don’t
like wearing a ton of jewelry, so I usually wear the same pearl necklace and
gold watch every day.
Thanks Tierney! I'll be back Monday with our regular scheduled programming!
