Is a basic wardrobe boring or are clashing colours cringe? Two fashion experts go head-to-head
AS fashion giants including Miu Miu, Gucci and Prada keep things plain and simple on the runway, Clemmie Fieldsend and Nana Acheampong ask if every woman needs a boredrobe.
Yes
Says Clemmie
FINALLY, fashion is wearable.
Season after season, talented designers create opulent, jaw-dropping looks that are undoubtedly big, bold and beautiful.
But for those of us who aren’t at a red-carpet event every other Tuesday, they’re highly impractical.
Take, for instance, one of last winter’s biggest trend: Feathers
Sure, it would be a laugh to nip down to the local dressed up like a pink Big Bird dripping in Valentino — but none of us are going to do it.
Nor can we find a budget alternative that doesn’t just look like you’re wearing road kill.
But this season, the fashion gods have answered our prayers with brilliantly bland clothing.
Look, don’t get me wrong I have long pored over newspapers, magazines and social media to catch the first glimpse of catwalk creations — but when you see attainable outfits you know you can pick up copies of in Primark, it does make you feel more included in a land you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
This season, high-end brands such as Miu Miu, Gucci and Prada kept things simple and sent their models down the runway in what us mere mortals would call “basics”.
Quiet luxury
Think a white T-shirt, jumper, jeans and trench coat.
Most of us will have three out of four of those items in the back of our drawers and get a lot of wear out of them.
Of course, these brands want top dollar for their essentials.
Take top fashion brand Loewe.
Its white monogrammed £295 vest was the most popular item in Q2.
Yes, a vest.
And in January this year, Prada’s £700 white tank was named the item that defined 2022 by fashion bible Vogue.
Luckily for us, you can get a vest in your local Asda for £3.50.
Wearing your jeans with a vest for under a fiver and a blazer or quilted jacket is now considered “quiet luxury”.
Think Gwyneth Paltrow and Katie Holmes.
Even the younger crowd such as Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner are at it.
I’ve worked in fashion for 15 years and have seen trends come and go and come back again.
But I’ve found that sticking to your basics means your wardrobe is sustainable, as you’re not buying as much every season.
So if the foundations of our wardrobes are boring to some, just remember they are now considered a must-have and they shouldn’t be called basic or boring — they are brilliant and stylish.
NO
Says Nana
LIFE is just too short for boring clothes – and for me, more is always . . .more.
I love bold colours and prints — and I especially love clashing them all together.
I understand that for most this can be a scary concept.
Fashion should be fun and never taken too seriously when it comes to following trends, but it should also never be basic or boring.
And I don’t mean you shouldn’t have basics in your wardrobe such as a white T-shirt and a great pair of trousers.
These are like the building blocks of a wardrobe.
However, it shouldn’t just be left at that.
Add an amazing pair of shoes, some accessories or a statement coat to elevate the look.
Every season the high street does this so well.
Mango, Zara and H&M are my go-to shops.
Special collections, such as H&M Studio, and designer collaborations, like Mango x Simon Miller, always provide the right amount of extra I want for my wardrobe.
Clothes have the ability to completely change your mood.
If you’re in an outfit you like, you’re instantly going to feel great and have more confidence when attacking the day.
Unique pieces
My friends joke that I’m always dressed like I’m going to the Oscars — and I love that.
I’d much rather be the most overdressed person in the room than under-dressed.
As one of my favourite designers, Tom Ford, put it: “Dressing well is a form of good manners.”
My style icons, like Beyonce, Jodie-Turner Smith and Sarah Jessica Parker, nail this every time they step out of the front door.
Now, I don’t have their bank balance, but being stylish doesn’t need to cost the earth.
I am a huge fan of renting statement dresses and bags or scouring eBay, Vinted and vintage shops to bag a bargain.
These are also great places to find unique pieces that the masses won’t have.
Take my airport outfit, for example.
When I say this, most people think I am turning up to the airport in some stylish lounge or athleisure wear.
But the opposite is true.
I treat the airport like a runway, usually in a floaty midi or maxi dress or a printed silk co-ord, always in heels.
I get why people choose comfort over style for travelling, but just like planning holiday outfits you can’t wait to wear, I start from take-off.
It is also a great tip for getting upgraded.
The saying, “Dress to impress”, says it all really.