How do you get dressed everyday? What thoughts go through your head?
Are you on autopilot, grabbing whatever is closest or what’s taken up residency on your chair/floor-drobe?
Do you plan the night before? Or at the start of every week?
Are there certain pieces you return to constantly? Or do you work through all that your wardrobe has to offer, giving everything attention?
I am an emotional dresser, I don’t like to plan too much. Sometimes I think through an outfit for the following day as I’m falling asleep – my version my counting sheep. Mostly, I’m working it out in real time, seeing what I’m drawn to colour-wise, what will work with the days temperature and activities; part practical, part intuitive to my desires.
This is the process of getting dressed on a micro/day-to-day level. But lately I’ve been thinking through what I’m drawn to on a bigger scale, the essence of my style, what all the pieces of the puzzle add up to.
This week I want to delve a little deeper into personal style and the pillars central to where my own style is at and how I got there.
This substack has been made in partnership with New Balance to celebrate their 204L’s. We will be gifting a few of my readers a pair of their own 204L’s - for your chance to win, there’s more information on this at the end, or click here.
My clothing DNA
If we split my wardrobe down the middle – one half is preloved - collected over time from countless hours spent scouring op-shops and vintage stores in country towns, cities across the world or online secondhand marketplaces.
It’s a treasure trove of unique, interesting items that each spark a memory of where/when it was purchased. I love the thrill of shopping secondhand – you never know what you’ll come across and the hunt is so rewarding. I started visiting op-shops with my nana and mum when I was really little and it’s still something we love to do together today.
I like to discover pieces of interest and gravitate towards things that are unexpected, quirky, adventurous through colour or pattern, that some might look at in confusion.
The other half is meticulously selected quality pieces that were purchased to fill wardrobe gaps made usually of natural fibres and will ideally have longevity in my wardrobe. My tshirts, knits, cotton, silk, cashmere pieces - a category I take very seriously. I’m so serious about it I even made a dedicated substack about the basics I love and the brands I turn to – you can find it here.
To surmise – I love pieces that are well-made, will last but I also get joy from collecting unique vintage items that add personality and flare to my outfits, things you won’t see on anyone else.
I also always want to be comfortable in what I’m wearing. Comfort and craftsmanship is always front of mind when I’m shopping. It’s a huge reason I love the New Balance 204L’s. Comfortable, well-made, easy to throw on with so many outfits and are a classic piece that works for pretty much everyone. I’m a big walker and all year round I live in a sneaker or a ballet flat.
I want to feel like me in whatever I’m wearing. I think this is the feeling we all should strive for. It puts the personal in personal style. As I always say - the best/coolest style happens when you’re authentic and true to yourself. I try to shop with this in mind, prioritising pieces I’ll wear lots – and over the years have gotten better at buying for the life I lead versus an idealised version. Wearing what I own on repeat/shopping my own closet is the goal!
Wardrobe treasures
I want to share a handful of my most treasured wardrobe items – that I’ve owned and loved for years. Some are foundational/building block pieces and others are more stand out items.
Dries Van Noten coat - a secondhand find in Tokyo
I live for a coat/jacket, especially one that is full of personality. It immediately makes an outfit pop.
Vintage leather jacket - a secondhand find in Ballarat, Victoria
This is the perfect slouchy leather jacket. I love the big shoulder pads and how lived in and soft it is. I find such great secondhand pieces in country op-shops. This cost about $150, an incredible price for leather. This is one of my go-to comfort pieces. I reach for it constantly.
White tshirt
The definition of a wardrobe basic but my white tshirt is one of the most important things I own. This one from COS is my current favourite. It’s 100% organic cotton, a little bit cropped/doesn’t need to be tucked in and I love the sturdy neckline/no rolling.
Slip skirt - a secondhand find in Ballarat, Victoria
When I’m in a thriftstore, I always look in the pyjama area/skirt area first. I find some of the best bits there - like this beautiful pale pink slip skirt. It’s unique, dainty and divine.
Vintage Levi’s - a secondhand find in Stockholm
I’m always on the hunt for a dream pair of vintage Levi’s 501s - something about the cut and fit just works so well for me. This pair has lived quite the life before they came home with me. Not only do they fit me perfectly but I just love the paint and stitching scattered all over them. They have history and personality.
Sunglasses/hat - purple hat from Copenhagen, brown hat from COS & glasses secondhand from Paris, pink and blue hat from SWOP in Melbourne, orange striped hat from Gucci in Copenhagen.
Hats and glasses are the ultimate outfit elevator. They are a quick, fun way to make an impact and they add so much to any outfit. This is an area of dressing I love to play around with and collect quirky pieces everywhere I go.
Travel
Travel inspires me endlessly. The change of scenery, the different aspects of a culture, the way people move, love, dress, eat, the colours of a city – all of it has me gripped and enthralled. I wake up with a spring in my step so excited to explore.
I love getting dressed everyday when I’m away. Travel dressing can be restrictive given you can only pack so much in a suitcase. But there’s also something freeing knowing you have a limited pool of options to work with. As mentioned earlier and in other substacks, I love to shop while I travel. I always find the most interesting things in other countries; different brands, styles, colours - so much to discover.
Studying and documenting how people get dressed in real life has been a fascination of mine for as long as I can remember. It’s what led me to start my substack series ‘Cool Girls in Real Life,’ where I capture outfits that stand out to me on the street.
I love to nab inspiration from all the different cities I visit and blend it into how I get dressed.
Tokyo inspired me to wear the unexpected piece.
Copenhagen inspired me to play around with layers and proportions.
Paris inspired me to mix genres - there’s always a beautiful blending of sporty / feminine / chic pieces.
Colour
I’m forever influenced and energised by colour. I take notice of interesting shades and combinations everywhere I go; on the streets, in restaurants, homes, in art, film, fashion shows/campaigns. I actually wrote a whole substack on how colour has inspired me over the years – you can read it here.
I especially love colour combinations that are a little off – the weirder the better. I tend to get fixated on certain combos or individual colours and keep an eye out for them when shopping. Colour is also a great starting when for me when I’m deciding what I want to wear in the morning.
These are the little bits and pieces that make up my style - learned and discovered over a lifetime. I continue to stay open and curious and the aim is to always have fun while getting dressed. The main and most important point is to wear whatever it is that is authentic to you. There are no rules!
As mentioned above, I’ve teamed up with New Balance to invite a handful of readers to receive a personalised 204L experience. If you’d like the chance to win, like this substack and answer a few questions about your own style here.
More Smooth Brain Thoughts soon,
Ali xx
I recall an epic prada coat you have too. Impatiently waiting for that to resurface on Ss x
Some amazing finds - your Zebra Print Trench, what a dream!