50 Shades of Beige

Wearing: Zara One-Shoulder Top + Pant Set (similar) + Vintage Chanel Chevron Crossbody with Tassel + Heaven Mayhem Gold Tabi Earrings (similar)

The heatwave persists, so another easy ensemble it is. Even my hair is undone; I’m simply air-drying with a bit of Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray to keep my fine hair from flattening. (I inherited the frizz from my mother but not her voluminous waves, to my chagrin.) Everything else was just as effortless—as in, the true meaning of the word, not some feigned, editorialized ideal. Matching sets are the cheat code. Bona fide Fashion Girls will dismiss them as cheap, cheerful ways to simulate style, and they’d be right. I wish I could put together something fantastical or cerebral, but creative styling is not my forte—and though I’m intellectually aware of how patriarchal standards have infiltrated my personal taste (i.e., opting for “flattering” silhouettes), I’m not highbrow enough to move beyond the norm just yet. When it comes to myself, anyhow. I dream in Dries and worship the Comme des Garçons universe, but even when draped in old Ann Demeulemeester, I feel like a little girl playing dress-up.

At least I can intellectualize my fashion choices, right? Self-awareness should count for something. In another life, I would be a more perfect feminist.

But I digress! Until I can commit to a Steve Jobs uniform, pre-designed co-ords help streamline the mental exertion in outfit planning. This one is cheap and cheerful, from Zara, then dressed up with my signature staples:

• Big earrings. I’m wearing the famed Heaven Mayhem Tabis, although I’d recommend (1) going the vintage route for more unique (and often higher-quality) designs, and (2) clip-ons, which are much kinder to your earlobes. These are alternatives I wished I’d purchased instead (and still might): all similar in style, and arguably more interesting.
• Statement bag. Granted, this vintage chevron Chanel crossbody isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s a favorite in my collection. The leather is delicious in the way that contemporary Chanel isn’t, and the tassel is just lush. (Length matters!) It’s dated sometime between 1989 and 1991 during Karl Lagerfeld’s earlier years at the French house—and of an era when the hardware was 24-karat gold-plated.
• Kitten-heeled sandals. 2.5″ to 3.5″ is the sweet spot for comfort and extensive walking, and while I love a pair of square-toed Havaianas, I prefer a heeled sandal for my stature.

I’m quite the shopping sleuth, but it looks like this particular Chanel is elusive on the pre-loved market. Only a few were listed and sold through the years, and while a distinctly vintage bag may not be for everyone, it was love at first sight for me. (And now, I can easily see it on the arms of Instagram darlings Christie Tyler, Andrea Ricci, and Julia Rabinowitsch, a.k.a. The Millennial Decorator.) It’s chic clutched in the hand, with the strap hanging—but even as a crossbody, it’s quite sweet. I’m almost strictly a top-handle or classic shoulder bag girl, but for this bag and the Gabrielle hobo, I’m happy to make an exception.

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xx