THE JOURNAL
3 MINUTE READ
Five Ways To Make Your Wardrobe Feel Like New
Words by Ms Molly Isabella Smith
28 July 2020
They might try to tell you otherwise, but no one is entirely sure how the style world is going to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Will our new outerwear of choice be the impenetrable cocoon of a Zorb ball? With all that 2020 has thrown at us thus far, that wouldn’t be an altogether shocking development. In a world where uncertainty reigns, we should proceed with caution when making absolute style predictions. It would be reckless of us to furnish you with a set of new rules or trends to follow blindly. Instead, we’re providing a few general guidelines. No, we don’t expect you to live and die by them, but we hope they’ll serve as a handy cheat sheet if you’re umming and ahing on the subject of how to stock your wardrobe for the season ahead.
01.
Consider your knits
Whether as a stand-in for a jacket or as an extra layer of protection between your outerwear and a T-shirt, knitwear is a no-brainer as summer comes to an end. But it does raise a few pertinent issues. Something chunky will be overkill when the temperature has not yet reached Arctic levels, and your staple fine-gauge merino can, let’s be honest, be a little bland. Enter the embroidered cardigan. This iteration comes courtesy of a collaboration between Japanese brand Wacko Maria and tattoo artist Mr Tim Lehi. It doesn’t have to be embroidered, of course. A striped sweater is a subtler alternative. Even opting for a colour outside your comfort zone will put a fresh spin the contents of your wardrobe.
02.
Rethink your trousers
Wearing a garment that covers your bottom half is something you do every day. We sincerely hope so anyway. But when it comes to something so familiar, it’s easy to find yourself in a rut, reaching for the same style of trousers day in, day out. The start of a new season is the perfect excuse to try something different, such as these patterned trousers from Neighborhood in collaboration with outdoor specialist Gramicci. Eye-catching as they are, prints aren’t for everyone (or for every occasion) so how about swapping your usual cuffs for a cropped pair? Or your standard slim-fit jeans for something a little wider in the leg?
03.
Seek out interesting prints
To paraphrase the great Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, there is nothing groundbreaking about wearing florals in spring. The same goes for all decorative clothing of this ilk. There’s a tendency to reserve the printed and patterned items in our wardrobes for the warmer months, but there’s no good reason why it has to be that way, particularly when brands are dreaming up all sorts of quirky, original designs. Prints are also a sophisticated (read more grown-up) substitute for logo, slogan or band T-shirts. Flagstuff’s verdant camp-collar example features a snapshot of Mr Kurt Cobain’s memorial. If that’s too sobering for your sensibilities, Dries Van Noten, Fendi and Bellerose are all doing excellent jobs in this department, too.
04.
Switch to sneakers
Before the pandemic forced us to replace the office with a makeshift ironing-board-cum-desk set-up, fashion’s seers divined there would be a return of so-called “hard shoes” (Oxfords, brogues et al). Sneakers, which have been savouring their moment in the sun, it was predicted, would make a quiet retreat. But things change and comfort remains an attractive prospect for the foreseeable future as we adjust to our new normal. Given the current climate then, expanding your kick collection is a sound choice. Plus, the retro revival is still in full swing, so pick up a pair of nostalgia-inducing sneakers. Nike’s Killshot OG, which first debuted on tennis courts in the 1980s, need no further introduction.
05.
Try new accessories
As we (and Normal People’s Connell Waldron) have recently proved, jewellery is easy to get into even if you’re not a so-called jewellery guy. And, unlike other season-specific garments in your wardrobe, jewellery lasts longer. The trick is to opt for simpler pieces that align with your personal style. Let us explain. If you’ve hitherto been into logo T-shirts, it’s only a small jump to A.P.C.’s engraved silver necklace. If you can gravitate towards all things tie-dye, a cord or beaded bracelet might be for you. Or perhaps you’re more of a suit and tie sort of guy – a signet ring might be just the thing.