BUILD YOUR WARDROBE ON A WELL-STRUCTURED FOUNDATION
With the whirlwind of ever-changing trends, it’s refreshing to see a resurgence of classic styles.
Classic is mainly about the quality and lines of a garment. Not only does a piece need to have a traditional silhouette, but its the fabric must be timeless as well. Silk, cashmere, linen and crisp cotton are all natural materials with great longevity that will take you from season to season with minimal wear and tear.
Laura Haught Oxandale, owner of Haught Style in Prairie Village, shares her thoughts on classic dressing: and said, “As long as you have those classic pieces, you can buy the little things. When times are tough you can add freshness with accessories or little pops of color, building on your foundation of a good classic wardrobe, without investing a lot of money.”
Her favorite classic piece is the trench coat. she said, “Even if you have on your yoga pants and a tank top underneath, it still looks put together. It’s a flattering look that’s been around forever,” she says.
Anne Sullivan, a sales associate at Keil & Co. in Hawthorne Plaza, sees the value in buying classic wardrobe pieces. “I think people are really thinking about what they are going to buy these days,” she says. “We sell to women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s and across the board, our customers are coming in looking for classics. You can’t go wrong with a great pair of black trousers with clean lines and something a crisp, white on top with fun jewelry to update things
Giorgio Armani’s simple, elegant lines are the perfect example of classic silhouettes. He continues to dress some of the world’s most fashion-forward celebrities with his relatively unchanged philosophy toward streamlined and immaculate clothing. Armani’s exquisite tailoring creates
Classic styles are different for everyone. If you are creative and trendy, a classic piece might be a pair of wide-leg trousers in a metallic hue. For a soccer mom, it could be a cozy cashmere sweater.
“When people get established in their career or families, they start to appreciate classic clothing. They know their bodies and what looks good on them,” Haught Oxandale says.
So if it’s time for something new in your closet, check out some of the fresh classics in the stores right now. Find the right piece for you, and enjoy it for years to come.
Afternoon Tea: A simple silhouette in a fun summer color is perfect for an afternoon tea party. This Akris Punto tangerine dress in linen is accented with a brown leather belt and soft pleated skirt. Dress $1,196, Miriam Haskell bracelet $600, Halls Plaza
Fully Vested: Traditional Nehru-collared jackets have returned. Local designer Laura McGrew of Tomboy created this classic celadon brocade vest and gold dupioni silk cropped pants. Vest $236, pants $286, earrings $36, Tomboy Design
Slide Into Color: A pop of color added to your basic khaki gives your look an instant splash of summer. These orange linen slides with raffia wedge heels are by Donald J. Pliner. Shoes $215, Halls Plaza
Something's Fishy: Flats are the new stiletto (thank goodness) and are perfect with cropped pants or leggings. This pair of metallic fish scale flats by Candela go with any color. Shoes $398, T. Wynn Studio