I oscillate between two fashion extremes. Either showing too much skin or not enough of it. It’s true; go ask my partner. He’s usually always giving me the eye on something revealing asking if I’m sure I want to wear that going out to the shops, and also just giving me a look and saying he’s not a fan of it. That’s his code for saying that I look too covered up and what I’m wearing is completely obscuring my figure and any form of skin south of my neckline.
He knows there’s no need or point in saying any more; I have never listened to him when it comes to my personal fashion style. I wear whatever I want, when I want and have always marched to the beat of my own fashion drum.
But that’s how I’ve stumbled upon the preppy style for 2021, re-imagined into something more effortlessly cool, relaxed and surprisingly work-appropriate. Like all fashion editorials I produce here on this website, it all started off with an image I saw on social media. The first was a beautiful fashion editorial from Marie Claire US where they tackled the preppy style, and an Instagram post from not one but 3 of my favourite influencers. They were part of a social media campaign by a mid-tier brand to boost their online profile, and let me tell you that I was influenced. The brand in question was Üterque, an Inditex (read, parent company of Zara) Spanish brand that I’ve known of for several years but hadn’t popped up on my radar as something to pay attention to until those social media posts. And by God those clothes were beautiful. Beautiful rich checks, well cut trousers, thick and robust knits in vibrant colours. I was in fashion love. And Üterque was all I could think about.
But one fashion brand does not a fashion editorial make. So, I turned to older trusty favourites for brands to supplement the burgeoning concept in my head for the next shoot. Bits of River Island, some Zara, heeled loafers that are over a decade old and selected designer brands completed the look in my head. This editorial is a delightful mix of well-worn and well-loved pieces of a decade from my wardrobe, newer designer pieces I’ve collected over the last 3 years and the hero pieces of the shoot; the items from Üterque.
The colour scheme, rich in greens and blues was a deliberate choice, which ended up working even better against the cloudy morning when this shoot was shot. What also ended up happening was the items from the different outfits were accidentally swapped around on the morning of the shoot; because I’m incapable of organising anything without something going wrong. The purple Amina Muaddi heels and Jacquemus bag were actually supposed to be worn with the Zara neon green shorts suit, and the blue River Ausland heels with the H&M skirt outfit. But that’s the beauty of these carefully chosen pieces; they are so interchangeable. Thankfully it still worked out really well. Even if I do need to organise better.
Outfit 2
Outfit 3
