What’s up Style Gurus?
As cuffing season begins to tighten its grips around my fellow singles, it’s important we remember to stand our ground! It’s easy to feel the pressure of the autumnal ambiance. Everyone may be wanting to snuggle up with that special someone in a huge knitted sweater while drinking herbal teas and baking holiday goods, sure! But we are here to #CombatTheCuff. This is why I teamed up with this Fashionista to bring you what we like to call the “Not Your Boyfriend’s Oxford”—a look that is sure to impress as well as empower.
With everyone digging through their seasonal archives in order to find their twists on this season’s trendiest layering techniques, it’s important to appreciate the classics in your closet. Going back to the basics is never out of style and so to start this look, we pick one of the most timeless pieces a person can own: a soft cotton oxford. This particular Brooks Brothers pale-blue gingham oxford came from my closet—but she looks so good you would have never guessed.
The key to getting this look right is to find balance between big, too big and big enough. Similar to the boyfriend style jean—except not our boyfriends’, of course—you want to choose an oxford that seems a little larger and longer than typical. For her, this was made easy by slipping into one of mine.
As for the rest of the outfit, it’s really up to you. Style it up, style it down. You can add your element of edge or really polish the prep—classic pieces are always good for style appropriation. This Fashionista who is effortlessly edgy and fierce, is also a preppy girl at heart. Instead of pairing with the expected tailored slacks, though, she went for the chicer option of black skinny jeans.
As for the boots…well…they’re in.
Now, to turn up the volume. Needless to say, the oxford choice is essential, but to really spice things up, ditch the classic oxford and perhaps go for a pleated-front tuxedo shirt. Display your own strong sense of independence by taking what is typically seen as masculine and making it your own (hence Not Your Boyfriend’s). It’s also super easy to turn up the edge by pairing the outfit with a short leather miniskirt, and as for the boots, the higher the better!
Though we chose to tone down the edge, this look transitions from day to night with ease. So give it a go, and #CombatTheCuff!
