As a child growing up, my closet was a combination of clothes my parents had chosen for me, a collection of things I had picked out myself—which albeit very limited—that was a source of pride for me and an extensive line of hangers all draped with my older brother’s hand-me-downs. My parents believed that what no longer fit my brother, five years my senior, would suit me fine. I was outraged. Like many who saw us side by side for the first time felt and still feel the need to mention, my brother and I look a lot alike. And I thought dressing like him would only entertain those thoughts further, which I wanted none of. Though, much like you would with any setback you are faced with, I made it work. By pairing the old and new, I repurposed the hand-me-downs and made them my own.
I still revisit this style of dress from time to time and this outfit is an allusion to my eight-year-old self’s wardrobe. This week I took a few style notes from the Markus Lupfer resort 2016 collection, a “boyishly luxe-touched message,” as described by Style.com reporter Luke Leitch. It’s a nautically-inspired line that features organza and jacquard woven pieces, adorned with anchors and coupled with pairs of cross-trainers equally striking in detail.
Using his collection as a general guide, I picked out my floral print skater dress and paired it with a distressed light wash jean jacket. To make the look a notch more casual, I added a flat-brimmed five panel hat into the mix. Though, unlike the footwear seen in the Lupfer creations, I opted for a more colour-neutral pair of runners. I completed my ensemble with none other than my Daniel Wellington watch, which has probably made an appearance in all of my looks so far.
I ventured into athleisure territory with this look and I think I’m going to set up camp there for a tad longer. Comfort will always be a selling point for me, and this no-fuss dress and sneakers combo seems to possess exactly that. For those like me who enjoy some time in the woods as well as in the city, an outfit that will take them from promenades in the wilderness to ambles in the concrete jungle sans even minor wardrobe changes is indispensable.
Get My Look: 1. A skater dress. 2. A jean jacket. 3. A pair of white sneakers. 4. A five panel hat.
