Are you getting tired of your winter wardrobe and ready to start springing ahead with some springtime fashion? Well, since we have perhaps a few weeks before we can officially start doing that both season and weather-wise, let’s just consider a few tips from those who know best.
And no, that’s not me, although I do love fashion. I also love that the Ralph Lauren style trend is back. This timeless established elegance and sophisticated taste that’s pedigreed, quality, and anything but trendy was never really out of style in my book. It’s also big in home décor and is said to be evidence that we are all craving stability and longing for what’s been lost. Amen to that!
I say I like fashion but perhaps maybe what I like more is style. Simple, elegant, timeless, comfortable, and put-together style. And there is a big difference between the two. American TV personality, author, lifestyle consultant, and style advisor Clinton Kelly says it this way: “Fashion is the stuff designers offer for sale in any given season. Style is the stuff you choose to put on your body. It’s the plate you take from the fashion buffet.” In a nutshell, fashion is what you buy and style is what you do with it. Fashion is fleeting but style is timeless. One other way to put it is to think of fashion draped in brands and trends and tied to upscale designers. It’s easy to walk into a Chanel boutique and come out with something fabulous but to walk into a Target and come out with something stylish takes a lot more than money to accomplish.
There are many perfect current examples of impeccable style out there, including Kate Middleton, Melania Trump, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Stone, Sofia Richie, and Octavia Spencer. Always classic. Always classy. Always consistent. They echo those from the past like Jackie O and Princess Di. Someone who perhaps best lived by this rule and who is connected to Jackie O and is forever at the top of any style list is the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Her life and marriage to John F. Kennedy, Jr. is the current subject of a popular television series, “Love Story,” and is worth a watch.
Fame aside, Bessette Kennedy was elegant yet understated style to a T…white tee or tea length khaki pencil skirt. No better example of this was her simple wedding dress by then little know designer Narcisco Rodriquez. For someone who could have worn anything and had the biggest wedding ever, she and JFK, Jr., instead opted for a private wedding in a tiny wooden chapel in secluded Georgia. Love it.
Think “quiet luxury” like in “Succession” and Kendall Roy’s understated logo-less Loro Piana ballcap, not any “Real Housewives” in head-to-toe logos and Birkins in every color. As they say, money talks, wealth whispers.
Preppy is also refinding its fashion presence, back and back in a big way since its explosion in the 1980s. Not only did Lauren’s spring 2026 runway showcase it, so did those of Prada, Brunello Cucinelli, Dior, and Fendi. As “Town and Country” put it, these markers of constancy, tradition, and elegance such as polo shirts, navy blazers, khakis, sweaters, and penny loafers are the stuff legends are made of. Their enduring appeal can perhaps come down to one word: appropriateness. They style emotes luxury but logos are kept to a whisper and nothing is too perfect. It was huge when I was in college and many are saying Gen Z is turning back to it as a way of showing their craving of nostalgia, something deeper, and even what it means to be American. Amen and thank you Olympics!
So how do you know what’s a trend and what’s a fad? A fad is generally popular for a short period of time while a trend is sometimes but not always a fad that withstands the test of time. Once popular fads that faded include flapper dresses, neon clothes, and shoulder pads as opposed to those that are still somewhat trending like bell bottoms and maxi skirts. A word to the wise that I heard years ago and still live by is that if you wore it the first time it was a fad, when it comes back in style, you’re too old to wear it.
So, what should you wear and what should you buy to pull off this low-key but stylish look? One good tip is the high-low mix. Pair a Prada bag with a Zara dress or wear Tod’s loafers with Old Navy jeans. In other words, don’t go all in with designer or high-end; keep it simple and keep it subtle.
Spend your money on good shoes and good purses…as I like to say, they always fit! You wear these often and they will make any outfit look more expensive. Maybe some sunglasses too and a statement piece of jewelry like an expensive but discreet necklace. An incredible blazer and a well-fitting Little Black Dress are also closet must-haves and pay attention to fabric. Cashmere will also look better than synthetics. Wardrobe buys should also consider the Big 3: casual, work, and special occasions. When you find something, you love like a pair of shoes, buy them in bulk. My go-to’s right now are Rothy’s Birdie’s, Brookes, and Tod’s with a few dressy pumps thrown in. Consider that it’s estimated 20 percent of your clothes are worn 80 percent of the time.
Don’t be afraid to try new things though. Have your staples and some solid mix and match items but have fun too! Wear what makes you feel happy and confident and as my daughter once told me, wear what makes you feel pretty!
Lastly, be aware of knock offs and fast fashion. Yes, they may be waaaay more affordable but production of them could be something you prefer not to support. There are several streaming documentaries that are worth watching that detail their overproduction, low quality, and environmental waste. Their instant creation also leads to trend fatigue.
Okay, now that we’ve got all that covered, here’s what experts say are items every woman should have in her closet:
The Workhorse White Shirt. Always have a crisp and ironed white blouse ready to go. I have a few, ranging from high-end to my favorite from Old Navy. It’s amazing how you can dress one up or dress one down. Caroline Bessette swore by them and often wore JFK, Jr’s oversize ones.
A Piece of Legacy Jewelry. Something standout or sentimental that you treasure. I tend to wear the same jewelry everyday to everything. I might thrown on a pair of fun earrings depending on the occasion, but my diamond studs and favorite watch and bracelet go with me everywhere.
The Little Black Dress. Nothing new here, as the LBD has been around since Audrey Hepburn and maybe even before. Keep it simple though, which will allow you to dress it up or keep it casual.
Pearls. Probably the most classic IYKYK. Just ask Jackie.
Comfy Shoes. I have a closet of these and like I said above, when you find a brand and style you love, buy them in bulk!
A Great Fitting Bra. This one is a tough one for me. Consider getting an in-store bra fitting and be prepared to spend some money on one but know that a good one makes all the difference. When you find one, buy several and buy in beige and black. Nothing screams “ick” more than a tan bra showing under a black top.
A Good Blazer. This one is a tough one for me too. I have several but it seems like every time I put one on it just doesn’t look right. If I had to choose, my faves are a classic khaki one and my tuxedo-style one.
A Good Coat. Trench coats were once all the rave and still are in some parts, but if it’s not your style go with a more simple jacket or even a nice puffer.
Diamond Stud Earrings. These little sparklers never go out of style and go with everything. They don’t have to be giant, which IMO are a bit much, and these days they don’t even have to be “real.” My local jeweler who I love swears by lab grown diamonds. Google them. You’ll be surprised.
So, there’s what you should be wearing but what about what you shouldn’t be wearing? Of course there’s the standard “just because it fits doesn’t mean it looks good” and the “dress your age” tips, but there’s others that have nothing to do with actual clothing, including these from Courtney Carver of the brilliant “Be More With Less:”
Stop Wearing the Guilt of Your Past. Guilt and regret serve no one well. Let go of guilt the same way you let go of a piece of clothing that doesn’t serve you well anymore.
Stop Wearing the Pressure to Prove Yourself. Yes, this can be fashion-related and we often dress to impress others, but what you wear is not always an indicator of what you’ve accomplished. Once you stop proving yourself, you can be yourself.
Stop Wearing the Weight of Other’s Expectations and Judgements. As Mel Robbins writes, “Let Them.” Let them judge you, let them expect something from you, and let them be them. You be you. Caring less about what other people think is the ultimate form of self-care. Usually, when we think people are thinking about us, they aren’t.
So there you have it; what to wear and what not to wear. But like I said, wear what makes you happy and what makes you feel pretty!
Beyond Words 