What I love this week: sleek, chic, & sculptural
Two of the biggest style directions this year are the “quiet luxury” trend and 90’s-inspired looks. I’m a fan of both, and if you’re looking for simple, timeless pieces there’s a lot to love.
SOFIA COPPOLA VIA | NECKLACE | EARRINGS | SWEATER | BAG | FRAGRANCE | LOAFERS (SIMILAR) | SWEATER-JACKET | BRACELET
A kind of relaxed elegance is what appeals to me now. I want to be comfortable but neat, and simple but not generic. This season, I’ll be looking to subtle details and accessories to add interest and personality.
An aside about semantics…while I appreciate the influence of quiet luxury when it comes to style trends, I know some people are put off by the term. It’s widely accepted now to describe a broad aesthetic, but I get it. The initial emphasis on expensive designers and “in-the-know” exclusivity lingers and can be off-putting. Or else it’s been so mis- and over-used that it’s becoming meaningless.
I’ve been seeing the term “discreet chic” bubbling up lately, and I like that better. There’s a certain accessibility implied; it’s more about an aesthetic than a price tag. And it feels like there’s more room for personal expression. So I’ll be embracing that concept going forward..
Style muses
I’ve always loved Sofia Coppola’s style, even if I don’t have Virginie Viard (Creative Director of Chanel) on speed dial. SC keeps it simple and understated, and always manages to look feminine without a whiff of fussiness. I really enjoyed this recent profile of her in the Financial Times.
I love that jacket she’s wearing (Chanel, bien sûr,) and managed to find one with a similar look.
It’s available in Misses, Petite, Plus, and Plus Petite sizes. (Also in black with white contrast piping.)
Discreet chic and sculptural details
I’m a big fan of Me+Em knitwear. It’s on the spendy side, but the cuts and quality are lovely. I purchased this curved hem jumper (pullover) in 100% cashmere last year, and just ordered this one in a merino-cashmere blend. It now comes with a detachable snood, for more styling options.
Soko Jewelry is ethically made and reasonably priced. Most of their designs are quite clean and modern, like the pendant necklace shown above.
I wear hoop earrings most of the time, and often wear the same pair for weeks on end. So they have to be light, comfortable, and fasten securely. I purchased this pair by Monica Vinader recently and absolutely LOVE them…both the interesting shape and the wearability. (Also in silver here.)
Yes, I did bite, and purchased the DeMellier tote originally featured here. It’s a beauty. The “midi” size is perfect for most days, and very lightweight.
Some of you have asked for stylish leather bag options that are more budget-friendly, and I’m keeping a lookout for styles with a lower price tag and decent quality leather. One brand that you might want to check out is Brahmin…if you avoid the some of the whackadoodle colors, there are some great, classic looking bags that (in my experience) hold up quite well.
(While there are more faux leather options now, I find that you have to pay almost as much as for real leather for quality materials.) But I love a challenge, so will keep hunting.
Did you know…you can shop by your seasonal color palette? Check it out 👇
Shop Spring | Shop Summer | Shop Autumn | Shop Winter
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Regarding faux leather. I have yet to find any that isn’t heavy so I prefer to buy leather purses on marketplaces usually at the fraction of the price. They don’t go to landfill then either.
I once “went shopping” with Sofia Coppola on the Rue du Bac in Paris. She was hugely pregnant, and yet beautifully and simply dressed, and my first thought was to be impressed how even the very pregnant Parisian looked perfectly turned out. As I wandered in and out of little shops for a couple of blocks, so did she and I only gradually realized who she was. That was the last day of that visit and after I returned home, I read the news that she had given birth the day after I had seen her. I do occasionally think of her when I an shopping for myself and looking for a far less expensive version of her elegant simplicity.
Hi Susan—What does a “winter” do when so many handbags and clothing have gold tone details? Just ignore and go ahead and wear? I’m stumped and end up not taking a second look. Needless to say, that eliminates so many options. Any suggestions?
Hi Rose, it depends on how prominent the hardware is, and how bright and yellow the gold is. With small buckles, details or fastening (like the one on the bag shown), you can probably ignore. Lots of big or bright gold chains may be a bit more challenging. With buttons, you can often swap out. One of my favorite tricks on snaps or buttons that can’t be changed is to use nail polish (silver or gold) to change the color. It works best on metal buttons or snaps.
>>SC keeps it simple and understated, and always manages to look feminine without a whiff of fussiness.
Perfect description of not only Coppola, but also the quiet chic look I and others prefer. Re bags, I like Longchamp leather bags. The Roseau line has silver hardware, which I appreciate, but other lines have a very muted pale gold hardware that can work for anyone. For vegan leather bags, check Freja New York (https://frejanyc.com/), I admire the creator/owner and her blog on making the bag she wanted but couldn’t find. The design process, including creating the vegan leather, was really interesting.
Great post Susan! I’m loving the DeMellier tote. Appreciated that you noted it is lightweight. The Soko jewelry is very nice for the price point. And, the Monica Vinader earrings are great. This is a post that I’ll put in my “saved” folder. I’m in southwest Florida so I can’t even think about sweaters.
Thanks for inspiring me to take a fresh look at a couple of St. John jackets from the ‘90s to replicate the knit military style in today’s post. Pairing them with jeans is a perfect quiet elegance look. I haven’t known what to do with them after all these years and was ready to consign them.
I recently snagged a woven leather bag on Poshmark that I had seen at a luxurious shop recently in Italy. Prices in Florence were $800 and up. Mine was considerably less. I suspect some bags are purchased as gifts and if they aren’t trendy name brands, the value isn’t recognized. Fortunately, I did!
Thanks for getting us in the mood for new fall trends.
Whilst I appreciate the “current” look (and the previous coastal grandmother) and can understand it’s appeal, it is, for me, a difficult concept when I cannot see how it’s wearable for a “Bright” colour palette like myself. Any ideas would be enormously helpful.
Thanks so much for what you do, Susan. I’ve learned lots of styling tips since I began following you several years ago. I am a winter and I purchased the Cafe Tweed Jacket (Talbots). My plan is to wear the jacket with navy and black pants, maybe navy or black tee I will also wear it to dress up my dark blue and black jeans. Online, there are two women modeling the jacket (slightly curly hair) and another woman with straight auburn color hair. I think the woman with the curly hair is also a winter, but she’s wearing a gold tee under the jacket. My skin is a shade or so darker (warm undertones) and I no longer wear gold because it competes too much with my skin tone. The second woman appears to be an autumn, I think. Now, I’m rethinking my purchase and wondering if I should go with the Military Jacket. I tried on the black with creme trim and they’re good colors for me, but the trim may limit my options though I would still get a lot of use. I may order the navy because there’s no contrasting trim, meaning it will be more versatile. What’s your view on the Cafe Tweed Jacket, yay or nay for winter palette?
I really liked your style summary: comfortable but neat, simple but not generic. Sounds like me! I’ve been following you for about a year and really love your approach. About leather bags: I recently bought a mini-crossbody from Portland Leather Company. It’s actually a “not quite perfect” bag, and I cannot see any flaw. The leather is substantial, and it is very well made. They frequently have 30% off sales. My bag was $80. It is super comfortable to wear.
Another Portland Leather Company fan here!
I appreciate how aptly you used “whackadoodle” in this entry!
You’ve got the Demellier tote. Wow, congratulations. I also love your earrings.
Greetje
Susan, I agree with you about Sophia Coppola’s style. I have been a fan of her style for quite a while. This may be a contradiction but from my perspective quiet dressing exudes confidence-quiet confidence.
Love the cropped sweater jacket from J Crew but how does a “woman of a certain age” wear it?! What can I put underneath? Thanks!
Hi Rebecca, see my post here for some styling ideas: How to wear this fall’s “lady jackets” I think these cropped sweater jackets are perfect for pairing with higher-waisted and fuller pants and longer skirts.
Dear Susan,
S.C, discreet chic, whackadoodle…I love it all!
We’re heading towards summer here, how do I achieve discreet chic without the aid of layers?
Best wishes,
Julie x
Understated elegance is a term I like. This implies quality, simplicity and timeless style, with no designer logos screaming, “Look at me!”
I am very tired of influencers with the “look expensive” message. What am I, a object for sale?