Recycle Your Fashion

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find myself going through my closet asking when was the last time I wore a specific item. Sometimes the answer is fairly recent, and other times I realize it’s time to pass the piece on. However, every now and then there is a third option where I decide to reintroduce said item back into my current wardrobe to see if I still like it. This week I didn’t go through my physical closet but I did take a peek back into some past looks. Being sick this last week I haven’t been out bed much, but it’s given me plenty of time on the computer. I decided to do some electronic purging and in the process I found photos of some old outfit goodies I would still wear today. I haven’t had the chance to deep dive in my closet yet but I know I still own the jacket and boots that created the majority of this look. Despite it being about 7 years since these pictures were taken, it’s cool to recognize how although trends change, much of who we are, and what like can stay the same. Today I’m gonna show some old pictures and talk about one of my favorite outfits from when I was 18 with updates for you on how I would wear and style it differently today.

Right off the bat I can tell you that I still love this jacket and these boots. One thing I got right is letting the boots be the bold statement and not trying to add in too many other elements. Considering that the boots are pretty funky, black is never a bad pairing option for dressing them up a bit. I give myself a pat on the back for that. However, I completely hate that I paired blue jeans with this look. I don’t think there is anything wrong with blue and black together generally but the blue jeans I choose for this outfit don’t fit. I think they take away more than they add. Having this random blue in the middle of all black and gold, without any other context makes me question the overall aesthetic. That is never what you want when you’re making a fashion statement. For the put together image I was going for, it would be much better if I had worn black jeans or a black dress and tights. Today, if I was going to wear this outfit again I would make that change first.

This look would be much more chic, and cohesive without the blue jeans. By comparing the black and white vs the color photos above you’ll see the difference I am talking about. At the time of these photos, the reason I left the jacket buttoned all the way up was because I didn’t know what shirt to wear underneath. Of course I don’t think this was a wrong choice, but functionally speaking I would want a shirt that goes with the jacket as well. For this look I would wear a black camisole with some lace, tucked in, or a black blouse that would be similar length to the jacket. One with some lace or flower detailing but no color. That way the look is maintained with or without the jacket –making it much more practical for every day wear. For pants I would definitely go with black as I mentioned above. I have a favorite pair of black jeans but black leggings or dress pants could also work. A black dress and tights is also an option. Off the top of my head I would definitely stick with a fitted dress as opposed to something flowy, so the jacket isn’t trying to compete too much with a different cut of clothing or taking away from the boots.

For accessories I would stick to the black theme and go for a small shoulder bag or a clutch. For size I wouldn’t do anything too bulky, I would really want to keep the statement of the shoes and only add color in when it comes to jewelry. For jewelry I would try to match the gold detailing of the boots with some statement earrings. Bold earrings would be my first choice, but if for some reason I wasn’t wasn’t feeling big earrings or I wanted to do multiples I’d go with some small pearl studs or gold studs. In the photo above I can see I’m wearing a ring but it doesn’t really do anything for the outfit. Presently I would choose to wear some simple black or gold rings with an ensemble like this or nix the rings altogether.

Last but certainly not least is my hair. I am not a hair stylist or hair professional but I try to style my hair akin to my outfit as much as possible. I like my hair down in these photos, but for a more coordinated look I would put my hair up in a bun to smooth everything out and add structure. I think a bun would add some class, and pull details together to make the everything feel finished and seamless.

After those tweaks you have an updated outfit that I would definitely wear again today. Who knows, maybe you’ll see some updated pics soon!