Florence Pugh in Valentino and Tiffany via Vogue Winter 2023
Rag-Bone Maxine Cotton Button Down Shirt
Tory Burch Knit Jacquard Skirt
By Malene Birger Chalais Lace-Up Cotton-Blend Seersucker Tunic - On Sale!
& Other Stories Favorite Cut Jeans
Kate Spade NYC Holiday Map Scarf - On Sale!
Chelsea Paris Ace Eco Lambskin Mule Sandals
I was at a networking event in conversation with someone about what I do. After giving a brief explanation, my new acquaintance informed me that she used to love looking through magazines, tearing out pictures of outfits she wanted to recreate, and then pulling them together. I explained that I do something similar here on the blog and call it Fashion in Real Life because I try to substitute both more reasonably priced items than those usually shown in the magazines as well as pieces that can be considered more wearable by real women. She responded that it sounded interesting, but she didn't see how I could be doing it. I was somewhat surprised so asked her why not. She answered that it had nothing to do with me or my skills but with the lack of even remotely appealing outfits in magazines these days.
I spent the next few days going through magazines trying to see them from her point of view and was surprised at how few outfits I liked enough to want to recreate them. For this series, I've been pulling out and recreating ensembles that I feel are still relevant but that I found in magazines some time ago. I gave myself the task of finding at least one relatively recent outfit to recreate and came up with this one from the October issue of Glamour.
This Club Monaco trench is a great dupe for the Sandro tapestry coat, and it provides interest for any jean and tee shirt combo that you pull together to wear while running errands, but especially with these J Crew Factory jeans that are one of my favorite budget standby jeans. Paired with the Clare V. clutch and black suede mules from Neiman Marcus, this outfit is perfect for a casual evening out.
What do you think about the current state of fashion magazines? Is the styling any different from what it's always been in your opinion or has it now been taken to another level of being unrealistic for real life?
Shoes: $650 Shoes: Shoes of Prey $189.95
All Michael Kors Collection
Total: Approximately $10,193.75 Total: 324.83
Nothing better than being able to pull together an outfit that's 97% less than the original.
This page from June's Marie Claire is proof that you don't need to wear a lot of color o have a lot going on in your outfit. Black and white will always be my personal preferred outfit (except when I'm wearing all black). Nothing is as flattering, classic, or compelling as a black and white patterned coat layered over a turtleneck and pencil skirt, but the options laid out on the page here are not really in the realm of affordable work wear.
Coat: Vanessa Bruno Athe
Sweater: J Crew
Skirt: Hugo
Shoes: Kurt Geiger
These alternatives are going to let you still eat and gel back your hair to look as sharp and edgy as the model. The coat even has a leather collar just like the Reed Krakoff coat she's wearing above.
