One great thing about London is how often the classic British fashion tropes really are worn by locals: Trenches, riding boots, a healthy dose of cozy cardigans—and only partly because English weather truly lives up to its dreary reputation. Season after season, there’s a prevalence of fashion—from designer to high street—that delightfully nods to that British heritage in that ’90s rom-com kind of way (kind of like if you were to go Paris and half the people you met actually wore berets).
Because I had five nights in town recently, I decided to investigate the locals’ style up close and kept tabs on the winter fashion items that seemed to tap into that polished London look and “old money” energy. The vibe is a subset of quiet luxury with a healthy dose of heritage fabrics, an inclination to prepare for rain, and a real affinity with anything that suggests one might have a second home in the country. I promise, these items only look luxe, as everything here is under $300.
As you’ve likely heard me mention recently, Londoners are my current style crush. A recent jaunt across the pond reminded me just how great the sartorial inspo is all over town, whether you’re lined up outside the coolest bakery in Shoreditch or wandering the picture perfect streets of Notting Hill.
There are always those quintessentially British pieces, if that’s your cup of tea—classic trenches, wool blazers, tweed, plaid scarves, with an air of quiet luxury. Then, there are the micro-trends you can’t help but notice when you’re visiting a new city. From effortless accessories to easy cool, easy outerwear to really good boots, here’s everything the cool kids are wearing in London right now.
As one of the fashion capitals of the world, London is home to countless trendsetters, tastemakers, and iconic and up-and-coming brands. Recently, I’ve heard tons of fashion people across the pond raving about ALIGNE. Naturally, I had to investigate (read: shop), and let me just say I love what I found. ALIGNE favors timeless pieces that mix and match seamlessly, and best of all, they’re chic and high quality but still reasonably priced. I have a feeling you’re going to love this brand as much as I do. Keep reading to shop the pieces you need.
I recently got back from a very busy fashion month where I attended London and Milan fashion weeks. While I certainly had a lovely time in Milan (my credit card would also agree with this statement), my experience in London is the one I can’t stop thinking about. I was only in town for about four days and my schedule was packed due to the number of shows and appointments I attended, but I still snuck in time to enjoy my gorgeous hotel, eat a meal I’ve been pining after ever since I heard Stanley Tucci gush about it, and of course, show off a few fun outfits along the way.
Since I didn’t have enough time to fully play tourist, this London city guide is quite a compact one filled with one hotel, one restaurant, and three outfits. So if you’re like me and find yourself on business in the city or have a quick pitstop along a longer trip, I encourage you to bookmark the two spots below as they are the recommendations I can’t stop talking about.
Launchmetrics Spotlight/Roksanda; Courtesy of Holzweiler;Courtesy of Frolov
It’s that time of year again—the air is getting chillier, pumpkin spice lattes are back, and people are considering unpacking their sweaters from storage. But for the style-conscious, only one thing consumes every thought in our brains: fashion month. Every September marks when editors, buyers, stylists, and style devotees worldwide scour the internet to see the latest street-style images, runway stills, and celebrity ensembles. Stumbling upon the latest trends, discovering new brands, or getting ample styling inspiration can be enthralling.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come without its own pitfalls—e.g., spending an almost egregious amount of scrolling trying to keep up with the latest trend reports from Copenhagen, Milan, Seoul, Paris, and so on. Luckily for you, we’ve got you covered. Not only did our team just run through the streets of Manhattan to report on New York Fashion Week. But, with London Fashion Week officially wrapped, we figured we’d do even more heavy lifting for you by reporting on the eight biggest trends from spring/summer 2024 collections. Sure, fall just started, but it’s never too early to learn about what’s coming down the pipeline (or across the pond)! Consider this your quick one-stop shop for everything you need to know.
Apart from the major fashion houses that have found ways to remain relevant for decades, most brands, like trends, cycle through periods of highs and lows. As hard as that may be to come to terms with, it’s the way of the industry. Consumers only have so much attention they can pay to fashion, which means that not every brand can sit at the helm forever. New names replace old favorites, and while we’ll never forget the designers and labels that came before, one of the most refreshing aspects of this business is the never-ending pool of fresh talent that brings forth unexpected trends and introduces us to unfamiliar perspectives.
As we speak, the next generation of industry-shaping designers is assembling around the world in established capitals like Paris and London as well as growing fashion bases like Cape Town and Barcelona. Rather than hold on to what we know, it’s our mission to usher in this collective of creatives, adding their pieces to our wardrobes and their stories into fashion’s history books. Leading the charge in 2023 are eight designers, all of whom have vastly different stories and craft vastly different pieces, ranging from ready-to-wear to couture. Keep scrolling to familiarize yourself with their work. Tip: Take notes. In fashion’s new world order, these are the names you’ll need to know.
Growing up with brothers, Alice Fresnel sought comfort in their oversize shirts and loose trousers, two articles of clothing that she could never find from womenswear brands. “No one was offering feminine yet comfortable clothes,” she tells us. Like so many designers before her, frustration was the root cause of her founding her brand, which she named Alfie. If she couldn’t find clothes that combined elegance and comfort, she’d have to make them herself. “I started developing the idea of Alfie while I was studying in Milan in 2019 at Bocconi University,” she says. “During this year, I had the chance to learn a lot about Italian craftsmanship and the beauty of a clean cut—I am a strong believer that the simplest idea stands the strongest and longest.”
For her debut collection, Fresnel studied the entirety of the ’90s, focusing on the era as a whole rather than just its fashion archives. “It is important to understand the broader picture and not focus on one theme only if you want to draw inspiration from a period in time,” she explains. “Naturally, my first muse was Christy Turlington. To this day, when I design a new collection, I think of how it would look on her and how she would style it.” When it came down to actually producing the collection, she was readying to move back to Paris after graduation and found an atelier in the French fashion capital that checked off every box. “Despite being told that it would be too expensive, my only focus was to produce really high-quality clothing that would last through time,” she says. “Three years later, our production is entirely based in Paris, and all our pieces are hand-cut before being sewn by the 13 seamstresses working there.”
Like so many around the world, Fresnel takes inspiration from the Parisian women she sees every day. “Paris is one of the only cities that is simultaneously full of energy and nonchalant, the same way Parisian women can be,” she says. “I design to dress these women, and I am always conscious of the fact that I want my collections to be easy to wear on any occasion. Elegant yet relaxed.”
Where do you go in Paris when inspiration runs dry?
I love to sit at cafés and watch people walk past. A single silhouette or attitude can catch my eye and inspire an entire collection. It is just so interesting to study how people hold themselves. How someone walks, talks, or dresses says a lot about them. But mostly, I am mindful of what my gut is telling me. I think creativity works best when it is guided by intuition.
There was never a question whether or not Mexico City–based designer Nia Thomas would go into a creative field when she grew up. “From as early as I can remember, I was always making things with my hands,” she says. “From hand-beaded necklaces I would sell at school for $5 to dance-recital costumes [that I would deconstruct and reconstruct], ideas were always brewing in my head, and art was a therapeutic release for me.” Thomas learned to sew at the age of just 13 years old in her aunt’s alteration shop and immediately began tailoring thrifted clothes to make them fit just the way she wanted them to. Becoming a designer and starting her own brand was practically written in the stars. “The moment I decided to pursue my career was after I had a fashion show/live-performance art presentation in October of 2018,” she recalls. “Seeing everyone’s reaction to the clothes and how I presented my concept was so empowering. People ran up to me after the show asking where they could buy the clothes immediately.” Two weeks later, about a year after she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA in fashion design, her e-commerce website was up and running.
From the very beginning, Thomas has been adamant about her brand being a catalyst for change in the industry. “I wanted to integrate my core values into a brand, which includes ensuring that we create things in small batches with responsible production, that all of our products are artisanally made with an extreme emphasis on natural fibers using only plant-based dyes, and that we highlight diversity whenever possible,” she explains. “We don’t retouch our images, especially of our underpinnings, as we want our brand to accentuate the feminine figure in all of its natural beauty.” Women play a huge role in influencing Thomas’s designs, as does travel and the city she grew up in and continues to call home. “My design inspiration usually comes from many of my muses—such as Donyale Luna, Solange Knowles, and Donna Summer—but also my travels in places like Morocco, Costa Rica, Peru, and Hawaii,” she says. “The diversity in NYC inspires me the most. The way that all of the most intriguing cultures from around the world seamlessly wrap up in the bubble that is New York never ceases to amaze me.”
Where do you go in NYC and Mexico City when inspiration runs dry?
Since I’ve been spending so much time between NYC and Mexico City, it feels as if I have endless inspiration. From the vibrant colors of Luis Barragán’s house to the intricate lines of the Guggenheim Museum, architecture always stimulates me creatively. Also, street style in each of the cities is always a vibe. Seeing how people put together outfits in ways I would never think of definitely informs my design process. My personal favorite currently are very chic couples that complement each other’s style. I am constantly sneaking photos of outfit styling details I see on the subway or when sitting in the park.
Cynthia Merhej never felt like she fit into the traditional fashion-designer mold. Instead of giving up, she made her own mold, one that would allow for an Arab woman like herself who didn’t come from a classical fashion-school background to find success and garner acclaim within the industry. “I love world-building, and I love clothes,” she says. “I came to the conclusion that if I really wanted to make this happen, I would have to create my own space where I could combine my love for storytelling with clothes.”
In 2016, this dream became reality when Merhej founded her line Renaissance Renaissance, which is now sold in some of the industry’s most trusted retailers, from Net-a-Porter and Nordstrom to Moda Operandi and Ssense. “It’s been a very wild journey, which has had a lot of experiments—many not working out—but I learned huge lessons,” she says. According to Merhej, the first few years of Renaissance Renaissance were humble ones. “I started out in my mom’s atelier doing small collections and pop-ups and selling directly to my friends,” she explains. (Both Merhej’s mother and great-grandmother were couturiers.) In the years since, she’s tested a bevy of other sales models, only to come to the conclusion that those quaint methods of selling and sharing her brand with the world were the most sustainable and responsible ones. “I see unchecked growth to be something that is terrible for designers, mentally and creatively, and terrible for the planet,” she explains. Like in those early days, she makes everything at her family’s atelier in Beirut, a city that inspires everything she does in life and work.
“In Beirut, we have been through and we go through a lot,” she says. “What inspires me about this city is that we are made very aware of the temporality of everything.” Because of that, Merhej says that its inhabitants enjoy every second of life, dressing up and going out frequently, all the while knowing that everything could change in an instant. “There is a constant juxtaposition of decadence and decay that is very unique to us here and which inspires my outlook on life and my work,” she explains.
Where do you go in Beirut when inspiration runs dry?
Personally, I am very introspective, so whatever helps me recharge. Sometimes, I don’t have to go anywhere, and sometimes, it could mean a day at the beach.
For Gabriela Comella, following in her mother’s footsteps was never the plan. The daughter of beloved Barcelona-based fashion and interior designer Gema Sach, Comella went in the direction of journalism rather than design, but it wasn’t long before genetics took over and the itch to create set in. “I was always interested in aesthetics, so I started to create those bags I was looking for and couldn’t find at the market,” she says. According to Comella, at the time that she decided to go off on her own and start Gabriel for Sach in 2015, there was a gap in the accessory offering. She was constantly searching for bags that felt unique but also comfortable and practical. Nothing felt like her. “So I started to do my own patterns and search for local providers,” she explains. “Fortunately in Spain, there is a certain tradition for leather and production. Seeing how it was possible to convert my designs into a product was something that got me hooked and motivated me to continue.” In her mind, this was the best possible way to start—without the goal of becoming a designer clouding her creativity. “Without the pressure,” she says. At first, the brand lived inside her mother’s, but before long, she established herself but kept the name to remember her origins.
Comella’s surroundings, like her mother’s influence, play a huge role in her brand’s identity. “Everything is designed and made in Barcelona,” she says. This allows there to be a constant connection between herself and production. That way, her pieces are always changing and improving until the perfect final product is reached. “It allows you to be present in the whole production process, from the designing until the assembling,” she says, adding that the city’s diverse landscapes and architecture provide endless inspiration and vision as well. “I love to see how architects combine and play with color, materials, and forms. Fortunately in Barcelona, you can find a wide variety of modern and contemporary buildings, which I love to walk around.” Like in architecture, Comella feels compelled to design pieces that have more than one use and purpose, giving them a timeless character. “I hate that fashion has to be linked to temporality and expires every season. That’s why I defend pieces that last over time,” she says.
Where do you go in Barcelona when inspiration runs dry?
If you drive one hour north, you can get to the Costa Brava. It’s my way of taking distance from my city routine, [where I] hike, swim, and refresh my brain to go back to inspiration. Nowadays, city life is very demanding, so one of my better ways to reset and get back to it is staying two days a week away from that dynamic and just touch the ground. This is how the most genuine ideas emerge.
New York City–based publicist and creative consultant Camilla Mayer started her NYC- and Phnom Penh–based resort brand Nary in May of 2020 alongside her two sisters, Stephanie Mayer-Guidi and Sarah Mayer. Named after their Cambodian mother, Phannary or Nary for short, Nary was founded with the goal of honoring her and her survival of the Khmer Rouge. Khmer Rouge, or the Communist Party of Kampuchea, took control of Cambodia in the ’70s and was responsible for one of the most significant mass killings of the 20th century, with nearly two million fatalities, according to the BBC. “Above all, our foremost objective was to pay tribute to our mom’s heritage and make a positive impact in this developing country,” Mayer says.
To combat the dominance of fast-fashion production in Cambodia, Mayer and her sisters made a deliberate choice to establish a sustainable and ethical brand based in the city where their mother grew up, Phnom Penh, which is home to a number of small sewing centers. “By doing so, we create safe and meaningful employment opportunities for women who are vulnerable to exploitation in the realms of labor or sex,” she says. At these sewing centers, local women craft Nary’s beloved shirred resortwear using leftover deadstock materials from fast-fashion brands that manufacture nearby and oftentimes abandon excess fabric. “We tap into this secondary market by sourcing all our fabric locally, thereby significantly reducing our carbon emissions and limiting more waste,” Mayer adds.
As part of their mission to support the city their mother grew up in, rather than opening the first Nary store in NYC, where it would almost certainly be easier and more convenient to kick-start a brick-and-mortar business, Mayer and her sisters just opened one in Phnom Penh. This, despite being difficult, is what Mayer considers one of the many ways that Nary stands out against other brands starting out in NYC.
Where do you go in Phnom Penh when inspiration runs dry?
When we face a lack of inspiration, we make it a point to travel around Southeast Asia, reconnecting with its people and culture. This region is incredibly diverse, with stunning mountains, oceans, islands, and rainforests. It also has bustling cities like Bangkok, Thailand, which reminds us of our home city of New York City. The kindness and distinct culture of Southeast Asia greatly influence our designs and drive us to showcase them through our brand to a U.S. audience.
“Being a ’90s kid and growing up in the era of the rise of MTV, supermodels, and daytime soap [operas], I was a 5-year-old kid that was left in a chokehold, and I mean that in the best kind of way,” says Lukhanyo Mdingi of the inspiration behind his namesake fashion brand, which he founded in Cape Town in 2015. “The creativity and energy that centered around these worlds is something that was instant.” According to the designer—who was a finalist for the LVMH Prize in 2021 and one of three winners of the Karl Lagerfeld Prize that same year and has been featured in British Vogue—inspiration isn’t something he’s ever been short on, whether he’s getting it from the community he’s built around himself and the brand, those ’90s references he grew up on, or Cape Town itself. “There is a relaxed and eclectic sensibility that is woven within the city of Cape Town,” he says. “I feel that this is a sentiment that is indicative of the LM cosmology.”
Between all of these areas, though, Mdingi says that it’s his community that he owes his success to the most. “The premise of Lukhanyo Mdingi began with intentional and considered design,” he explains. “It was through the practice of design where I realized the value of collaboration. We’ve been fortunate enough to have an extraordinary cabinet of people that have added their time, talent, and trust as a means of service to the LM brand, and it’s been through their ingenuity and spirit that has made the label what it is today.”
Where do you go in Cape Town when inspiration runs dry?
My home or my studio. These are immediate spaces to me where I’ve created my own universe. These places spark a fire in my heart and bring peace to my mind.
Frustrated by the imbalance that’s present between men’s and women’s suiting for corporate workplaces, Sydney-based designer Gabriella Pereira left her career in finance to begin another in fashion. “I continually struggled to find chic and simple luxury suiting that was ethically made,” Pereira says. “My male colleagues seemed to have a plethora of options, but I felt as though the professional woman who wanted to look chic while not worrying about what to wear was not thoroughly catered for.” Now, after launching her brand Beare Park during the pandemic in 2021, Pereira uses the highest-quality materials found in Australia—mostly Australian merino wool—and has them woven in century-old mills in the Biella region of Italy. “From there, I selfishly design the collection around what I wish I had in my wardrobe,” she says, making only limited batches of each garment and relying on local master tailors to ensure that the craftsmanship in each piece can be felt when you put it on.
Sydney’s influence on Beare Park goes far beyond just manufacturing, though. “The brand has a distinct sensibility of ease and optimism that is synonymous with Sydney,” says Pereira. “My constant proximity to Sydney’s glorious beaches definitely influences the fact that every Beare Park piece can be effortlessly paired with a chic flat sandal.” For her, an ideal outfit consists of an oversize wool suit, an organic cotton tee, and sleek sandals. Dressing simply like this is at the core of the Beare Park world, Pereira insists. The ability to find pieces that check every box, after all, is the reason Pereira founded her brand in the first place.
Where do you go in Sydney when inspiration runs dry?
When I feel stuck creatively, I find there is nothing better than clearing a day’s schedule and spending some solo time with the heavenly freedom of no commitments. To invite true inspiration, I have to spend time with a calm and clear mind. Taking time away from our Redfern studio to be with my own thoughts is an important part of my creative process. It’s a challenge to pull away from the day-to-day of the business, but sometimes, the best inspiration will come during an unscheduled day at home spent cooking, painting, going for a long, meandering walk or drive. It’s been a real challenge for me to learn that you can’t schedule creativity and good ideas.
“I’ve always wanted to make clothes,” says Talia Loubaton, founder of the London-based brand Liberowe. “I was sketching before I could write my name.” It wasn’t until she was 15 years old, though, when she was at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris at the retrospective exhibition of Christian Lacroix that she realized exactly what it was that she wanted to design. “I remember being blown away by all the work, the details, the embroideries, and laces. … There was a little black bolero jacket styled on a puffy dress,” she recalls. Stuck on it, Loubaton says it was then and there that she knew jackets would be her life’s work. All these years later, despite a brief journey into knitwear during her studies at Central Saint Martins, they still are.
Loubaton started Liberowe in 2021 with the Raja Signature Jacket, which was inspired by traditional menswear jackets in India, called sherwani, that she saw during her travels in Delhi. “They reminded me of the opening scene of Manon 70—my favorite French movie from the late ’60s—starring Catherine Deneuve, in which she wears a Nehru-collar jacket,” she says. “I came back to London and started making my own version of sherwanis—a little more feminine yet not too much. I reshaped it again and again until I found the right balance and a perfect fit.” The Raja Signature Jacket remains a core piece for Liberowe and is one Loubaton develops and adapts season after season.
Though a majority of her design inspiration comes from growing up in Paris and hearing stories of it in the ’60s from her grandmother and her travels in India, her current home base in London isn’t irrelevant in the least bit. “London inspires me for its multiculturalism and its freedom,” she says. “What amazes me here, in comparison to Paris where I grew up, is the absence of judgment and prejudice against one’s look. Religions are expressed freely. Nothing is a taboo. There is no dress code, no lines to follow. It feels like a great blank canvas.” The city’s energy is also partially responsible for pushing Loubaton to begin this entrepreneurial journey in the first place. “There are always great shows, exhibitions, new shops, libraries, and endless museums,” she adds.
Where do you go in London when inspiration runs dry?
To be honest and luckily, inspiration hasn’t run dry yet. My issue is often having to edit the collection and narrowing down ideas. But yes, going to a fabric shop always makes me electric. The contact of fabric, the feel of the drape, the shine, the texture, it’s always magic.
Who Is She is a column that unveils the most elusive tastemakers on the internet.
The term “fashion girl” is an overworked cliché that I’d rather not use at this point, but let this be the 1% of cases where the phrase is actually applicable. If I could assemble all of the qualities that embody what it authentically means to live, breathe, and consume fashion, one of the first people that comes to mind is Jordan Grant.
Quite literally, fashion is a resounding part of her life. She’s the content director for Heat—a London-based commerce company “curating new luxury for a new generation of consumers.” Geared toward a Gen-Z audience, the brand takes the viral sensation of mystery boxes to a whole new level vis a vis incremental drops including high-end designer pieces. Heat has recently secured seed funding from conglomerate LVMH among others, so it’s fair to expect big things. Grant is the eyes and mind that scopes and curates brands featured within each mystery box.
But aside from her Heat duties, she is a defining figure of the London fashion scene with the invites to back it up. She’s a regular of every exclusive fashion party (Miu Miu and Loewe seem to particularly love her), and when Simon Porte Jacquemus convened his crew of muses to “sit” front row in row boats along the historical banks of Versailles, she was one of them. TikTok has even coined her a fashion icon.
Now onto another cliché—the pervasive fascination of “quiet luxury.” Grant is probably its antithesis. As the British creative tells me over video chat, she’s not a fan of the clean girl aesthetic—a sentiment which really shouldn’t come as a surprise to any that’s observed her bold wardrobe choices. Not many can pull off a full Schiaparelli look or earrings that jet out like static jellyfish tentacles, and so convincingly, but she throws them on as if they were simply black trousers made to coordinate with everything. Nothing is really off-limits when it comes to her style (unless it’s soap brows!), which is precisely why she’s on everyone’s mood board. Taking a break from running around London doing fashion things and making top-tier TikToks, the city’s consummate It girl explained why Miuccia Prada is “mother,” why good glam and flashy accessories are always important, and the tenets of a stop-and-stare kind of outfit.
How did you get into fashion, and what was your upbringing like?
When I was around 14 years old, my mom had a secondhand designer and vintage shop in Bath, which is where I’m from. I worked in her shop every weekend, and sometimes, I would go there after school. So that’s kind of how I started to learn about different brands and vintage pieces as well as the resale value of things. But I was always just really into fashion. I loved all the pieces, and I loved dressing up. I think that’s all I ever wanted to do. That was always my dream. I wanted to move to London to do fashion—I never really had my sights on anything else.
Growing up, were you around a lot of fashionable people other than your mom?
Not really. I’ll be honest. Bath is not a very fashion-forward place.
Did you go to school or university for fashion at all?
I did a short course at the London College of Fashion—it was like an introduction to fashion. Then as soon as I finished school, I started doing fashion PR and marketing, but throughout my time at university, I also did loads of different internships. I worked at Versace, Tom Ford, andGarrard. I was always trying to have different work experiences, and I loved it. Then as soon as I graduated from university, I went straight to Dubai to work for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia as an intern.
How did that happen?
I always had in my mind that I wanted to work for a magazine—that was just always my thing. Vogue was launching in the Middle East, and I was just fascinated by that and the imagery in the Middle East, so I basically just hunted everyone down on LinkedIn, personally emailing them like, “Please, can I come and lend a hand?” Eventually, someone from Harper’s Bazaar was like, “Yeah, cool, we actually have an event, and we really need people to help—can you come in like two weeks?” And I was like, “Yes!”
That’s actually a good lesson in how to be tenacious and really go for what you want.
I remember getting blocked from loads of companies as well. I was emailing so much. They would all start bouncing back, and I was like, “Okay they blocked me with a different email!”
During your time at Harper’s Bazaar Arabia is when you started to gain a following on social media—what was that like?
Yeah, that’s definitely where my following started to grow. I think people were just really interested to see what I was up to, like the different things I was doing. Whether it was organizing events or you know, it definitely looked glamorous, but it was long hours, and it was hard work. But I think it was fun and exciting, and I loved showing that as well.
I lived in Dubai for four months, but I carried on writing for Harper’s Bazaar when I got back to London. They actually offered me a job at the end of it! I was also managing their Instagram, and I really wanted to apply that skillset that I’d learned in social media over in London. So when I got back I was like, “Okay, let me go and see if I can do this in London and take on multiple clients,” which I did.
How did you get involved with Heat?
Basically, I was working with the founder Joe [Wilkinson] on another company, and then shortly after, he started Heat. It was a small team then—like a team of three. So after he started it, he was like, “I want you to come work on Heat too.” We had only ever met in person I think like once or twice and very briefly—we used to always just talk via email. [Joe Wilkinson and Mario Maher] then brought me on to do their launch campaign, manage their socials and their content as well as a bit of creative direction, so I was doing all of that. But obviously, in a startup, it’s very “all hands on deck,” so I was also helping source designers and pieces as well as packing items. It was a bit of everything, which was amazing! From then on, the company just grew, and obviously, me and Joe later got together as well.
That’s definitely not a bad outcome! So the concept of Heat is sort of like these mystery drop boxes, right?
We do one to two drops a month, and the customer doesn’t know what’s going to be inside. However, we do kind of tease the brands that will be inside for that drop. We also have different boxes—we have a streetwear box, a contemporary box, a homeware box, and a super-brand box. We also have mono-branded boxes where it’s just got one brand inside.
Do you help source the designers and the product that goes into the mystery boxes?
For sure! So I curate the designers that go inside, picking out the best pieces and then putting pieces together too because we essentially want to give the customer an outfit or at least a bag and shoes. But yes, putting those pieces together is really fun.
You’re basically styling people?
Yeah!
What do you look for when scouting emerging designers and names for Heat?
We like to combine hot, sought-after brands and pieces while putting people onto new brands that they might not be familiar with. So I think for me that would be brands like Knwls, Heaven, and Diesel. Obviously, some people know these brands, but sometimes, there are certain customers or regions that don’t.
Clearly, you know what you’re talking about when it comes to fashion—who are your top three designers, dead or alive?
So the mother is Miuccia Prada, of course. I love Prada and always have. Then Glenn Martens and I really love what Daniel Roseberry is doing at Schiaparelli.
Yes! I personally endorse all three of those names. But definitely, Schiaparelli is having such a huge revival, and I’m so glad that people are appreciating it and its long-standing heritage.
It was crazy when Kim Kardashian wore, Schiaparelli, I think it was two years ago, and everyone was like, “Oh my God, who is this emerging designer?” And I was like, “Oh my, I’m having a meltdown.’”
Crazy! So what are some names of emerging designers that you’re currently into?
Okay, so I really love this designer that I’m wearing right now, Hugo Kreit. I actually have an addiction to his jewelry. He’s amazing! I just love big costume jewelry in general. I’m also into Martine Rose and this brand called Vaillant Studio. Then there is this designer who makes these mega-fluffy boots and other just really cute shoes called Western Affair.
You wear a ton of emerging labels, a lot of times before they hit the mainstream. How do you first discover these brands?
Sometimes, I even have this moment where I’m like, “Okay, I just wanna go and find new brands and small designers,” so I’d like to go to Depop and have an hour-long rummage there. I’ll just find cute niche brands or people making cute jewelry. But otherwise, it’s Instagram. TikTok has put me onto a lot of good brands, too, I’ll be honest. Sometimes, I just get in a TikTok hole, and I’ll find some chick that has crazy style, and then I’m like scrolling through all her stuff and seeing what brands she likes.
You have a gift of taking pieces that don’t look all that exciting—for instance, a super-preppy polo—and ultimately making them look cool and feel fun. How do you typically approach constructing an outfit once you get a piece?
For me, it’s over-accessorizing. I’ll be like, “Let’s add some bangs and add some earrings.” I’ll ask, What lip are we doing? What eye are we doing? I think it’s those two which tie it together—the accessories and the glam. So even if it is a plain dress, I’m gonna do a crazy hairstyle with it and some weird makeup—unless the outfit is screaming, which then maybe I won’t go so crazy on the hair and makeup. But ultimately, I think it’s about combining the hair, the glam with the look, and making it feel like part of an era.
How do you feel about trends? Any that you’re loving or loving to hate?
The trend that I’m loving I guess is vintage—that always has been my vibe forever. I’ve always loved vintage pieces because of my mom’s shop for sure, so now that vintage is back in, that’s one trend I’m liking. And then trends that I’m not liking… Soap brows definitely need to leave the building.
Since your outfits are so expansive aesthetically, are there any designer collections, past or present, that you find yourself referencing?
I think a standout moment is Miu Miu F/W 21, which was the show on the mountains. It was like with all these layers and stuff— loved that. The Chanel supermarket runway show, I always think about a lot.
Is there anybody who you look to for your inspiration?
I have so many photos saved on Pinterest and Instagram for glam, but in terms of style, it’s hard—there’s not a particular person. There are all these people that I find on Pinterest and Instagram. I’m like, who are they? But I think it’s less about looking to people and more just looking at previous campaigns. One that stands out to me is from the Galliano-era Christian Dior in the 2000s. The girls are really sweaty, and they’ve got the big glasses on.
What’s on your list of holy-grail fashion items?
One would be the Cartier Crash on a red crocodile strap. Also, the Chanel supermarket basket, which I’ve always wanted. At the moment, I’m just looking for really cute vintage Manolos for the summer.
Is there something that you currently own that you’re just like, “I love this so much I can’t ever part with it”?
I’m gonna have to say it’s probably my white mini Hermès Kelly, which I got in January in Paris—she’s my baby girl!
Judging by your Instagram, you’re big on travel—is there a favorite destination that you’ve been to recently?
In March, I had my birthday on the Red Sea, and we sailed down the sea toward Egypt. It was incredible. It was like being on Mars basically. Some of the places we went to felt so uninhabited. We also went Jet-Skiing between these massive rocks, and there were little baby sharks all around us. But my favorite place ever is Capri. You feel like you’re in a movie, just like old Italian glamor.
Capri is one of the top places I want to go to this year—I keep hearing there are so many amazing places to shop there.
There are! They’re small, but the selection is chef’s kiss.
Do you have a favorite place in London?
For food, my favorite place is Gold in Notting Hill. The mushrooms on toast is delightful. And if I’m like, “I just wanna walk around,” I love going to Regent’s Park.
Instagram or TikTok?
TikTok. Sometimes, I can spend hours on it. I think Instagram is more curated and more manufactured—for me anyway. TikTok is kind of like my fun place to be honest.
What’s the last great movie or TV show that you’ve seen?
The Real Housewives is my Super Bowl—I watched all of them. I also watched RocknRolla last week, which I’ve probably seen like 15 times. It’s a classic for me. Any Guy Ritchie movie I love.
What’s cool to you right now?
I think investing in things that you are passionate about [and] exploring those passions. I’ve always been into homewares, so I went and did pottery classes. I’m also going to be doing a glass-blowing course. So these are just all the things that I’m passionate about, just like a personal hobby. I’m gonna put the time and money into it, and who knows what will happen?
I was recently lucky enough to spend a few weeks in Europe, stopping first in the United Kingdom before heading to the South of France. I spent my first week in London, a city that is always fun for a fashion observer like myself. The style in London is much more polished, especially compared to California, where we tend to have a more relaxed take on fashion. I love walking around the city and taking in all the street style, noting the more refined way of dressing that feels both quintessentially British and right on the pulse of current trends.
I noticed a few summer trends London fashion people have fallen particularly hard for, spotting the same handful of pieces all over the city. While the unpredictable London weather plays a role in which trends take off, certain summer styles marry seamlessly with the city’s elevated aesthetic. TikTok’s favorite quiet-luxury trend, for example, is a normal style in the UK’s capital. Like every transatlantic visit, I returned from my trip feeling inspired to introduce some of London’s favorite trends into my everyday wardrobe. And since London’s weather is a bit cooler than California’s, most of these are items I can wear straight through fall. From tailored trousers to summer’s prettiest shoe style, these are the six best London trends to add to your wardrobe.
No one can deny that every city has its distinct energy—history, art, food, music, and various cultural identities intertwine to lay the groundwork for each one’s unique personality. While no two cities are the same, the stylish people living there are no different. No matter the zip code, you can always spot the local fashion set donning a few similar things. The crossover you see reflected in street style can partly be attributed to the ever-expanding global fashion industry and a boom in social media. But what resonates globally isn’t just trends. More often than not, basic clothing is what you’ll see crossing borders more.
The universal appeal of staples is proof great style isn’t limited by geographical location. Instead, an arsenal of great basics determines it. And the girls that get that foundational truth can be found wearing their staples in the streets of Paris, London, New York, and beyond. But what exact pieces are making the cut? In search of the answer, I did hours of image research to identify 29 basic clothing items that women worldwide wear on repeat. Considering each item’s timelessness, functionality, seasonality, and popularity, these are undoubtedly the best foundational basics. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
We turn to style setters across the globe for sartorial inspiration. And two cities, in particular, where we tend to find a range of street-style ideas happen to be London and Paris. The fashion crowd in both of these areas often step out in outfits that are equal parts effortless and forward. On that note, elevated basics tend to be front-runners in many of the said ensembles because of their ease and chicness.
With that in mind, we decided to scroll through the Instagram feeds of various fashion people in London and Paris to pull out the trendy basics that are go-to’s and probably will be staples throughout 2023. Keep scrolling to check out the versatile pieces both Parisians and Londoners are all about. If you too want to add one of the items to your own offering, there’s a plethora of shopping inspiration coming your way as well.
If there’s anything Londoners know well, it’s bold, grungy style. With the genesis of the punk fashion subculture based in London, leather is a mainstay in the British fashion scene. But these days, it doesn’t always have to be hard-core to be bold. Some of my choice London fashion people are opting for double-leather outfits, modern silhouettes, and dichotomous styling for statement leather looks.
Whether or not you’re a daring dresser, I’m convinced leather has a place in every wardrobe. A classic pair of leather boots, an easy leather jacket, or an everyday leather bag are simple ways to integrate leather into your closet. If you’re a little more experimental, longline leather shorts, a leather blazer, and patent pieces are polished yet adventurous ways to add in this bold material.
I’ve turned to some of the chicest Londoners for inspiration on how to leather up this winter. Plus, I added in some can’t-miss shopping below for upping your leather wardrobe.
