My 2023 Style Reflections
A year end style review of what I wore, my top 10 style takeaways, and the style rules I no longer subscribe to.
Evolution. My style and wardrobe have evolved a lot in the last 10 years. Like many of you, mine was a natural evolution parallel to lifestyle changes and starting my career. Each year I make loose style goals. A few years ago, my goal was to intentionally build out my basics. During this “basics” period, the foundation of my wardrobe really started to take shape (a reminder to how important fundamentals are)! By 2023, I had “neutral and minimal” fatigue as so many of the outfits on social media looked like carbon copies of one another. All the neutrals and minimals prompted me to shift my style goal to focus on adding more personality (more passion! more energy!) and my OWN touch to my outfits.
Taking the time to reflect on where my style has been and how I want my style to evolve has proven invaluable — a little year end review! After a quick scroll of the 10,000+ photos and countless OOTDs on my phone from 2023, below are my top 10 style reflections, along with some of my favorite outfits, and the style rules I no longer subscribe to:
A (white, striped, or colorful!) button up shirt is a timeless classic, but I enjoy styling it more loosely — what I mean by that is, styling it either fully untucked or half tucked, and less buttoned up. Untucked gives an air of ease, casualness, and cool that I strive to achieve in my outfits. It has to be more “polished” (buttoned up and tucked in) when I wear to work, but I still try to incorporate some of that effortlessness by opting for a more oversized fit and pushed up sleeve.
My most worn button ups are the max shirt from Sezane (the white version styled in the middle and the denim version in the bottom right), the boyfriend style from With Nothing Underneath (the linen version is styled in the top right), and the Donna shirt from Classic Six (not pictured above, but trust me…the quality is beautiful and the details are so thoughtful! A white sneaker wasn’t an essential for me this year. I gravitated towards a comfortable ballet flat, loafer, or retro sneaker when styling casual outfits. A great reminder to not take any “essentials” list as a universal checklist for what you should have or be wearing — it is SO subjective!
Sam Edelman ballet flats have been a long time favorite (pictured in the top middle). They have so many great styles, at reasonable prices. I would prefer if they didn’t put hardware brand logos on the shoes — for some styles, you can remove the charms with the help of pliers. This year I added the Mansur Gavriel dream ballerina flat to my wardrobe (in red above) and I wore them constantly through the Fall. Incredibly comfortable — I’m looking forward to trying the square toe version next! I recently added these flats to my closet, and this is the next brand on my radar for ballets. Sharing more on the white loafers below :) I was veryyy slow to adopt shorter hemlines, but I really love a mini. Scarred by past mini skirts that fell at an awkward length with an overall poor fit — those aren’t the minis of today! A midi will always have a place in my wardrobe, but some outfits or occasions call for a more youthful vibe (maybe a touch risqué!?) and a mini achieves just that.
The mini blue dress is from BONDI BORN, a great brand for vacation wear. Their pieces can be a little pricey, but you can feel that quality in the weight of the fabric and construction — they’re pieces I will wear for years to come; The mini black dress from STAUD is truly a DREAM. It was one of those “had to have” pieces for me. The black leather mini skirt in the bottom left was a trusty essential through Fall. The wool green mini skirt is from Sezane — it’s simple, but it adds in vibrant, autumnal color and texture to any outfit. Neutrals aren’t a requirement for styling a chic and effortless outfit. Neutrals make up the foundation of my wardrobe, but in 2023, I started to weave in more color and printed pieces. This challenged me to try new color combinations and stretch my personal style. When you find a color or print that speaks to you, lean into it! The printed skirt below had a chokehold on me that I couldn’t shake and I was thrilled once it was mine. I can’t wait to wear it again this year.
A waistline doesn't always have to be defined. There is a lot of noise out there that defining the waist is key to styling a flattering outfit. This is just not true. An outfit doesn’t have to be flattering by another person’s judgment. I started to pay more attention to how I felt when wearing something — because whether it’s tucked or untucked, waist defined or not, how I feel when wearing something is all that matters.
The Marin sweater from La Ligne, styled in the ivory above is the perfect silhouette and length for me to style untucked. New customers can use code KELLY10 to save. The blue sweater is from Sezane, but recently sold out in most sizes. I don’t always need to add a 3rd piece to an outfit. If you’re unfamiliar with that term, a 3rd piece is considered to be the finishing item that makes an outfit more interesting — some classic examples are a jacket/blazer/coat, hat, scarf, belt, or statement jewelry. This fixation with “needing a 3rd piece” was preventing me from styling the more simple outfits that I was naturally drawn to. A 3rd piece does have it’s place, but it’s not an absolute. A simple look can feel finished just by how the pieces are actually styled together or how I decide to style my hair that day.
A white loafer was easily one of my most worn shoes of 2023! with a sock! A loafer adds a classic, masculine edge and the pop of white feels fresh and unexpected. I prefer a black sole, rather than a lighter tan/wood sole. I’m more inclined to wear the black sole year round — the lighter sole always feels too summery for me in during fall and winter.
Lots of fall/transitional outfit inspiration above! My white loafers are from Sezane, perhaps they’ve restocked? This style does run a little big and wide, so consider sizing down. I was extremely hard on these (they were often my walking shoe for Bailey) so I plan to replace this year. I have my eye on one of these four styles; one, two, or three — and if I really splurged…this style from Tod’s looks beautiful. I’d be lost without Maria at Rose Custom Tailor (located in Bethesda) — she is incredibly skillful and an absolute saint. She takes things up and in to make the fit just right. The sizing of clothing is so inconsistent (you should listen to this podcast about how sizing is actually determined) that a tailor is often key for getting that perfect fit. Tailoring can be pricey, so depending on the item, I pick and choose what I consider to be worth altering.
Cardigans, cardigans, and more cardigans. Layered over a base or worn solo, tucked or untucked, cardigans found their way into many of my outfits in 2023. I often wore a cardigan instead of a button up or t-shirt — I found the knit to give me a sense of cozy comfort and I love the added texture. More cardigan outfits to come in 2024!
The Old Navy cardigan, styled above in the red and brown, was a steal of a price and so versatile. Naturally, it’s sold out in most colors now. I also often wear the Sezane Gaspard cardigan (a little itchy if you have sensitive skin and runs oversized — I typically size down) and the Everlane oversized beige cotton cardigan (which looks to be on final sale right now! I sized down in this style.) I started to feel like “styling rules” were limiting my personal style. I’ve shared some of these tips in the past, as they can be helpful when looking for a little advice or a quick fix. If you’ve scrolled on social media, I imagine you’ve come across at least one (for example: sandwich style theory) and I mentioned others above. These “tips” became problematic to me when it felt like a strict do or don’t. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t follow these tips. It is to highlight that there are no absolutes when it comes to fashion and personal style. I encourage you to ask yourself how do you feel when you wear something? That is what matters.
I haven’t set my style goals for 2024, but I’m inclined to keep the same, or similar, goals as last year. I am actively tailoring the content I consume — what I’m listening to, watching, or reading — to help me sharpen and define my personal style. There is always more to learn and room for improvement. Some favorites for sharing thoughtful personal style content are Amy Smilovic (you can read her recent substack about personal style here), Irene Kim over at In Modas Veritas, Alison Bornstein on TikTok, and Heather Hurst of PigPen.
If you have any style reflections from 2023, style goals for 2024, or creators you love to follow for thoughtful style content, I would love to hear below!
Until next time,
Kelly
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Hi Kelly, every one of your takeaways for the year resonated with me, too, and it was a delight to scroll through your chic and elegant outfits! Thank you for reading and recommending my Substack in your newsletter! xo