Vintage Yohji

On Day 4 of NYFW I went 90’s inspired with a silk slip dress, oversized asymmetrical blazer and dark lipstick. I absolutely love this look – it makes me feel like Winona Ryder in her heyday – its edgy vibe went perfectly with the shows we’d be attending later in the day.

When it comes to NYFW I think there is a lot of pressure to go out and buy an entirely new wardrobe. Everyone is bringing out their best pieces – it bags, statement shoes and rare finds – and dress to impress is a given. Unfortunately this can be very unkind to your wallet, so I wanted to break down today’s look to show you how you can stay on trend with items already in your wardrobe.

Everything I’m wearing in today’s OOTD is something I already owned well before our trip to New York.  I picked up this silk slip dress in the clearance section at Macy’s over 10 years ago when I was on a strict budget and needed a dress for a wedding. I think it cost me $40.  Fashion is cyclical and lucky for me, slip dresses are back in full force.

Below I’ve linked some of my favorite slip dresses out right now.  Each one is less than $100.

Slip dresses are super versatile – they look great with t-shirts, sweaters or just as a stand-alone piece – but I love to pair them with blazers to really pay homage to their edgy, 90’s vibe. The key to wearing a blazer with a slip dress is that is must be oversized. (The one exception being a cropped leather jacket.) You want the proportions to match, but the textures to be in opposition.  If the dress is silk, choose a wool blazer.  Going for the crushed velvet look?  Pair it with viscose.  My vintage Yohji Yamamoto jacket is asymmetrical just like the dress.  It’s lightweight fabric plays off the heavy silk and the strong shoulders add some heft to an otherwise feminine silhouette.

Finally, let’s talk shoes. Lace-up, wrap and anything with buckles or ties is huge right now. Whether it’s a pair of flats, boots or high heeled sandals, the added feature adds beautiful complexity to an otherwise simple ensemble.  My Nick Murphy wrapped sandals were purchased on a trip to Hong Kong 10 years ago!