082: Styling My New In Items
Putting my shopping addiction to work
There is, unfortunately, nothing more delicious than a new purchase. The glee of putting an outfit together, knowing you have a new tool to work with, a new piece of the puzzle. It allows you to expand the ways in which you express your style and brings a new spin to the outfits you’ve already worn and adored.
All my new items have been in line with my mission to achieve chic grandpa status this winter season. I’ve focused on classic yet stylish pieces that strengthen an outfit not through flashiness, but through the assuredness they bring. Grandpa chic is all about wearing timeless pieces that have proven their worth over the years, offering practical yet elegant perspectives, and trusting them to anchor an outfit. Below are three items in my wardrobe that are helping me achieve this and how I’ve enjoyed styling them recently.
Chanel Moccasins
The first, and arguably the most exciting, are my Chanel patent leather moccasins. If you were on the internet last year, you would have seen them on just about everyone’s feet. The first time I came across them, I was taken aback by the inky look of the shoe, the way they streamlined an outfit, and their quiet confidence. They remind me of the kind of house slippers you might find at your grandparents’ home, but with a completely modern, city twist. I must admit I got them a size too small since they only had one pair left, and because patent leather is less forgiving, I’ve only worn them once. Now begins the long but rewarding process of stretching them out so I can wear them all day without permanent damage.
If you read last week’s post on my not-so-practical guide to winter shoes, you would have already seen these.
I discovered them back in the summer, and when I went to Portugal, they were at the top of my list to bring home. Unfortunately, no stores had my size, so I joined the waitlist and eagerly refreshed my inbox every day, waiting for them to come back in stock. They finally did, randomly at 1am one October morning, and I pulled the trigger immediately. I’ve since loved the old English feel they bring to my looks — a complete departure from my usual heeled boot or kitten-heeled pump, but a welcome differentiator when putting my outfits together. A classic lace-up derby shoe is a grandpa chic staple, to be worn with anything from a solid pair of jeans to the sweatpants you’ve pulled from the back of your wardrobe.
As someone who has realised that red is indeed their favourite colour, I decided that in my attempt to introduce more colour into my wardrobe, a bright strawberry red jumper would do the trick — and this one from American Vintage did not disappoint. It has a slightly oversized fit and is truly one of the most comfortable knits I own. The pop of colour surprisingly doesn’t intimidate me and allows me to achieve what I always seek with new items: relinquishing control and trusting in the strength of a piece to do the talking. All I have to think about is putting the knit on, for the most part. It has also inspired me to expand other colour palettes in my wardrobe, possibly exploring green, olive, or khaki-toned wool trousers to bring more nuance to my looks and complement the red of the sweater.
Each of these pieces has reminded me that style doesn’t need to shout to be heard. The best additions to a wardrobe are often the quiet ones — the pieces that simply belong, that make you feel more like yourself every time you wear them. Perhaps that’s what I love most about grandpa chic: it’s confidence without noise, charm without effort. If my winter wardrobe could talk, it would probably have a faint British accent and insist on an early bedtime — composed, comfortable, and completely sure of itself.
Stay curious, stay stylish,
Morenike
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love your style so much Morenike xxx