How to build a fashion week wardrobe
Wearing: Cashmere Waffle Knit & Cashmere Midi Dress – Nuan Cashmere
Fashion Week, being the the year’s single biggest congregation of the Australian fashion industry, naturally presents a very much welcome opportunity to dress up to one’s heart’s content, and to wear all those amazing pieces you’ve collected throughout the year, that are unfortunately lost on your usual supermarket crowd. Outfits are planned weeks or even months in advance, with some setting their styling cogs turning since the previous year’s event. So where does one start to decide on what to wear? Here are some strategies I’ve learned to build a fashion week wardrobe.
1 Hero pieces
For your everyday outfit, I would always recommend just one hero piece – these are statement items that you want to command all the attention, with your other pieces playing supporting roles. But when it comes to fashion week, all bets are off, and it’s all about expressing yourself with gay abandon. The search for hero pieces can never start too early, with the cult items of the season, like the Gucci loafer or Vetements jeans, gathering waiting lists a mile long. The hero pieces in my fashion week wardrobe included a cashmere midi dress by Nuan, and a pair of dramatic lace-up leather pants.
2 Trusted basics
The importance of the aforementioned supporting pieces of your fashion week wardrobe should never be overlooked. There are those trusted basics that will form the base of every ensemble, like the classic silk shirt, the perfect white tee and the versatile silk camisole. May in Australia is that awkward in-between season when summer is gone, but it’s not quite cold enough to break out the winter layers. So to make sure your outfit is climate neutral, natural fibres are a must. I have built up a (perhaps unhealthy) collection of lightweight cashmere knits in every colour for transeasonal dressing. This cashmere waffle knit by Nuan was the perfect top to pare back my statement leather pants, topped off with some simple strappy heels.
3 Creative Layering
Layering is the ace up your sleeve for taking outfits to the next level, and fashion week is the ideal venue to experiment with unexpected layers. I love, for example, wearing tees or button down shirts under dresses, or skirts worn over pants. The classic layered formula is, of course, draping a handsome coat over the shoulders (who has the time to actually put arms in coats anyway!).
4 Comfort
Of course, it suits yours truly perfectly that MBFWA is comparatively laid back on the fashion week circuit, with flat shoes and slouchy fits being favoured as much as killer heels and pencil skirts. Sneakers, and all forms of flat shoes get a big ‘tick’ in my book. Not only do they take care of your poor feet as you spend the day rushing from show to show, they also present interesting contrasts when pared with dressy outfits. And contrast is something that I simply can’t get enough of.
Shop more fashion week ready luxe cashmere at Nuan.
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Great style tips! I’d follow these tips for Fashion Week or any week, really!
Jo | http://www.cutandchic.com
Great tips. Thanks for the style inspiration.
Liv
http://www.livforstyle.net
you always have the most awesome photos even on instagram, I’m always so drawn to them. thanks for the guide, i so wish i could attend fashion week outside of Hong Kong.
xo, Carla
http://www.carlaviolet.com
I wish I had read post like this before going to NYFW this past winter. I felt that I was underprepared and couldn’t decide what I should wear when I was there. But it was also hard because it was absolutely freezing outside. I will have to refer back to these tips when preparing for the next NYFW this spring.
oxo, Iesha (Lesh)
LivingLesh
I’ve only been to fashion week once and I remember that they most stressful part of it was putting outfits together. I definitely think that these can be applied to travelling too. Great post Jiawa!
X
I can so relate to that babe! I feel like there’s just a lot of pressure to dress up, and my wardrobe is full of basics so I am finding myself looking everywhere for dressier pieces haha.
Stunning shots as always Jiawa and useful advice, regardless of the occasion. I need those leather trousers! Judith xx
http://www.talesofjude.com
Thanks so much Judith! Yes, I guess FW dressing is just everyday dressing on speed hehe
Those pants are really cool!
Jil,
http://www.jildiamante.com
http://goo.gl/LfTL3n
Yes! Brilliant post, Jiawa. I’ll be saving this one for next year’s MBFWA, that’s for sure. It seems so simple, but having a hero piece in every outfit is kind of genius and makes total sense. Layering and being comfortable are, of course, very important when it comes to being creative and being able to last a whole day (and night). I remember how my feet felt last year – yikes! Hahaha.
Keep up the amazing work Jiawa!
Your fan girl,
http://www.lioninthewild.com
Great post. Well done. Thanks for this valuable advice
I love your style and your blog.
Visit mine if you want.
kisses
http://www.welovefur.com
such wonderful outfits! and love your tipps – will check again when fashion week season starts in europe!
xx
bianca
http://www.worryaboutitlater.com
I also start planning my Fashion Week wardrobe in advance and spend lots of time thinking about what to wear! These are so great tips!
Allegra xx
http://www.allegraghiloni.wordpress.com
LOVEEEEEEE
http://www.thestylemuse.co