The Outfit Remix
Zhuzhing the blazer, jeans, and pants you thought you'd styled into the ground
Every wellness article says that the worst thing you can possibly do to start your day is to look at your phone right when you wake up. Deduct even more points if your first scroll is social media or a shopping website. Which means that I’m down about 5 million aura points because I’m one of the 43% of Americans1 that looks at their phone within five minutes of waking up and I go straight to shopping and socials.
I always start with
, an ingrained habit since I installed the app 10+ years ago, since new arrivals thoughtfully align with my wake up time of 7am. Then I move over to Instagram to see what my favorite creators are wearing for a little inspo to get out of bed and get dressed.The best mornings are when I find my fashion white whale (thanks to
for sharing this term with the chat) in my saved searches, although those are admittedly few and far between. Other great mornings are when I’m jolted awake by an amazing outfit, which happens much more frequently. I’m a jacket person (or as Mirja Klein says below “a coat and jacket collector”), and scrolling through my outfit inspiration folder confirms that a key element of my favorite outfits is some kind of outerwear. If you’re the same, I’ve found three outfits that will refresh your styling outlook for the transitional dressing season we’re currently in.
Shopping Your Closet
A common thread among all of these outfits is that they’re a “remix your wardrobe” moment. A core item in each outfit is a piece that most of us probably already have in our closets, with a fresh take on how to style it. While all of these things are “wants vs. needs”, I enjoy an online secondhand marketplace peruse and am sharing some preloved pieces I’ve found with the same vibe. I’ve also captured the brand tags if only the exact item will do.
How To: Rethink Your Oversized Blazer
The Look: If you’re not already following Div Ravindran, I suggest running to her Instagram for styling videos like this and this, and for outfits like the one below.
My Core Styling: Even with an aesthetic shift to cinched waists, I still love an oversized blazer. Indyx2 says I’ve worn my Frankie Shop Bea blazer 22 times in the past year and I want to get to 50 wears by the end of 2025. I’ve been repeating the same blazer/jeans combo, and am so ready to shake things up as the weather gets warm(ish) in San Francisco.
The Outfit Remix: This is the minimalist outfit of my dreams. Why?
The juxtaposition of a sheer skirt against a structured oversized blazer lightens the entire outfit. Imagine this as a matching set. It would be a completely different look that leans heavily into corporate-core.
The two-tone slingbacks add depth and contrast. They’re also another lever to keep this outfit from going into full suiting territory.
Adding an oversized chocolate brown bag grounds the butter yellow and gives this a more casual look.
Secondhand Shopping: I’ve been thinking about adding a preloved sheer skirt to my wardrobe for the longest time, and the urge gets stronger every time I see
in her chic pre-workout skirt. I came across this beautiful Prada silk slip skirt in the same soft color family as the original Silk Laundry skirt, and this Ronny Kobo black mesh skirt that would pair flawlessly back to my Bea blazer.I’m also newly obsessed with these Miu Miu slingback loafers and they’re now at the very top of my wishlist. If these shoes are your white whale, they can be yours if you’re a lucky size 38 or 41.
How To: Jazz Up Your Jeans
The Look: Remember this Miu Miu fringe blazer that was all over fashion week in 2019? It’s been stuck in my head since I saw it on Jeanette Madsen3 and it’s still there because it remains ultra-relevant today.
My Core Styling: I wear a lot of blazers, and sometimes double blazers because you never know when you’re going to stumble into a chilly microclimate. I’m always happy to wear a variation of the below look, but also want to use my jeans as a base for something a little more dramatic.
The Outfit Remix: I love Denise Nørgaard’s modern take on styling this jacket, and my 90s pinch waist jeans are waiting for the moment I track it down.
The combination of the fringe and a checked pattern zhuzh up straight leg medium wash jeans in a way that a solid color blazer with clean lines just can’t.
The pops of burgundy in her shoes and bag gel with the classic colors in the pattern, creating visual interest without overpowering the jacket itself. Picture the burgundy as a true red. It would lower the overall tone of the look since there would be too much contrast and your eye wouldn’t know where to go first.
Secondhand Shopping: While I’m in constant search mode for this Miu Miu blazer, I saw a couple of similar pieces at resale. I try (and occasionally fail) to stay away from dupes firsthand, but all bets are off secondhand and this Rails fringe blazer is an accessibly priced close match. If you have a higher budget for investing, this Miu Miu tan suede jacket is for anyone on the fence about combining pattern and fringe.
, Karen Blanchard, and Elle Ferguson show us how versatile this jacket really is here, here, and here.How To: Play with Proportions
The Look: This look that Gala Gonzalez wore to the Loewe SS23 show recently popped into my feed via Elle, and the proportions feel just as right today as they did in October 2022, a hallmark of a truly phenomenal outfit.
My Core Styling: I have a pair of preloved black Tome pants that shamefully aren’t on my Indyx since I haven’t worn them in at least three years. I’m pulling them back out since they’re a great match for the wide leg, slightly cropped silhouette below, or you could put your own spin on this look with dark denim.
The Outfit Remix: In the past I’ve always worn my Tome pants with statement print tops as I was in that era. Now that I’ve shifted to a more minimalist palette, I’ll concentrate on shape and texture over pattern and print.
The proportions of each piece are creating strong visual appeal, from the wide leg that’s just cropped enough to show off the shoes, to the slightly longer length of the jacket that lends this outfit a utilitarian vibe.
The structure of the jacket and pant materials add some extra polish. Envision this in a flowy material. It would change the look from refined to slinky.
The statement heels bring excitement to a seemingly basic outfit and the deep brown colorway is very 2025.
Secondhand Shopping: If my budget in reality was as big as the one in my imagination, I’d go for the modern cinched silhouette of this tan Toteme leather blazer or this Celine cropped jacket. However, I’m closer to this vintage shacket or Lela Rose jacket. Normally I wouldn’t be into short sleeve outerwear, but after seeing this styling video I’m open to the possibilities of layering with a chic long sleeve or opera glove.
I also had to see how the Loewe balloon shoes were performing in the resale market and can confirm that they’re still a hot commodity. The sculptural heels of these Celine ruched pumps and these Bottega wedges will do nicely as an alternative in my fantasy budget.
Fashion Notes
I’ve been using Notes as a digital mood board of trends, silhouettes, influencers, brands, outfits, and retail data that spark my interest. I’m looking forward to the day when we have the ability to save Notes and organize them into specific folders. In the meantime, I’ll be interspersing these into my posts as a reminder of what I found inspiring in the moment to see if it still resonates next year.
Founder Talk with
This week I chatted with
, the founder of , about her journey as a fashion tech startup founder. We covered it all: her intro to estate sales in high school, the Poshmark hustle in college, her time at Google and YouTube, and of course her best secondhand scores and biggest fashion regrets.I highly recommend if you’re interested in fashion, tech, recommerce, career pivots, circular bridal looks, Old Céline, or the best vintage show in NYC.
That’s it for this week, thanks for reading! I’d love to know if there are any looks that jolted you awake this month or if you’ve recently found the item that’s been lingering on your wishlist for way too long. I’m also excited for next week’s post on a topic that warms my former accessories merchant heart (if you follow me on LinkedIn, you probably know where this is going).
If you like what you’ve read, please consider tapping the ❤️ or even commenting. It really helps give me a little more visibility as a free newsletter. See you next week!
Tina, I fall asleep to the image of that Miu Miu fringe jacket at least once a week. I am also a JACKET GIRL. My friends are always asking “why are you shopping for *another* jacket?” But a jacket really can MAKE a whole outfit!
You have the best ideas!