I’ve discussed this a few times, but my daily style has relaxed a bit recently. I mean, I’m still regularly the most overdressed person in the room, but the overall temperature has decreased a few notches.

In fact, on a recent Friday night, I wore jeans out to dinner! Like actual denim! And you know what, I was still able to cause a stir— and be comfortable!

So, let’s chat about the elements involved in this much more pared-down wardrobe. I’m going to break it out by major category and share my go-to basics.

1. Colors— Not to be a total cliche, but nothing is more cool-girl than a ton of black! To quote Miranda Priestly, black for basic— groundbreaking! I live and die by a rotation of foundational black pieces in every category, including most of my activewear. My other key wardrobe colors are chocolate brown, tones of white and grey, hot pink and tomato red. In my preppier days, I wore a lot of blue, but I now rely on these starker hues, just in a wide array of textures.
2. Prints— There’s this very snobby style perspective that prints are gauche or tacky. As a self-professed major fashion snot, I am here in defense of prints. Referencing my preppy past, I still love a banker blue stripe. I recommend going straight to your favorite consignment/thrift store and scouring the racks for vintage Ralph Lauren! J.Crew may be a bit iffy these days, but they still throw a good stripe. I also rely heavily on a neutral-based leopard print. While I bypassed the wildly ephemeral leo-print jean phenomenon, I do have a trio of tops that are wardrobe workhorses— a J.Crew woven with just a hint of a feminine ruffle, a heavyweight H&M popover purchased during a NYC trip when I was not quite work-appropriate enough, and finally a blink & you’ll miss it cropped cardigan that I incorporate into way too many scenarios. I will do a soft floral, but join the print snobs and stop at polka dots— that just ain’t me!
3. Silhouettes— Let’s do this by season, how fun!
   • Fall— in most of the northern hemisphere, it is still blazes well into October! Therefore, the mere thought of sweater weather makes me want to evaporate into a pool of sweat. But by my birthday in late September, I am throwing a barn jacket over my crop top or pairing a cardigan with a slip dress. This is my favorite season for dressing for the day, because fall is a cheeky bastard– 50 degree ams with afternoons ablaze! Blame my summers spent at prep school, but I adore a crewneck knit with a broken-in short and loafers. Extra credit for an additional knit tossed over the shoulders.
   • Winter— Diane Keaton may be the Queen of the turtleneck, but God help me, I am the Princess! I delight in a well-made turtleneck of all shapes, sizes, colors, textures, etc. My favorite way to wear it is unexpectedly, which is so par the course for me. I have a DIY cropped turtleneck that has faithfully been by my side for years and adds quite a bit of spice to any occasion. An ex once told me he couldn’t concentrate on anything other than my midriff when I wore it for a random errand run– whoops! I routinely pair a heavyweight version with a fun miniskirt and boots. Other important items for cold weather: fur coats, whether vintage or new, faux or otherwise; denim in winter brings a little playfulness to the heaviness of the season; cashmere on any/all available body parts.
   • Spring— I must admit that I have the hardest time with the pre-warm months, because that ongoing slog of the cold into March and April makes me mentally unstable. It’s not as fun to throw a barn jacket over a skimpy top when you’re actually freezing! I rely on thin knits, leather jackets, vests over sweater dresses and socks paired with loafers. This past spring when the weather was more tolerable, I relied heavily on layers of sheer in the form of lace matching sets, organza trench coats and mesh tops. It’s like a mini-striptease– don’t take it all off at once!
   • Summer— My sweet angel season! My entire reason for living! My babe! Ok, I think I’ve made the point. I love May-August because I can let my full chaos shine. Of course, I am in bikinis non-stop, crop tops the moment I wake up, tattered cut-offs from sun-up to sundown! But I also love breaking out my cherished Carhartt overalls and really baggy jeans, paired with a nearly invisible top. This is also high season for an oversized woven and a denim jacket to stave off the A/C. Summer is all about hide-and-go-seek with your wardrobe, showing hints of sun-bronzed skin in borderline crazy ways.
4. Brands— My brand loyalty is broken out in two main categories: work vs. play, because I am very Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when it comes to style. It’s all about balance, babe!
   • Professional— I lean into my preppy roots for most work occasions and rely heavily on legacy pieces from Banana Republic and J.Crew for in-person meetings/events. My go-to formula is a crisp woven or close-fit knit paired with a Carhartt chino or skirt (wtf, i know!) and Chanel flats. Newcomer brands I’ve been drawn to are Hill House Home for very wonderful, non-nap dress basics and The Shirt by Rochelle Barnes for excellent woven shirts and feminine dresses.
   • Fun— The demise of Intermix continues to affect me in ways big and small, but none greater than when it’s time to go out! From 2012-2022, my entire NYC personality centered on an extra 40 off sale at Intermix. In its (gaping) absence, I have turned to other cool-girl brands like The Frankie Shop, Slvrlake and Staud to create perfectly, Mimi-chaotic nighttime looks. On my most recent NYC trip, we absolutely terrorized every The Frankie Shop location we could get our hands on. Going back to BR, I also have a strong rotation of GOT (going out tops) that I amassed during my strong Banana run in high school/college. Another callout— my fantastic collection of mini skirts, both vintage and off-the-rack, that can go from dinner to dive bar with the swap of a top!
5. Shoes— I promise this is my only reference to the Chanels because I walked us through that extensively here. My other go-to is a statement boot, particularly a leopard/calf-hair version with a little whip of a heel, like these brand-new Staud Wally’s I got from Shopbop for a steal. They are currently on TRR for…a steal! If you were fortunate enough to procure Tory Burch’s Lila boot in its prime, God bless you. It’s a long story how I ended up with the multi-color patchwork version, but they are just too good for words. They are a show-stopper, but in an absolutely classic shape. What I love most about the Lila is that it was TB’s 2021/2022 canary in the coal mine that she was storming back. My exact boot also on TRR for…a steal! If you don’t follow any other advice, buy this boot. My other no-fail basics: Jack Rogers in any/every color; Havaianas from Amazon; a slew of go-with-everything Tkees; no-fuss designer mules from Ferragamo, YSL and Bottega; and high-quality leather loafers.
6. Accessories— I am the most minimalistic when it comes to my extras, mainly because my core looks are doing quite a bit on their own. One of my shining accessory strengths is that I have held onto decades-worth of classics that have cycled through being en vogue at least twice. It’s so funny to see brands like Coach, Kate Spade and even the aforementioned Tory resurface in a big way, because I just never got rid of my original pieces. I mean, I even have my first Coach bag— a white canvas + tan leather shoulder bag in the iconic C’s. It adds a little humor to any going out look, and I know makes my 18-year-old self ecstatic. The same goes for belts, sunglasses, scarves– these aren’t items that require routine updating, so cherish and wear them often!

I have also put together a smattering of images, inspirations and past outfits that encompass the foundations of my current style!

• Collage 1, from top left– One of my favorite looks of 2025 that balanced sexy NYC night out with freezing NYC night out, so so many layers; Ferragamo does not get nearly enough credit for its incomparable Italian craftsmanship; I told ya Tory was back, Revas and all!; Irina Shayk can cover the ground of an all-black look unlike any Super I’ve ever seen!
• Collage 2— I have had Khaite’s Resort 2026 lookbook saved for 2 months- it is heartstopping good; this Mimi look is a crush of vintage, from my OG bebe lace halter, my KMart camo vintage pants, original Coach shoulder bag and lucite M. Kors mules; I proudly duplicated this miniskirt + Lila boot look two nights in a row; Morgan Stewart is that MF girl, full stop. She is a shopper’s shopper. A designer girl’s designer girl!
• Collage 3— This is the The Frankie Shop perfectly sheer skirt that sent me into a Soho spin; I could write a tome about the impact of Renee Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair— she makes me thrilled to dash towards my 40’s; To Miss. Tank + Maxi Skirt, I have zero notes; Kelly Wearstler is known for her fantastically chaotic looks, but I love the stark beauty of her in this to-the-floor black suit.
• Collage 4— Michael Kors Leopard Print. Did I stutter?; I adore this random Aimee Song FW streetstyle look because it balances color with classic shapes and some TDF accessories; 90’s GP is the reference + a trifling era Affleck. LOVE!; Jasmine Tookes is so naturally gorgeous and chic, it literally makes me want to scream.

I have worked for decades to build a wardrobe that I not only love, but one that thrills me to my core. Whether hand-me-down from my family or purchased brand-new, every single piece in my closet(s) plays a significant role in how I face this crazy ass world. So, I adored this exercise of breaking down the foundation of my day-to-day style. I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the pillars of your personal style! Xx