THE SUMMER STYLING HACK STEPHANIE SWEARS BY

Top image: ST AGNI Sheer baby tee in black, ST AGNI Organic cotton slim scoop tank in moss grey, LESET Yoko pocket pants, KASSL Canvas tote black/oil black , a vintage beaded necklace (similar here or here) and MAISON MARGIELA Tabi ballerina

Stephanie: I am aware it’s 25 degrees, and without sounding ungrateful, summer is finally here, but I’m already one foot into fall fashion. The life of an editor, always three months ahead. As someone who loves fall fashion because layering makes every look better, I can’t stop looking at this AW24 campaign. Quintessential Lotta Volkova styling with a hyper-feminine pencil skirt and pearl necklaces contrasted by futuristic sunglasses, a white shirt, and a big sweater, and, the star of the photo, croc leather gloves. These aren’t the buttery soft elbow-length gloves we’ve seen elsewhere on the catwalk. They are robust, chunky, almost like professional falconer’s gloves. Wouldn’t these make every look I’m wearing this month much cooler? This is the first item on my draft fall wishlist, but back to the now.

Miu Miu Fall/Winter 2024 campaign (by Zoë Ghertner and Lotta Volkova)

At least once a month, I stand in front of my wardrobe for hours, pulling out every garment to come up with new looks. This often happens at the end of the month before payday, or, like right now, when I’m trying to avoid impulse purchases because I’m still saving up for my dream watch (remember my loud budgeting for 2024 pledge?). I try not to judge too quickly and just think outside the box. I often end up feeling most inspired when two garments that I never would have paired together suddenly hang next to each other and, boom: a new look is born. I feel like our vision gets clouded, and these sessions help me let go of my initial thoughts on what looks cool. That’s when the best looks start happening. Here are my three best looks of the month and the thought process behind them.

SAINT LAURENT Open-back silk-blend georgette bodysuit, MIU MIU Glimpse sunglasses  ALAÏA Flared leather gloves and MAISON MARGIELA Pleat detailed gray trousers

1. Tank Top Layering

Did you know Carine Roitfeld walked in one of Martin Margiela’s shows in the '90s? I didn’t, even though I thought I knew pretty much everything about that era. I found out when CR posted an archival photo of her walking in his SS93 show. This image has had me in a chokehold for a week now. It’s blurry, but it’s giving me all the feels. Her undone hair effortlessly falls over her face, her confident yet humble walk, head down but with a hand placed on her hip. I had to zoom in to dissect the impeccable styling. Turns out it’s the layering that makes this look timeless and relevant even after 30+ years. She’s wearing a sheer navy shirt dress with a lighter, but still dark, blue tank top over it, paired with light blue jeans. I had to try layering a tank top over a sheer shirt, and I loved the way it turned out.

Carine Roitfeld for Martin Margiela SS93

2. Polo Shirt Revival

My Miu Miu obsession is still going strong, and it’s gotten to the point where I wanted a polo shirt for the first time in my life. I’ve always resented polo shirts for the connotation they had when I was growing up. In high school, the rich kids (kakkers, if you know, you know) wore Lacoste and Ralph Lauren polos. Some even wore multiple polos layered over each other with the collars standing upright. It wasn’t that I wanted one back then to fit in—I was very much anti-preppy—but my parents couldn’t even afford one branded polo, let alone multiple for layering. However, Miu Miu has changed the narrative around polos, and boat shoes for that matter. I couldn’t resist trying on this Saks Potts polo that has a little silver eyelet instead of a logo, a garment that’s healing childhood trauma in itself.

SAKS POTTS Serena polo brown (with short sleeves here) , LESET Yoko cotton boxer shorts and Vintage Miu Miu bowling bag (similar here or here)

 MIU MIU Cotton logo polo, TOTEME Cashmere sweater in green, FRANKIES BIKINIS Marialla cloud shorts, MARYAM NASSIR ZADEH Julian bag in black (on sale)

3. Exposed Boxer Shorts

After a few rainy weeks, summer weather is finally back in Amsterdam, and I can’t stop wearing white boxer shorts. Inspired by Charon’s exposed shorts styling and a SS24 fitting photo Peter Do shared on Instagram, I love how the summery, crisp white and intimate feel of this garment clashes with formal clothes. Without the boxer shorts, this would have been just a chic office look. Remember the exposed tights Lotta Volkova styled over white T-shirts and cardigans in the Miu Miu FW23 show? It felt off, and that’s what made it so interesting and cool. I'm very much tempted now to further deconstruct this look by slicing open these tailored trousers, making it even cooler.

CORDERA Oxford shirt, LESET Yoko cotton boxer short and MARK KENLY DOMINO TAN Priscilla pants

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