One perfect piece
Yesterday's New York Times ran another article about how women are trading down, or "shopping their closets": Irresistible and Affordable, by Eric Wilson.
If the (comparatively) free spending is over, what to do? We are not about to default to H&M!
Buy one perfect piece that works with what you already own, and you'll lift your wardrobe to a stylish spring lightness. Often, a single piece breathes new life into your old favourites, and returns more value and pleasure than an armful of so-so buys.
What might yours be?
One great dress
Day Birger and Mikkelson chiffon dress, $180 from Net-a-porter to wear to everything from graduations to lawn parties.
One pair of seasonal, sensational shoes
Cate patterned high-heel slingbacks, J. Crew, $228. Vaults neutrals into spring.
One luscious blouse
Lafayette 148 silk dupioni blouse, on sale, $208.50 (see the Sale page on their web site), to spark your favourite pants or pencil skirt.
One hip jacket
Nicole Miller brown denim, $365, an unexpected update for your jeans and
tee.
One statement necklace
Greenbeads multi-strand turquoise necklace with gold vermeil beads, $110 from Fragments.
Fills in the neckline of everything you own, and adds a pop of blissful blue.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tMEVX8p9ALuxPptVw0cCFobD950F2n5DOQrslWZOR866lEXQr1YmHJ-uh8zMYJrAlJK408C6OEF4_c8fQI9svkCBi5tETqwcrTDH5r=s0-d)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tMEVX8p9ALuxPptVw0cCFobD950F2n5DOQrslWZOR866lEXQr1YmHJ-uh8zMYJrAlJK408C6OEF4_c8fQI9svkCBi5tETqwcrTDH5r=s0-d)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tMEVX8p9ALuxPptVw0cCFobD950F2n5DOQrslWZOR866lEXQr1YmHJ-uh8zMYJrAlJK408C6OEF4_c8fQI9svkCBi5tETqwcrTDH5r=s0-d)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tMEVX8p9ALuxPptVw0cCFobD950F2n5DOQrslWZOR866lEXQr1YmHJ-uh8zMYJrAlJK408C6OEF4_c8fQI9svkCBi5tETqwcrTDH5r=s0-d)
If the (comparatively) free spending is over, what to do? We are not about to default to H&M!
Buy one perfect piece that works with what you already own, and you'll lift your wardrobe to a stylish spring lightness. Often, a single piece breathes new life into your old favourites, and returns more value and pleasure than an armful of so-so buys.
What might yours be?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EBmS0ZmuHII3-8o6w4-c760qIyVeQUdNLdQMHJz2fRBqUK6NVFqB_Be2yq65Ig-ZnkFgcjvBdnr-oyNlI2_V-7KOGrT_iW7MiBaoZVR0tMgPruZtBSmU1j4qRLyEljcO9QKTge6Ly8Y/s200/Picture+2.png)
Day Birger and Mikkelson chiffon dress, $180 from Net-a-porter to wear to everything from graduations to lawn parties.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEC4KMWGXgc3xjDHeHkb4Ap-Tm9SWxLc_uldKLiG-bOoRGnpbLNYv2oqk3l63G2olCytYotNpwA0SWOJ09mt3ky9iQFMGv3_KH9XW5rWyYvLv5IX1IdmoKaaRfl_gkAeZFYkRayhhVZU/s200/Picture+3.png)
Cate patterned high-heel slingbacks, J. Crew, $228. Vaults neutrals into spring.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNeMWRjAMPmubLpyKWqIBpVr_uA4nP2BBKTazKGD73M82sX92V61_G5xtlC35ZM60732DOLAzwFGH9_3nMql-z43yZWGAfjuZDmSO9-TOGPAN6qkSYS0kWSVQyX1KbxYPf7oaGVjckX4/s200/Picture+4.png)
Lafayette 148 silk dupioni blouse, on sale, $208.50 (see the Sale page on their web site), to spark your favourite pants or pencil skirt.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL12glq6PJ0KizNx-Ov9LbtijJdXvKcw_yeRj6r1wa4yMU5-9Esu0bNsu-78axiuSp9_Wc5fuzyn5Pf6b2qlw14QN3IbW8MYKFLFwc1ZQKpcwTUjFxfPI4ox6sFgK5qiCDGpXOEsjqcLM/s200/Picture+5.png)
Nicole Miller brown denim, $365, an unexpected update for your jeans and
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vYQUroVQHxBXWfs4I4EEEBvmjGENQjPEXPboq69wCfMh9VlrB-qif19w3rgIOXHXXf8RH87LzTAkgnUM-jYAsPbqepici4AQuRXGJhM0xaQcmbi7xPubAlSBFMEjCeb8w3g9C7neUQ0/s200/1_57468_FS.jpg)
One statement necklace
Greenbeads multi-strand turquoise necklace with gold vermeil beads, $110 from Fragments.
Fills in the neckline of everything you own, and adds a pop of blissful blue.
Comments
Rather than buy an orphan, make sure it's long lost family.
Imogen, love the orphan/family analogy!
I love Imogen's analogy -- I'm going to keep an eye out this weekend for longlost family and if I find them, it will be "Come Home to Mama!"
In the meantime, I've been searching for a cotton jacket in that color and it never occurred to me to think of brown denim!
Vildy: Cocoa-brown denim is fresh; I like white, too, but I drop things on it!
ma: Post those shoes, will you please?
Pseu: Thanks, was thinking of your post on ennui, hope this helps!
http://www.nicolemiller.com/BROWN_DENIM_JACKET/pd/np/19/p/1811.html
My one splurge last season was a gorgeous pair of wedge boots I was longing for. I felt like a million dollars every time I wore them no matter how the day went.