"Luxury doesn't have to be loud." — Miuccia Prada
The Quiet Confidence of Knowing What Works for You
True luxury is about substance. In the midst of noise, be yourself.
As we transition through seasons, I always spend a day or two editing, reorganizing, and rotating my closet, making sure my vacation pieces are always accessible (of course!) when the weather turns cool. This process makes me think about how we dress ourselves throughout so many chapters of our lives.
I’ve moved countless times from the Midwest to and from the East Coast. I’ve lived in Tribeca, then worked in offices on the UES with entirely different cultures and styles. Here’s where I’ll admit: I’ve dressed for the room, the relationship, the career. Not always for myself. We naturally do this when we are seeking acceptance and want to relate to the world around us.
When I travel to places like Milan, Paris, or New York (oh wait, I live here!), one of my favorite things to do is check out the local boutiques or luxury brands because that’s where you find the most unique clothing, and not to mention, the experience is fun too. It’s fun to have a mission of what you’re in the market for and to fill the gap with a useful piece rather than something you don’t need, especially when closet space is so valuable (no matter the size). When I step back and look at my wardrobe, some of my favorite pieces stand out not just because of what they are or how trendy they are, but because of where I got them and the memory associated with that time in my life. There are memories you want to hold onto, and others that fade with time, but that’s an entirely different subject.
Going back to the closet edit, there are the timeless pieces that never go out of style. The ones that just work for you. Those are the best investments, and they usually hold the most sentimental value too, such as the pieces I inherited from my grandmother. Her oversized overcoat is to die for. It’s a long reversible with black leather and chocolate mink, and it loves turning heads in New York.
This concept is similar to how I approach interior design or working with designers for clients. My surroundings reflect me because each piece in my place was carefully curated over time. If I move, some items might go into storage, or rotate to a different room, but most work no matter where I go because my style is my style. Of course, this evolves over the years. When I own another home in northern Italy one day, I’d keep some of that modern Italian sensibility as I change up the flair in my New York pied-à-terre, because it’s become part of who I am!
In summary, this is my philosophy when creating wardrobe capsules. I want your clothing to reflect who you truly are. I appreciate quality, an impeccable fit, the details, and nuances in clothing that make each piece unique. Those are the pieces you keep in your wardrobe the longest, or buy multiples of, because those are the pieces that work for you.
After all, I’ve learned that true style and genuine luxury are knowing yourself so well that you don’t need to announce it. It’s the quiet confidence of walking into any room and feeling like yourself, no matter where you’ve been or where you’re going.
