The New Classic: The Great Outfit You Didn’t Know Was Hiding in Your Closet

One of the best kept secrets of style is how to look “put together” with minimal effort. It’s something I’ve only recently come to understand, and it starts by building an arsenal of basic, goes-with-everything items. This sweet look is a perfect example of how simple and perhaps ordinary pieces can come together for a look that’s sharp and pretty damn cute.

A little bit preppy and a lot of fun, this lovely outfit showcases a vibe that is a little bit tomboy, but easy enough to roll out of bed into. With a warm outer layer, it’s wonderful for when the weather is not quite winter, not quite summer yet. A white tee, gray trousers, double breasted coat and a large tote get that special kick from a pair of monk strap shoes. Transforming an outfit that is otherwise fairly normal into something of interest is easily done with a standout detail on one article. I’m quite partial to fancy shoes — if you get them in black or brown, even the most avant garde styles can blend seamlessly into your wardrobe.

I’ll definitely be sporting variations of this outfit all spring long — what are your go-to classics?

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

Join AF+!

Lydia O

Lydia Okello is a feminist, body positive, queer personal style blogger. On her website Style is Style, she showcases her panache for bright colors and power clashing. When she isn't pawing over Samantha Pleet collections on Tumblr, she's dreaming about havin' a kitten of her own one day. You can find her on Twitter, Tumblr and on her personal blog.

Lydia has written 64 articles for us.

5 Comments

  1. “The New Classic: The Great Outfit You Didn’t Know Was Hiding in Your Closet”

    *insert coming-out-of-the-closet joke here*

    All seriousness aside, great article! The pants in particular are adorable, and I really love the blazer too. =)

  2. I love this outfit, but even the idea of having a tiny bit of upper ankle exposed makes me shiver. If it’s cool enough to wear socks and pants, it’s too cold for that nonsense!

  3. I saw this outfit in the wild yesterday, on a human with a perfect undercut in an updo and black d’Orsay-style flats. It was amazing.

  4. These items are definitely not already hiding in my closet. But they clearly should be, because CUTE.

  5. I have dragged this inspirational picture to my desktop. Thanks for the share!

Comments are closed.