just because you wear the row doesn’t mean you’re chic.
Don’t get me wrong, I love The Row. I remember when Kendall Jenner wore head to toe The Row back in 2021 and it broke the small corner of the minimalist style content creators Internet. Everyone recreated that look, me included. The Row back then was niche, was understated, was appreciated for what it truly represented. Somewhere along the line, it became a lazy solution for “chic” and “minimal fashion”. People equate wearing the brand and having a sterile and “clean” Pinterest moodboard to understanding fashion, or worse yet, having a style of their own. We started seeing people in SoHo with a suede margaux, whilst having on tight jeans and Adidas sneakers. It’s just … wrong. It’s not just The Row. Khaite, Toteme … wearing these brands somehow became a status symbol. Again, don’t get me wrong, these are great brands. All I’m saying is … to develop a personal style, risks must be taken, one must steps away from what the most majority of people are saying is chic. To have fun, to make mistakes, to not follow trends, to have an opinion of your own.
So here’s a list of things that I find incredibly chic that are not The Row.
I made my first Carven purchase in Paris, when Louise Trotter was still the creative director of the brand. I bought a classic white poplin shirt (slightly different from this one, couldn’t find the exact same style anymore) and a sheer black skirt, and the shirt was truly the best fitted shirt I’ve ever put on my body. It’s the perfect amount of structure and shade of white. A white shirt that beautifully fits your body is in my opinion the most important foundation of a timeless wardrobe.
I’ve worn my fair share of black trousers over the years. High rise, super high rise, mid rise, low rise, straight leg, oversized, you name it I’ve worn it. So I have an idea or two when it comes to the perfect pair of trousers. The name has low rise in it but in my opinion it’s perfectly mid rise. And the cut is the perfectly relaxed yet tailored so it can be dressed both up or down.
The way I audibly gasped at these heels!
It’s all about balance - if the outfit is very minimal, we need the accessories to add the drama. And these are the perfect amount of drama.
Also comes in tiger print and I’m equally obsessed.
The fit and structure of outerwear is everything to me and dare I say it, this coat is perfect. A statement silhouette that exudes elegance and chicness. I recently received a quite similar one from the frankie shop with a similar silhouette but I still can’t take my mind off of this one.
I had the opportunity to borrow this sweater last year during fashion week, and truth be told, I’m still thinking about it. It’s buttery soft and it’s perfectly oversized and it fits like a dream. Unfortunately I couldn’t find it in this colorway anymore, but if I had the honor to cross path with her and put her back on my body again, I’ll never let her go.
I bought the manhattan clutch (doesn’t seem to be available anywhere anymore?) in Paris in 2023 and it’s safe to say I’ve worn it to death. There’s something about clutches that I find extremely chic, and this one is so thin you can barely fit anything in there, which makes it even chicer.
Anonie is my dear friend Gianna’s brand, everything she designs is so cutesy yet sexy with a hint of dark feminine. When I first saw the video of this dress my mind was blown. It’s exactly what I want in a dress - deep plunge, open back, sexy yet elegant. If you’re in the mood to support a small Asian woman owned brand, this is it. :)
I’ll always be a chunky jewelry girl at heart. I’ve been wearing the Agmes Synergy Ring whenever I style my outfits with silver jewelry, now I think she needs a sister. I love how architectural and sleek everything from Charlotte Chesnais is and they’re definitely pieces that you’ll cherish forever.
