Personalized Chic, Nonchalant Cool

This summer, I realized I care less about fashion and more about style. You may be wondering why the hell I am writing a fashion column. Don’t get me wrong. I still live for fashion. I have an entire blog devoted to it. However, I find unequivocally stylish people much more interesting than the fashionably trendy. So this fall, I want everyone, boys and girls alike, to commit to doing just three things. I suppose you could call them my rules of style.

First, your jeans and t-shirts are the most precious items you already own. Distressed, ratty, torn, shredded, falling-apart-at-the-seams denim is perfect. So are your dark wash and inky black skinnies from last year. Make sure that you have one pair that are ripped and ravaged. If you don’t, no problem. Just grab a pair of scissors and sandpaper and butcher them yourself. The cut and fit of t-shirts tell a lot about a person. They should be fitted, but not tight; slightly loose at the hem but not baggy; crafted of a fine, silky texture and stitched just so. Scoop necks, v-necks and shirttail hems exude expensive sophistication.

Second, a sharp, snappish blazer will be your go-to piece this season – and the next, and the one after that. Invest in an over-sized, jersey-blend style. The blazer is perfect for infusing a sense of androgyny in a girl’s look, and a deliberately preppy tone into a boy’s look. It’s comfy, it’s casual-cool. It can make a downtown look a little more uptown. Throw it on over leggings, a tank and ballerinas for class and then switch to stiletto booties for the bar.

Third, accessorize. One of my favorite pastimes has always been scouring vintage shops, boutiques and chains for the cheap and chic things that personalize my outfits. Lately, I’ve been into biker-chic bags and studded accessories. I pile them on – deliberately and liberally. I like to mix up different themes to blend the eclectic with the elegant and pair unexpected elements together. I’m not going to tell you what to buy or how to wear them – that’s all you. Experiment and see what works best. Accessorizing is very personal. Layering textures, tones and materials requires unabashed audacity and a true sense of style.