Camel , choc brown, denim & a dollop of navy : Everyday dressing solved!
It’s that time of year.
You’re not quite out of summer clothes yet not into cold weather dressing.
It’s that inbetween time when you are hankering for something new but not yet wearing seriously winter pieces.
Which means it’s time for FiFi’s annual guide to denim and camel !
It’s a post I like to do around this time every year ( if you haven’t noticed!)
And why not?
A wardrobe of denim, navy and lots of camel is what is so chic, so right to wear now.
It’s what I personally want to wear : in fact it’s actually what I DO wear .
Trans seasonal. Lowkey. Chic and totally versatile.
All the pieces you can wear now and then right into winter.
The trick as always is in updating classics into modern shapes and new ways of styling: It’s about camel or choc brown accessories, pull on denim , a neutral knit and maybe some navy and a stripe. Make sure you have three colours on the body (makes life so easy) two is too matchy match and more than three? Way too hard to pull off (who has the time?!).
Here’s what you need right now, why you need it and how to wear it.
A short sleeve knit tee.
It’s a knit Tee with short sleeves. Warmer than a plain ol tee and not as hot as a sweater. It’s perfect for this weather and going into Autumn. Wear it like a cotton tee under a blazer or jacket. (You could layer a white tee under it to add that flash of white at the hem). Love it with jeans, with chinos, with a skirt. Don’t worry about mixing knits with cotton or denim, it’s about the contrasts. Go for a big slouchy look , a neat tee can look too done, too prim, too neat.
A beige tee.
It’s not a white tee but a little caramel. Which adds a little depth and tone to your camel jackets and trench coats. This colour loves denim and white jeans. The Uniqlo tee is such a great buy, soft , great cut, but go for XL. Buy in white and beige . I wear under so many knits in winter. Tip: I pull and stretch out the sleeves so they don’t cling to my muffin arms and look loose.
A denim shacket or shirt.
It’s your double denim look. And I am into it. I do like a denim shacket : as it is that casual mix of a denim jacket and shirt. It’s so casual and easy to throw on over a white tee. When a jacket can feel too restricted. Too “ dressed” .
But I do love a denim shirt too : one that you can tuck into your jeans. A short sleeve denim jacket is chic and so is denim fitted jacket ( like a Chanel jacket).
A long sleeve stripe knit
A cotton knit is perfect for autumn. It’s not too hot but just enough to cover up. I just love the stripe sweater from Arket. Been living in it for a few years now and I see it’s back in stock. I got size small as it’s big. Wear with jeans but it looks so good with camel pants and chinos. Later in Autumn with leather pants. It’s such a big sweater you almost can’t put a jacket over it as it is so bulky: which is why I call it a statement knit. It can stand on its own. I just toss a trench on my shoulders. Done. ( A long sleeve stripe tee is good too).
A crop jacket :
It’s a short trench. Does all the things you love about a trench – chic colour, a double breasted cut and a low key casualness- but because it is short it means it works with high waist pants and skirts. You can wear it out to dinner and you don’t look like you are wearing your coat. ( you can’t sit at the table in a long coat right?!) You probably would have bought one by now ? I have been banging on about a crop trench since I first bought one 4 years ago. It’s probably plateauing in the trend Richter scale. Meaning? You will definitely get great wear as a crop trench is not going anywhere.
A long trench.
Of course. I’m a trench addict. Why ? Because you wear it all year, to any place, any time. It’s doesn’t have to be raining to wear a trench ! Off to a casual coffee? Trench over activewear. Out to lunch? Toss a trench over a blouse, jeans and heels. Off to the opera/ballet/ drinks? Try a trench over a dress, a blazer, over a pretty beaded top and slouchy pants.
You want long, long long slouchy and in beige, camel or stone.
A camel /tan/brown jacket blazer:
Have you got an oversized blazer yet? Is it even worth me calling it oversized ? Surely that is normal now. The roomy cut has been around for so long, the shrunken blazer after 10 years is lurking on the horizon. Not to say a slouchy blazer is not right: you still have years left in it. Same reason to love a trench: it’s a wear anywhere, any time, any weather.
If you’re new here you may not know that I am not a fan of buying a black blazer: it only ever looks good with denim right? With black pants? you’re wearing a black trouser yawn suit ! SO if you are buying ONE single blazer you need it in camel. Looks fab with blue jeans, with black pants, and with leather pants. Go for a loose cut, single breasted or double breasted? You want to make sure it can sit across the muffin situation when it is UNDONE. Who wears a blazer done up? Nobody I know ! A black blazer is not wrong ( I have about 3!) just not the one to buy first ok?! BTW a suede blazer is the way to go so invest now. Same with a choc brown bomber jacket ! Ooh la la love this coat from Arket.
Baggy barrel denim jeans.
How could we ever wear anything again that is not as comfortable as the new shape jeans? Adore baggy jeans. Adore barrel jeans. Adore jeans that are dark denim, adore jeans that are cut like pants. See below. Adore blue jeans, grey jeans and now choc brown jeans. Of course. I bought these : so good I will wear with all my brown, neutrals but also with a blue denim jacket, a navy blazer and with my camel accessories. Remember when you update your jeans then suddenly all the other old pieces get another life, get another season. Baggy jeans are instant wardrobe updaters!
Slouchy camel pants.
PIVOTAL to your wardrobe. Repetez apres moi. PIVOTAL. Why ? Because all your black pieces get an instant joosh. Because camel trousers are not jeans but just as casual. Not black pants but twice as versatile. Camel pants and a denim jacket : Yes! Add white loafers and a camel belt. Camel pants with a choc brown blazer=Divine . Camel pants with a white tank and birks = totally casual. Camel pants with a denim shirt? White pointy flats? Helllooo: Come to mama ! So chic.
An A line denim skirt.
The thing is : a denim skirt is such a hard worker in your wardrobe. That’s because ( like a trench ) you can virtually wear all year round. A pencil denim skirt is great but can be limiting. Like what shoes? It can a little dressy. Go for a A line or full skirt in denim. You can wear with flats, with heels, with knee high boots. You can wear with a white shoulder pad tee and a camel short trench. Wear a denim skirt with a white tank, camel blazer and white mules ( my own personal uniform) Or come winter with a slouchy cream knit, brown boots and a trench. When you want to wear a skirt but still look a little low key and effortless: A denim skirt is the answer.
white shoes!
Of course you want white shoes. You know you do : it’s all I talk about. They are life changing. Once you start wearing white/cream shoes there is no going back. Camel, choc brown and denim love white shoes : they are the way to add an injection of edge. Lighten the look. You want pointy flats in white. Or ballet flats. These are great. That V at the front is the way to go because you flash some skin. It looks fresh with long baggy jeans. You want white loafers : they do the same thing. You want white mules ( I have these in white/cream and in the choc brown: On sale, comfortable and fabulous : hellllooo what’s not to love ! Wear with everything from skirts to jeans to baggy chinos to bermuda shorts.
The other shoes you need are sneakers in a brown or neutral.
You can do a Miu Miu and put in orange laces. It’s a cool look with denim and brown. SHOP below
And don’t forget a tan or brown bag…
SHop my picks below : Please don’t default to a black bag. A brown bag works wonders in your wardrobe.
Adds a third colour, adds another tone, breaks up the monotone. And if you do wear black then when you pull on white shoes and grab a tan bag youtake it to the next level.
Hope that helps !
SHOP my picks here and check out the street style below !
