Making it personal
Unpopular opinions and three things I bought this week
How many times have you read or heard the word "essential" or "timeless" in modern fashion marketing? How many articles have you read about the importance of a white t-shirt, a blue shirt, or the perfect pair of denim?
In my day-to-day job as an editor, I have probably written the word "timeless" more than I have ever written my own name. And even if that term makes my eyes roll more than the very overused word "iconic," it is safe to say that it’s true. Some items in fashion are indeed timeless. But what we generally define as timeless garments are basics: simple, versatile, neutral, and good quality items that can be mixed and matched with everything. Forever.
Basics have so many qualities. We all know by now that they truly are the solution to every outfit dilemma and often the missing puzzle piece. In fact, the fewer basics we have, the harder it will be to dress up in the morning and mix and match all the gems in our wardrobes.
Today, rather than highlighting the importance of having good basics or reiterating how essential they are, I'd like to explore their evolution with you. I'm curious—could it be that the basics in our closets aren't as timeless as we've been led to believe over the years?
Maybe basics aren't as timeless as we think. While they’re without doubt necessary, I can't help but wonder if they’re inevitably influenced by the passage of time. Let me share a couple of examples with you.
Below, you will find what we called a timeless leather jacket in 2010.
And here is what we have been calling a timeless leather jacket from 2020 until today.
A staple like a leather jacket is no longer fitted, cropped, or has a double zip. Today’s timeless version of a leather jacket is oversized, distressed, or slouchy, and often features brown nuances.
The same fate applies to our beloved trench coats—another essential in every woman’s closet. Trenches above the knee, very popular in 2010, have disappeared from the scene, making way for maxi volumes and extra lengths.
And what about the infamous white t-shirt, which had to have a V-neck 10 years ago to be considered cool and timeless? What will happen to those pleated black trousers and oversized boyfriend shirts? I could give you many more examples, but I am sure that by now, you know what I mean.
The hard truth might be that nothing is immune to trends. No matter how timeless some of our clothes might seem, they will look dated in a decade and will probably resurface in 20 or 30 years. That’s why I would define basics more circular than timeless.
And because no one wants to feel outdated, the real eternal question is: how can we survive trends without overbuying or feeling lost in the sea of overconsumption?
My very humble response to this is authenticity.
What I believe will forever withstand the passing of time is your personal style. And yes, your personal style exists already, no matter how much of a fashion enthusiast you are. Maybe it developed in the last few years, maybe it is still in the making, or maybe it is already stable and affirmed, but yes, it’s there.
Personal style might make you feel good in some of those “outdated” items because they make you—you. How I see it is that following the fashion stream is sometimes inevitable, almost necessary, but never a shame. It becomes problematic only if followed without questioning it or putting a significant pinch of yourself in everything you adopt or choose.
I feel like whenever I put emotion or creativity into what I choose to wear, I am a step closer to my real self and consequently to my personal style. This might be because clothes that embody innovation, artistry, or sentiment never feel outdated or out of fashion?
When I mention authenticity, I envision women like Cher, Priscilla Presley, Jane Birkin, Vivienne Westwood, Kate Moss, or Iris Apfel.
Women known for timeless elegance like Audrey, bold eccentric style like Cher, signature statement pieces like Iris, or just effortless coolness like Kate.
Authentic doesn’t necessarily mean colourful or rebellious but personal—genuinely reflecting your personality. Authentic style also priorities your values or unique taste, rather than conforming to fluctuating trends or social expectations.
So yes, it’s time to make it personal. But also consistent and confident. All this talk about personal style can get overwhelming and make you feel even more lost, as personal style is not something tangible that can be seen or labeled. But one thing that always helps me understand what is for me and what is not is listening more to myself and my gut feeling and less to everyone else.
I hope that this hymn to individuality resonates with you in some way and inspires you to give more strength to your inner voice. Or maybe it will open a lovely debate in the comments—I love hearing your thoughts.
Before leaving you I would like to share with you three good buys I made this month that I believe will be timeless for me and my personal style.
Heaven Mayhem Iconic Watch - also known as This-girl-cannot-afford-a-Cartier-Tank watch. I have an old watch that I inherited from my grandma, and I love it with all my heart. I use it quite often, and it fits my style really well. I thought I could extend my collection with a new, more affordable watch with a brown strap to match even more outfits in my wardrobe. Naughty, but I expect zero regrets.
Heave Mahyem watch with the Bruni strap and my grandma's watch to the right Cos Brown Barrel Jeans - I was looking for some good denim in a nice shade of brown. I found these barrel jeans, which I honestly loved from the get-go. This fit complements my body shape, so I tend to choose it often over straight-leg jeans. I know I’ll be able to mix and match it quite a lot with what I already have in my wardrobe. It’s a choice consistent with my style and, most importantly, fully wearable on a daily basis.
ROXANNE ASSOULIN Gold-tone and cotton necklace - Perfect for my layered stack of necklaces. It is a bit heavy, but it looks sooo good with everything, from super simple outfits to extra looks.
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Hope you enjoyed this week’s edit. See you next week!
Giulia xx
I do believe personal style is just developed when we know ourselves. When we understand who we are at the present moment from in > out. Fashion has more in common with personal development and spirituality than people know. Amazing post! I loved ❤️
I laughed at your comparison of timeless leather jackets because I was just looking at a circa 2010 jacket in my closet! I kept it on the chance that the style comes back around (as things often do) but right now it looks so silly to me.
I really enjoyed your tip on authenticity! I think there’s also something to be said about looking for neither fitted nor oversized pieces unless they really speak to you. I say that because the vacillation between oversized and fitted is so fast it’s easy to look outdated.