Clothes that you feel confident in
This is a feel-good outfit. The herringbone tweed jacket, cosy cashmere jumper, slouchy cargo pants and comfy suede boots; I’m always at home in a mixture of masculine and feminine, it feels very ‘me’. Style confidence comes from dressing to feel your best (I’ve written about this before HERE). Feeling good requires finding clothes that fit well, are Faff Free and feel authentic. But also it’s about finding the right combination. Experimenting and discovering what’s right for you (and being honest about it). I am most comfortable when I’m ‘just smart enough’. Usually this involves a mannish jacket and jeans – though I’m back on board with cargo pants (an alternative to the jumpsuit). The juxtaposition of casual and classic, of opposing textures and different silhouettes is part of my look. That’s why the loose-fitting cargo pants and tweedy tailored jacket make a winning combination. Not too slouchy, not too smart. I feel good in this outfit because I feel relaxed, I feel like me. And when I find a great combination of not-too-dressed-up daywear, I wear it over and over again.
When asked about confidence, fashion psychologist Professor Carolyn Mair says, ‘It’s a tricky one because often confidence comes from elsewhere….you can’t just say “Wear blue and you’ll feel confident,” what’s behind it matters. But you have to feel good in clothes. It’s about being comfortable in all senses, not just the physical wearing of an item. Comfortable in that it matches your persona, the way you are.’
Oh and it seems I’m not alone in my ‘classic and cargos’ look. In an interview in the Guardian the other day, Robert de Niro was wearing something very similar. Unfortunately, the full-length photo is not online (I’ll see if I can find the newspaper picture and post it in my Instagram Stories). I’m now dressing like a 75-year-old-man-about-New-York. And I’m comfortable with that.
My tweed jacket is a couple of years old from Massimo Alba, the cargo pants are proper workwear from Stan Ray (similar HERE) and the suede boots are Grenson. The cashmere polo neck was a Christmas gift from Gap and it’s a beauty.
What kind of clothes do you feel confident in?
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Like you I feel best when my clothes are “not too slouchy” and “just smart enough.” But not too smart. Turtleneck, jeans, boots, blazer. That’s my go-to, feel-good-in, feel most-like-myself outfit. Has been ever since university. Except for this week, when it’s been five blazers, a toque, and a heavy down coat! We’re freezing over here!