Style Buzz: Style Math + Anatomy of a Cashmere Outfit
- Eugene Stylist
- Feb 20
- 4 min read
Ideas to Inspire Your Head-to-Toe Style
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I only wear it once a year, but I'm so glad
I have it when I need it!"
I went to the ribbon cutting for the Hersch Wine Lounge last week and since it was the day before Valentine's Day, there were a lot of themed outfits. As I talked to people about their choices, I reassured them that sometimes it's absolutely fine to have a piece that is so specific to a holiday that you only bring it out once a year. Because you know the holiday is going to roll around again and you've got just the right piece for next year. One less decision to make!
xxx rachel
STYLE MATH
(no abacus needed)
The phrase "investment piece" usually refers to an item of clothing - dress, blazer, coat, handbag, jewelry - that costs a small fortune but is worth it. It's well made, it not only suits your style but elevates it, and it's something you'll wear for many years to come.
But every piece you buy is an investment, whether it's $7 or $7,000. Those small price tags add up over the years, and while it's generally smarter to invest in one $200 pair of boots that last 6 years than buying $50 ones that fall apart every year (ugh! The landfill!), you really should calculate the true return on investment by considering the cost per wear of everything in your wardrobe.
It's simple math: what you paid for it divided by how frequently you wear it. So if you spend $800 on a piece that you wear twice a month for 10 years the cost per wear is actually half that of one piece you bought for $7.50 at Goodwill but only wear once. It’s $3.07 vs $7.50.
I’m not telling you to go out and buy $800 pieces of clothing and wear them 24 times a year, but when you go shopping, this math is an important factor to consider. You always hear about buying quality over quantity, and it's true that having fewer pieces that are really well made saves you money in the long run. But one thing that’s equally if not more important than quality is versatility. This means you can wear a piece multiple ways for multiple occasions to get much more value out of it.
Ok, so you’re definitely grasping this concept of Cost Per Wear and now promise to be looking for versatile pieces when you go shopping. But what about what’s already in your closet? We all fall into a – let’s say “routine” rather than “rut” - of pairing the same pieces together, like they’re two pieces of a puzzle that only go with each other. In this scenario, the cost per wear for each of those pieces is pretty high (unless you’re wearing the same outfit really frequently!)
The key, remember, is versatility. So maybe try looking at those pieces a little differently, being brave, and pairing them in new ways with other items you already have. This adds some flare to your daily dressing and really stretches your creativity muscles. And you end up realizing that you can do a lot with just a little.
Yes, there’s repetition, but think about the financial aspect and savings, knowing that every additional piece you incorporate will be worn mindfully, deliberately, and put to really good use for the life of the piece. Plus, you’re not contributing to the fast fashion churn and landfill.
As usual, though, there are exceptions to the "versatility" rule. Just like the LOVE sweater above, it's also useful to have pieces in your wardrobe that fulfill a specific role, whether it's for a holiday, a certain type of event, a tradition, or because you just love it and only wear it once a year. And that's fine, too! Every piece in your wardrobe should make you smile, and if it's worn once a week, once a month, or once a decade, you've found the right piece. And that's the kind of value that can't be calculated.
ANATOMY OF AN OUTFIT
This is a peek into my favorite outfit of the week where I break it down for you: why I've put it together and why it works, what elements could be swapped out, things to consider, etc.
Cold weather calls for cashmere! I love the luxe feel of cashmere, and a black turtleneck was just the thing this week. It makes for an easy luxe look, too, especially when paired with black jeans tucked into knee-high black boots. I left the turtleneck untucked to create a lengthening vertical line down the center. Because it's such a dramatic setting, it beautifully highlights a sparkly metallic lariat necklace that breaks up the solidness of the all-black layer. The mauve duster (seen previously paired with a floral dress) doesn't button so it won't hide the full length of the necklace. I finished the look with geometric silver earrings that complement the V of the necklace but don't steal its thunder. I'm comfy and even though the snow seems to be avoiding us, I'm ready for the chilly days.
Duster: Premise
Turtleneck: Charter Club from Macy's
Jeans: St John's Bay from JCPenney
Lariat: Zoe by Stella & Dot
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